A handwritten letter for all
As we approach Father’s Day in the UK, we wanted to reflect on an often forgotten fact: a letter is a gift for everyone and anyone. No matter your age, gender, sex. Whether you’re well or unwell. A letter is a chance to (re)connect. A way to fight isolation that many are affected by - your own and the reader’s. An opportunity to bring a smile to someone’s face, that they can return to again and again.
There’s a modern myth that seems to have snuck in, or perhaps hasn’t gone away, that suggests that writing a letter to a man needs to be different to writing a letter to a woman. Now, we’re not talking about romantic letters but we would suggest that even in this case, the following still stands. When you’re writing a letter, you’re making a connection with another human being - male or female doesn’t come into it. We all crave connection, and we all have the ability to create that - no matter who we’re writing to.
Often we’re asked about male-friendly or female-friendly letters - how to write them, the shoulds and shouldn’ts. Our thinking is that the letter you write just needs to be person friendly. The best letters share a little of the writer’s life; building a connection based on either a shared experience, or providing insight into something new.
In the run up to Father’s Day, and during Loneliness Awareness week, we have a suggestion. Think about all the significant men in your life who might need a boost of contact and connection. Could you reach out with a short letter? Here’s some ideas to get you started.
Keep it brief
Especially if you’re not sure what to write, don’t overburden yourself. If you’re looking for some inspiration, take this example from Alan as a way to get you started.
Make an observation
“Observations, what a begone generation might have called aperçus, that are not haikus, not poems, not tiny short stories, but are the distilled delights in the ordinary that become extraordinary that we go to poetry and fiction to seek…”
Neil Gaiman on Miranda Keeling’s The Year I Stopped to Notice
It could be as simple as sharing something you’ve overheard: if you want to find out the power of this, take a look at our friend Miranda Keeling’s Twitter to learn more about stopping to notice.
Find a smile to share
Or listen to Alison and Brian’s interview with BBC Solent where they reminisce of the sorts of things Alison used to write to Brian about - including the infamous hula-hooping class! Sharing something that made you laugh, or maybe even embarrassed you a little, will bring the moment to life in a new light - one shared with a loved one, or a stranger, via the page.
Need some letter writing support?
There are lots more resources for writing to friends and family here, but if you’re looking for a bit more support, why not join us for our next letter writing workshop? Taking place this Thursday at 7pm BST, you join like-minded folk to talk postcards and picnics whilst we explore some exercises to get you writing.