Every Jane Austen book I read in one of my English classes contains commentaries on the status of women and usually a heartthrob male character that transcends the test of time. Shout out to the iconic hand flex scene in Pride and Prejudice 2005 (iykyk). But there’s one thing they wouldn’t be the same without: writing letters.
The excitement of getting mail has not dwindled since Austen’s time. Getting the package you’ve been waiting for or that birthday card from your grandparents is still the thrill of a lifetime. Even though I’m in college and my mail now often includes bills, I think I’ll always love receiving mail!
Sending letters in the mail is also the perfect way to easily communicate with people who face some challenges when it comes to navigating newer methods of communication. Font size can be easily adjusted to accommodate a reader and it’s a well-known phenomena that most people tend to write more formally than they speak. And, a stamp only costs $0.68!
When communicating with older audiences, such as my grandparents, writing letters has been a game changer for communicating in a way that seems natural to everyone. Bad eye-sight makes texts impossible, hearing impairments make talking on the phone a challenge, and differences in speech and phrases make misunderstanding frequent across generations. Yet, nearly everyone can write a letter.
Letters to my Grandma
When I’m away at college, it can be difficult for me to keep in touch with loved ones back home. One person I’ve decided to make an extra effort with is my grandma.
Now 92-years old, my grandma has trouble hearing while talking on the phone. But, this past summer she showed me some of the letters she wrote to my grandpa while he was in Europe during WW2. My grandparents’ love story is straight out of a movie. They first met in kindergarten and shortly after my grandpa proposed to her on the playground. But while they were apart, they constantly wrote to each, sharing funny anecdotes and reminding each other how much they loved the other.
Reading these letters inspired me to start writing more letters to those I love. It’s so much easier to look back on a letter than scrolling endlessly through your text messages, and it’s nice to have something tangible to hold on to. A letter is like a memory you can hold in your hands, sometimes sprayed with perfume whose bottle has long been empty.
My grandpa recently passed away, so I decided that when I came back to college in the fall I would start writing letters to my grandma. With these letters, we are able to stay in contact and share stories happening in our lives, giving her a new pen pal.
Finding YOUR Audience
If you want to practice writing letters more often, there’s many different audiences to choose from. In fact, once you know your audience, the rest is pretty simple!
You can write to family or friends you are separated from while at college or a spontaneous love letter to your significant other. However, if you don’t have anyone specific in mind, you can even make a card for patients in a hospital or elders in a nursing home.
I think the most fun part of writing a letter is that what you write is totally up to you! Rather than academic writing which students are so caught up with during the semester, writing letters acts as a way to reinstate some enjoyment into the skill of writing. You could include a creative writing piece, such as a poem, some compliments for your reader, or anything else you’re inspired to include in the moment — total freedom!
Sending letters, as opposed to a text, is also an attention grabber! It also demonstrates a level of effort and personability that texts often lack, making long-distance communication a little more special.
No matter who you write to or what topic you write about, it’s practically guaranteed that they will appreciate the thought and effort you dedicated. Take a little extra time this week to write a letter to someone you care about!