A creative lady named Gina, left a comment on a blog I was reading and it was such a good comment about letter writing that I had to share it.

My good friend and I (she lives in another city) decided to write a letter once a month to each other for 6 months. We divided the letter into: what I’m thinking about right now….something interesting I heard lately…what new sensual experience we had (a bubble bath…a great dinner…some interesting recipe) …what we were reading or what piece of art we had stumbled upon we really liked….and a few other minor categories…. The only rule was, of course, we had to hand write it. It was a wonderful experience…my friend and I first off discovered we had never seen each other’s handwriting because we always email, message etc. As time went on…we often doodled or even colored the borders around the paper…just because it seemed it brought out the creativity in each of us. It was a wonderful friendship project and we learned so much about each other too.

One of the reasons this idea is so great is that it creates a structured environment in which to write a letter. Often people think their lives are boring or that they have nothing to say. This method actually tells you what to write about. It’s a perfect jumping off spot.

Why not try Gina’s cool idea? Get a friend to do it with you. Set up your categories to write about and then try it for a few months and see how it goes.

[photo credit: soartsyithurts]

Tags: idea, structure, suggestion, writing help

The holidays are a natural time for written communication.  We send holiday greeting cards, give cards with our seasonal gifts, send invitations and thank you notes.  It’s a snail mail bonanza!

During a quiet moment, sit down with pen and paper and make a list of everyone you are thankful for in your life.  If the list is too large, feel free to pare it down to something that doesn’t feel overwhelming.  Remember, this is supposed to be fun (not feel like a chore or obligation)!

Every day between now and the end of the month, choose a new person or two from the list.  Write them an open and heartfelt letter telling them all the ways you are thankful that they are in your life.  Or you might express gratitude for some impact they have made in your life in the past.

What a wonderful surprise for family and friends to come home and find a real treat of a personal letter in their mailbox!

Post here and let me know how it goes!

Tags: creative, holiday, idea, letter writing, letters, writing prompt