Do you ever hand write letters or know anyone who does?

I do a lot of penpalling if that counts?

Yes I do penpalling if that counts

I love writing (and receiving) letters. I have a collection of fountain pens and (far too much) bottled ink. And beautiful paper to write on.

Everything about it sparks little pockets of joy for me. The ink bottles are so pretty, like a small bookcase full of magic potions. Writing with a lovely smooth fountain pen on quality paper makes me happy. Receiving a handwritten letter in the post is so lovely, among the bills and junk mail.

Letter writing makes me slow down, think about what I want to write, and take some time out from doom scrolling and the pressures of modern life. It's good for my mental health.

Each letter is different in style as well as content, depending on the recipient. Sometimes silly and creative, sometimes more sensible. You can include sketches, ideas, hopes, dreams, stories etc. Or just make it chatty and write about your day and any news you may have. You have a blank page and a pen. You can do whatever you want with it.

My handwriting isn't anything amazing and I'm frankly terrible at sketches or drawing but it's so much fun. My favourite correspondents are the people who are funny and creative but I also love letters from fellow ink and pen lovers who spend most of their letters writing about the pens and inks they are using! And I love letters from friends with their latest news and as a general catch up. Even friends who I am regularly in touch with on WhatsApp or whatever. People tend to write about things in their letters that they wouldn't necessarily talk about in a fast moving WhatsApp group or chat.

Maybe I've made myself sound peculiar now, alongside the OP's partner. 🤣 But I don't care. You'll have to prise my beautiful letter writing materials out of my cold, dead hands. 🤣🤣

I’m 45 and still write letters to an ex boyfriend from when I was 17-18. He’s not on social media and we don’t want to be in constant contact on WhatsApp so hand write letters a couple of times a year. It’s nice - takes me back to the days of penpals.

He sounds lovely! Now my DGM is no longer with us I don’t write letters anymore, but I send loads of Christmas cards, and other greetings cards year round. I’m 39.

It’ll be a sad day when the postal service dies out.

If you enjoy reading letters, I can really recommend the book "The Correspondent" by Virgine Evans. It is absolutely beautiful.

I'm 40 and have been writing to my Aunt for over a decade. She used to send me typed and printed letters back! She's computer savvy and can email but letter writing is special.

I also only send three letters a year. One in May to thank her for my daughter's Easter and Birthday cards. A birthday card for her in September and a letter in her Christmas card.

Keeps things nice and regular

Oh gawd no it wasn't like that! It was like a social network. Some became close friends.

Urgh, that reminds me of the letters I'd receive saying 'write to nine more people and tell them to write to nine more!'. That was just too much, even though there was literally nothing to do on a Sunday 😆

I’m 45 and I write them to my friend since she once sent me a very special letter. Actually hoping to write to more friends this year and hoping they reciprocate! I think it’s lovely!

Meghan Markle writes letters in her OTT calligraphy.

Meghan Markle writes letters in her OTT calligraphy.

I agree with this although I’m probably not classed as young anymore! We always wrote a thank you letter when we were children and still do, although add a lot more detail now. I write to my godmother and in fact had to order a new writing set yesterday!

And he's right. A hell of a lot more thought, time and effort goes into a letter. I don't see how anyone could argue otherwise without being totally disingenuous.

And a letter written on good quality paper by someone who was taught good handwriting, and who can spell and punctuate, is far more aesthetically pleasing than an e-mail, or even worse, a text in txt spk.

@PainterInPeril I looked up MakingMeadows. Lovely stuff.
I think I might spend all my Christmas present money there.

It's interesting to hear how many people still use a fountain pen. I've had mine decades and choosing new ink is one of my guilty pleasures. I collect them like some people collect shoes.

"He said his reason is that he feels more thought and emotion goes into a letter when you have to take the time to write it by hand and post it."

And he's right. A hell of a lot more thought, time and effort goes into a letter. I don't see how anyone could argue otherwise without being totally disingenuous. Writing a letter makes use of your language skills, imagination and intellect far more than a dashed off text or email. The actual process can be both therapeutic and thought provoking and letters can last a lifetime, holding wonderful memories of people you've lost or loved. Basically it's a no brainer.

My grandmother used to be a prolific letter-writer to friends who lived all over the world, as she kept in touch with a lot of the people that she went to school with! Over the years, it's whittled down a lot as many of them have since died. She now sends handwritten letters and picture postcards to me 😊

We converse fully in letters since I've moved away, because she is very deaf, is too stubborn to get her hearing aids fixed, and I am too polite (and find it exhausting!) to have to shout at her in the hope that she can hear me! Also, trying to work in phone calls around her hectic social life and TV viewing is very trying...

I love writing letters. I do sometimes with a couple of friends.
I used to have about 50 penpals when I was a teen. We had these little books where we put our details and stuff we liked and you pass them on and add your details, I guess that was the old version of social media?! ❤️

I don't write letters but my mum does, she's in her fifties, so fully versed in all things technological but also of an age where you did write letters etc at university.

She has one friend with whom she particularly corresponds by letter - sending one every couple of weeks I think, and others she just occasionally writes to.

Also, if we don't use it we'll lose it. Denmark has recently stopped using letter post which is such a shame. We should ask who might be next?

I recently decided to buy some writing paper and discovered a business called Making Meadows. I bought some beautiful wildlife designs. Highly recommend! And no, I have no affiliation, I'm just a satisfied customer. 😁

I write to pen friends around the planet, and have done so for over 50 years. It's enabled me to have some fab adventures by meeting and even living with some of them for a while., and also to reciprocate their hospitality .
Plus, finding a lovely fat, arty, colourful envelope on the mat, full of chat and news, causing me to sit and read it at my leisure is an absolute tonic and puts my world to rights. Peculiar? Maybe only if you don't!!

Funnily enough, just been looking through old paperwork and found a love letter from my first boyfriend! I don't think today's youngsters will get the same kind of emotion I felt reading that letter if they randomly find a text or email in a few decades time (which is unlikely as they'd be long lost or deleted upon change of device or loss of old data).

Why not, it's still such a pleasure to receive a hand written letter. When our son died ten years ago we received so many written letters, still have them today and re-read and cry on his anniversary.