What format do you use in your personal letters? What do you include? Ideas? Tips?

[kealani]

Format, length? what's included, style, etc:

1

I try my best to make each letter a personal experience for the reader by trying to reciprocate their level of sharing and "engagement" (IE: responding an 8 page personalized letter with a 100 word "great weather" missive seems poor).

2

I also almost always include various photographs (I am a photographer) and inserts from things of shared interest that I might find or compose myself on various subjects.

3

As far as format, Palmer Business Script with a favorite fountain pen, or. . . a vintage typewriter if my hands and fingers (arthritis) make my handwriting hard to read.

For example: I might have 1 page or a partial with my "best effort" at script, then mixed interesting type fonts after that to make it interesting.

 

Your Turn:

1

What format do you use for personal letters? (style, feel, content, etc)

2

What do you include or enclose with your letters?

3

Any ideas and tips?

 

Thanks for sharing.

Aloha.

http://

 

 

[BHuij]

I keep an A4 pad and an A5 pad of nice paper handy. Nothing terrifically fancy, just completely blank white Rhodia (although I'm about to try Clairfontaine Triomphe and if I like it, I might standardize around that instead). The A5 is perfect for short letters. The A4 is good for longer letters, or shorter letters if I feel like using a broad or stub nib that necessitates using larger handwriting. I have a guide under the page to keep my lines straight.

 

I always put the date at the top, and then just write.

 

But I also love to enclose photographs. Just like with writing letters, I find I never have enough excuses to get in my darkroom and make prints from my film photos. I like to think that my recipients can appreciate, at least on some level, the novelty of a handmade print in much the same way as they hopefully appreciate the novelty of a handwritten letter.

 

I wax seal any envelope that has a handwritten letter and/or photograph in it.

 

I guess my goal, aside from just enjoying the process of writing, is to pass just a little bit of happy feelings along. Knowing that someone took the time to think about you, write to you by hand, take interest in your life, maybe even curate a small gift or piece of art they thought you might enjoy... that imparts a type of warmth I think is sorely lacking in this world.

[TSherbs]

1. Handwritten on plain paper, usually A5. I typically use 3-4 different pens and inks.

 

2. No enclosures (just writing)

 

3. Do whatever you like.

[kealani]

22 hours ago, BHuij said:

I keep an A4 pad and an A5 pad of nice paper handy. Nothing terrifically fancy, just completely blank white Rhodia (although I'm about to try Clairfontaine Triomphe and if I like it, I might standardize around that instead). The A5 is perfect for short letters. The A4 is good for longer letters, or shorter letters if I feel like using a broad or stub nib that necessitates using larger handwriting. I have a guide under the page to keep my lines straight.

 

I always put the date at the top, and then just write.

 

But I also love to enclose photographs. Just like with writing letters, I find I never have enough excuses to get in my darkroom and make prints from my film photos. I like to think that my recipients can appreciate, at least on some level, the novelty of a handmade print in much the same way as they hopefully appreciate the novelty of a handwritten letter.

 

I wax seal any envelope that has a handwritten letter and/or photograph in it.

 

I guess my goal, aside from just enjoying the process of writing, is to pass just a little bit of happy feelings along. Knowing that someone took the time to think about you, write to you by hand, take interest in your life, maybe even curate a small gift or piece of art they thought you might enjoy... that imparts a type of warmth I think is sorely lacking in this world.

Very thoughtful and considerate. . and fun!

Thanks for sharing what you do and ideas for others.

 

k

Everyone is unique in these and all things. Sharing is great!.

[David0966]

I use blank A4 Rhodia (5mm guidesheet underneath) to write my wife's aunt.  There is not much occasion for me to practice my handwriting, so I write to Brenda.   She has not written me back, and I'm not asking, or expecting, etc.  This is very relaxing for me-to write to a kind, loving well-known family member, who knows me pretty well.  I could easily call her and talk-no need (I am all talked out after work).

I used to put all in one envelope and figure out the postage (Atlanta to Charlotte NC)-but that was delaying the letters.  Now I put 4 sheets in a #10 envelope, one regular stamp, usually about 3 go out Monday AM.  She likes stories, so-now I am writing her fiction about a fellow  in the court of Louis the Pious (immediately after Charlemagne-whose dream was for all to be literate, etc). Early 9th century; plenty of medieval action, witches, all sorts of stuff.  They now have a caravan headed to eastern europe in search of pigments-they are going to run into gilded objects, as we detour into that area this weekend.  It is relaxing to me, and more fun than writing psychotherapeutic notes in a journal (for me).

[kealani]

On 3/14/2023 at 11:19 AM, BHuij said:

I keep an A4 pad and an A5 pad of nice paper handy. Nothing terrifically fancy, just completely blank white Rhodia (although I'm about to try Clairfontaine Triomphe and if I like it, I might standardize around that instead). The A5 is perfect for short letters. The A4 is good for longer letters, or shorter letters if I feel like using a broad or stub nib that necessitates using larger handwriting. I have a guide under the page to keep my lines straight.

 

I always put the date at the top, and then just write.

 

But I also love to enclose photographs. Just like with writing letters, I find I never have enough excuses to get in my darkroom and make prints from my film photos. I like to think that my recipients can appreciate, at least on some level, the novelty of a handmade print in much the same way as they hopefully appreciate the novelty of a handwritten letter.

 

I wax seal any envelope that has a handwritten letter and/or photograph in it.

 

I guess my goal, aside from just enjoying the process of writing, is to pass just a little bit of happy feelings along. Knowing that someone took the time to think about you, write to you by hand, take interest in your life, maybe even curate a small gift or piece of art they thought you might enjoy... that imparts a type of warmth I think is sorely lacking in this world.

This is very special and thoughtful, and cathartic to both you and your reader.  If course, we can always "do whatever we want to" which is interesting either as a position or identity or so forth, but to keep in mind "how our letters are received" is empathetic and special.

 

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful missive.

k