World Letter Writing Day falls on September 1, 2023. Celebrate this fantastic initiative by sending a letter – to an old friend, a family member, someone you admire, to advocate for a cause or even to a stranger!
World Letter Writing Day was founded by Richard Simpkin, an Australian author, artist and photographer. Simpkin felt that letter writing was becoming a thing of the past and he wanted to do something about it. He picked up his pen and started writing to people who he considered to be Australian legends.
To his surprise and joy, he received many letters in response – so many that he decided to publish them in a book titled “Australian Legends”. Simpkin is now something of an Australian legend himself – having built on this experience to found World Letter Writing Day in 2014. He now travels to schools, holding letter-writing workshops to promote this beautiful by dying art form.
Letter writing had a boost during the pandemic
During the pandemic, many countries around the world experienced an uptick in the number of letters being sent. Part of this was practicality; people wanted lockdown-friendly ways to stay in touch with people they loved. Yet, also, the qualities that make letter writing special took on new meaning during a time of global crisis.
Letters make wonderful keepsakes – people often hold on to them for decades. You can read and reread a letter in a way that never happens with digital correspondence. This permanence was particularly reassuring during the pandemic.
Letters are tangible. The tactile nature of holding a sheet of paper offers a different, more immediate and real experience than reading words from a screen. And knowing that the pen strokes were created by hand by someone close to you makes that letter treasurable. This sense of personal connection was another really powerful draw to letter writing during the pandemic.
Write a letter to celebrate Letter Writing Day 2023
To celebrate Letter Writing Day 2023, why not write a letter?
There might be many reasons to write a letter:
- Take a leaf out of Richard Simpkin’s book and pen a letter to a “legend” you admire. Let them know the difference they have made to your life or why you admire them.
- Write a letter to an old penfriend to kick start your handwritten correspondence once again.
- Write a letter to a loved one. Include sketches and doodles in the letter to make it more personal and fun.
- Write a letter to a former neighbor or work colleague with whom you’ve lost touch. Thank them for the impact they had in your life.
- Write to a politician or someone in a position of power about a cause you feel strongly about. Urge them to take positive action.
- Write a letter in support of a global movement: for example, the Postcrossing project demonstrates the continuing global appetite for sending and receiving postcards – keeping communities around the world in touch with people in other regions and raising global awareness for local challenges.
What next?
Find more ideas about letter writing on our blog: