Monday, October 24, 2005



Where's My Letter?






Is emailing taking away folks initiative to write beautiful inspiring letters?
I am a lover of the written word. I used to love writing letters but it seems that since we started using email as a way to communicate, I rarely ever have time to jot someone a note. Is letter writing a thing of the past?

19 comments:

Organized Noise said...

I love to write letters. I've written letters to my friends this year, but nobody writes back. The one downside to e-mail is that it all but eliminated the written letter. Receiving a letter means that someone actually took some time out to focus on you. When someone sends you an e-mail, they send it to you and 20 other people. Doesn't mean as much, does it?

Brea said...

My ex and I used to write each other letters all the time. But I can't remember the last time I wrote a letter to a friend. E-mail is much quicker!!!

S A J Shirazi said...

Thanks for reminding us about letters. Honestly, I miss letters. A letter delivered by a postman, with its lines of handwriting, loops and angles that give a reflection of personality and, perhaps, secrets tucked inside the letters. Waiting for the postman to find a letter is old fashioned but many cherish still. Then opening letters, reading, and reading them again. There is a romance in writing and receiving letters that seems almost entirely lost to people particularly those who inhabit the cyberspace in this information era. No?

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

I, too, used to write letters. I tried to stay out of stationery stores because I was serious about my stationery. Forget clothes. I'd spend a small fortunte on paper and matching envelopes. Now...I just write long emails. :-)

Writing letters is a lost art form, for certain. But let me say this: I have gotten so used to typing that my brain is in my fingertips. I will type a long, personal email much more quickly than write a short letter. Thoughts come to my head so quickly, my hand can't keep up.

May I offer a gentle suggestion to people who send "forwards"? Please, please don't make the recipient click through 100 windows before finally getting to the message. It takes up a lot of the recipient's time. I know many people who automatically delete forwards for this reason. The solution: Take the time to do a cut and paste, so the recipient can automatically get to the message. OR, if you are dealing with a file, such as a slide show, re-save it to your computer first, then send the file as an attachment.

This personalizes the forward, and your friend will be more likely to read what you send.

Sylvia Hubbard said...

I'm a love letter philanthropist, but I've found in many relationships men are not into reading. LOL.

So I've mastered the art of texting my feelings to my partner. It's created a wonderful line of communication between the two of us and i enjoy it because its an instant response to my "letter."

DramaFree said...

Yeah, email has taken the place of letters. It's quicker, and more convenient. But when I write emails to friends or someone that I'm dating, I write it as if it was a letter...just as detailed. I usually don't get the same in return though.

Dr. Deb said...

I agree that the art of letter writing is almost lost. I love to write handwritten letters and even go to lengths to find inspiring paper to write on. I find that the whole experience is lost on others, and I rarely get a letter or note back too. Oh well.

Hasan Mubarak said...

Letters by pen used to be much more personalized form of communication. Although email has made the luxury of instant message delivery possible, but unfortunately, it has come on the expense of letter writing.

On the other hand, there is no denying that email has been quite useful in increased and more frequent communication among us.

In that case, it has been a blessing...

Clare said...

I used to have several penpals when I was younger and at college and uni but then I got email and many of them moved over with me. I found I didn't have time to write many letters anymore. However, the other day I got a letter from an old penfriend wanting to write again and it inspired me to write to a couple of my other penfriends :).

I'd forgotten how great it was to receive nice stuff through the post other than bills or junk mail.

Aud*2020 said...

At the risk of sounding like a tight wad, I send e-mails, e-cards, e-invitations and such because of the cost. I agree, though, that written letters are so much more personal, so I try to send them still from time to time. The lag in receipt and the cost are usually the downfalls, but sometimes if I just want to send a happy note I do.

But yes, I love getting personalized mail outside of the junk!

Fresh said...

I believe it is...I used to write to people all the time pre-electronic mail. Now I rarely if ever write to anyone...I've gotten to the point where I rarely even write long drawn out emails. About the only one I will take the time to do that for is my aunt is living overseas. I keep promising that I will sit down with pen and paper but don't. I actually started with about three letter/notes but no one ever responded so I guess that just kind of let the air out of my balloon. It used to be nice to come home and have a handwritten or typed letter waiting the box from someone in the past or someone who lives in another state. Those days are long gone. I used to save all my letter and notecards...they might still be in storage.

E said...

I can't think of the last time I wrote a letter. Yeah, I think I am getting lazy due to technology...:-)

It's definitely a dying art. Well I do mail Christmas cards still where I may write a thought or two. Does that count? :-)

Clay said...

letters are a thing of the past ... i do sometimes miss the personal feeling of letters - it is a sign of the times

Drea Inspired said...

It's true, Rose.

All of my old friends keep in touch with me via email. No post cards or good old fashioned letters (now known as snail mail). But it's nice to have a written letter every now and then....there is something more personal about it...more thought into it.

chele said...

I hope not. I used to love writing letters and occasionally I'll drop a short note to folks that I haven't spoken to in a while.

Hasan Mubarak said...

I wonder if email had been invented for Business communication only...

Jess said...

there is an art to writing letters...

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