“To write is human, to receive a letter: Divine!” said Susan Lendroth, a communications professional and a children’s author.

Once, receiving a letter through the post was an occasion, something to get excited about. It might be from a friend, a relative, a lover. Letters are a tangible way to share our thoughts, hopes and desires with another person.

However, as we embrace this digital world that divine experience is fading. We’re now more likely to get an email – or rather a text – than a physical note. As we continue to march our way down the digital superhighway the art of letter writing is slowly fading.

However, there’s a day dedicated to writing letters; September 1 marks World Letter Writing Day. The event was founded in 2014 by Richard Simpkin to keep the art of letter writing alive.

Pen Pals

Sharing letters creates bonds and friendships – even between strangers. Pen pals are usually strangers who write to each other, particularly via postal mail. Their friendship is based on exchanging letters.

There are many internet sites which can help you find a pen pal, including:

Having a pen-pal friendship can help ease feelings of loneliness, which can boost our health and wellbeing. For example, creating and keeping a friendship base can decrease our risk of health problems like diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes.

There are many things that can trigger feelings of social isolation, and it can affect anyone at any time. Our Your East Sussex article hears one person’s story of how they managed their feelings.

Understand more about loneliness, its symptoms and tips on how to deal with it.

Writing letters

In my teens, I wrote letters to a girlfriend who had moved to the other side of the world (otherwise known as Lancaster University). Each one I wrote felt like I was speaking to her directly. Each one I received from her reduced the miles that separated us. Letters felt more personal than our regular phone calls.

In decades to come, our children will not find a stack of letters, bound by a ribbon tucked away in a dusty box. They will not have the joy of reading the love letters that formed the foundations of a loved one’s relationship.

Today, we can read through the personal letters of great people from Queen Victoria to Lord Byron. Reading their letters gives us insight into the person, more than their art, work or public life ever could. It’s like they’re speaking to us from a different age.

For example, we’ve more than 15,000 letters that Charles Darwin either wrote or received. He used one of those letters to first suggest his natural selection theory to his close friend.

We also have the many letters shared between Queen Victoria and Albert that read like a romance novel of a bygone age. Albert wrote to his future wife:

‘According to your wish, and by the urging of my heart to talk to you and open my heart to you, I send these lines’.

How to write a letter

Humans have been writing and sharing letters for around 2,500 years. We know of letters first being shared in ancient India and Egypt.

The art of letter writing has of course developed in that time. Today there are two forms of letter: formal and informal. The style and tone of your letter will depend on the type of letter you’re writing.

Key parts of any letter are:

  • including your contact information and date at the top of the page
  • deciding whether you address the person using the word “Dear”, “To Whom It May Concern” or something more romantic
  • saying goodbye? This can include “yours sincerely’ ‘yours faithfully’ ‘best wishes’ or simply ‘love from’
  • sign your name under the goodbye.

Learn more about how to write a letter.

Letters in music

Music, arguably, would not be the same without lyrics. Songs throughout the years have used writing letters as a literary device in which to express their thoughts.

In 2000, the American rapper Eminem released Stan. The song’s premise is the famous artist receives a letter from a fan, and he then writes back to him.

The song is similar in spirit – if not content – to a Leonard Cohen song from 1972. In the song Famous Blue Raincoat Cohen sings:

‘Its four in the morning, the end of December
‘I’m writing you now just to see if you’re better…’

The Beatles used this literary device in two of their famous songs. In 1963 they released P.S I love You. The song contained the words:

‘Treasure these few words ’til we’re together
Keep all my love forever
P.S. I love you’

Then in 1967 they sung Paper Back Writer with its opening lines: ‘Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look?’

Reach out to a loved one

As our lives become busier, it’s easy to lose touch with loved ones, friends and even old colleagues.

This month, instead of sending a text why not write that person a letter? Brighten up their day by surprising them with a handwritten note. Let them know you’re thinking of them and show you care with a simple, heartfelt message they can keep forever.