Dear Reader,

There are many ways to while away the winter months: cozied up on the couch binging TV shows (or scrolling on your phone), perfecting a new recipe, or even heading outdoors to embrace the cold. May we suggest another worthy pastime? Why not embrace the epistolary life and become practiced in the art of letter-writing? From creative and crafty paper options, to beautiful pens, to the art of calligraphy, there are so many wonderful ways to say hello to family and friends near and far.

The Supplies: 

Personalized Paper: Having your own stationery is decidedly grown-up. And thanks to the internet, there are so many options! You can activate your crafting gene and make your own, via various YouTube videos. There are also some neat photo layouts you can peruse, if you’d like notecards with your family (or pets!) emblazoned on the front. If you’d like a more traditional approach, you can of course order from some neat options (including eco-friendly!), or you can make your own in Microsoft Word.

The Perfect Pen: Now that you’ve secured your paper, it’s time to consider the ink. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t handwrite as much as we used to, but the perfect pen can help to make your letter-writing shine. Options abound, from glitter pens to archival instruments, to no-bleed offerings, to calligraphy-friendly (and low-cost!) options.

The Recipients:

Dear John: A far-away friend would love to hear from you, but if you’ve exhausted your Rolodex (or contacts list), there are so many ways for your missives to make a difference in the world. There’s The Letter Project, a group of women around the world who write supportive notes to those in need, while Letters Against Depression sends messages of hope. If you’d like to occupy the kids, they can write to elders via this project or this one. Finally, options abound to support the U.S. troops via mail, with projects like Operation Gratitude and A Million Thanks.

The Style:

Font Frenzy: Beautiful handwriting can be learned. Online workshops can teach you the basics, and there are downloadable PDFs to practice on. Of course, YouTube tutorials are plentiful as well, so it’s easy and cost-effective to see what works best for you.