The Art of Letter Writing: 5 Tips for Crafting Engaging Letters

A few tips for writing letters that fill the soul

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In the modern age, writing letters has become underrated, if not completely abandoned. We prefer sending quick e-mails to our loved ones now, or even shoot them a long text because of time concerns. We might forget how much of a personal impact a unique letter can have on our families and friends. Nowadays, we focus so much on technology that we often fail to add that special, intimate touch to the relationships we value.

If that looks like you, I don’t blame you. There is no doubt: writing can be quite a challenge! Writing a letter can be even more demanding. We want to connect our thoughts and feelings to the letter that we are sending, yet we sometimes omit details that could bring us into the open and deepen our engagement. The content has to be special, and the person reading it has to sense a distinctive vibe when opening it — it’s like creating a special bond between the writer and the recipient; a bond that connects their souls, and opens up their minds.

For all of these reasons, finding the perfect balance of creativity and imagination is not an easy job.

Here are a 5 tips on how to write inspiring, creative letters:

1. Be Yourself

Writing letters is easy once you get the hang of it. I must specify that we are strictly referring to informal, friendly letters. Being yourself is your best strategy if you want your letter be special. The content has to flow naturally. Letters between friends have to be simple, yet complex. Writing something like “Dear Mona, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day. Love, Lila” is not enough. You have to develop your thoughts, and let your ideas flow on that piece of paper and have room to expand. This takes me to point two.

2. Create the Perfect Setting

Because writing letters is such a personal process, you need your own space. Make sure you have alone time whenever you compose your letters, and take time to think about the content first. Get rid of the distractions, and imagine what a perfect letter would look like for you. Would it begin in a certain, exceptional way? What pieces of your imagination would it compile? What elements could add to its complexity? Try not to check your phone or have the TV on while you are drafting the letters. Find a particular spot in the house that is quiet and encourages you to think. Reflect on special moments you had with the recipient, and expand on that. Beginning the letter with a significant memory will give it that special vibe you want.

3. Ask About Them In a Funny Way

If you write a letter to somebody, you probably want to know more about them. So ask away! Make sure you do not expand too much on yourself. Do include everything you wish, but keep it brief since your recipient will probably not appreciate receiving letters that are too long. When you ask about them, do it in a funny, creative way. Be hilarious and relaxed. Take a look at some examples:

• Begin with an old phrase both of you used in the past. If I wrote to my friend, I would say, “Sup, loser? I miss your dumb face! What have you been up to?”
• Start with a funny saying like, “Love is in the air. Nope, that’s bacon. Anyways, I was thinking of you this morning while eating my breakfast. How is your life?”
• Or you can just be honest and say, “I am feeling very emotional today, so I thought about you. Don’t feel too good about it, OK? How are you doing, pal?”

Make sure you let them know how much you miss them, but don’t do it in a mushy way if you are not that type of person. Saying it in a funny context gives it a sense of playfulness, which I am sure will be highly appreciated by your friend.

4. Carry a Notebook With You

If you truly lack ideas, carry a notebook with you and write down observations. Maybe when you are having a coffee, you will think of a funny moment you had with your friend. Maybe when you chat with your colleagues you will realize how much you miss a special, deep conversation with your friend. You never know what gives your ideas during the day, so carrying a notebook is a great method to stay creative.

5. Have Lots of Fun

If you don’t write like you are having fun, there is no point in searching for creativity. Writing letters is not something that must be done, but something that you should enjoy doing. Change your mindset, and play with the words instead of searching for the right ones. If a letter does not come out as you want it to, do not freak out. All writers have good and bad moments, so you do not have to worry about it at all. Just take a break if you feel the need to, and do something funny – like watch a comedy on Netflix, or play with your pets if you have any. The idea is to loosen up and make yourself laugh. Then when you can get back to writing you will be much more productive, trust me!

Wrapping It Up

When you don’t feel creative, stop writing. There is no point in hanging on to something you are not feeling at the moment. Take a break, or try to apply the above strategies to boost your mood. Do something funny, take a walk, have a drink. Make sure you write everything from the bottom of your heart — stay honest, and be yourself. Finding creativity is not that hard as long as you enjoy the process.

Not only will you find soul-filling joy in the process of letter writing, but your recipient is sure to, as well. Good luck, you got this!

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You may also enjoy reading Letters to My Mindful Self | Practicing Mindfulness Through Letter Writing, by Wendy Wolff