Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« Currently Hanging: Mary Cassatt Mee… | Are Mitt Romney and Charlie Crist S… »

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Books The Challenge: Write a Letter for Every Day in February

Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 1:26 PM

Slog tipper Ryan points out this website, which challenges people, National Novel Writing Month-style, to write a letter for every day in February:

In the month of February, mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch.

Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items.

All you are committing to is to mail 24 items. Why 24? There are four Sundays and one US holiday. In fact, you might send more than 24 items. You might develop a correspondence that extends beyond the month. You might enjoy going to the mail box again.

I love writing letters. I don't do it as much as I would like—I owe letters to two good friends at the moment—but it's a fine way to get perspective on what's going on in your life, and an even better way to gain a deeper understanding of your friends. And coming home to something personal in the mailbox is one of the great pleasures. I think this is a great idea.

Comments (12) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Twenty-four? I'm not a machine! Couldn't we find a shorter month?

Posted by MacCrocodile on January 26, 2012 at 1:32 PM

i love this idea, toooo! i communicate nearly exclusively via the comically slow Canada Post with my best friend, despite also being connected via facebook and email. we've been doing it since she spent the summer of 2005 abroad virtually disconnected from everything electronic, and we've just continued on.
i also write post cards and notes to my mother and crazy-ass sister. i get points for the communication without subjecting myself to insanely long phone calls or the expectation of rapid response that comes from email. letter-writing can be used for good and evil. :)

Posted by AmyC on January 26, 2012 at 1:41 PM

I already wrote a few today to get ready. My favorite so far were "X", "q" and "Я", but there are so many things to write-I'm really looking forward to this challenge!

Posted by Unregistered User on January 26, 2012 at 1:53 PM

What's a "letter"?

Posted by Vince on January 26, 2012 at 2:19 PM

Hmm. Do I know 24 people still?

But I think I'll give it a shot--if we do this often enough, we might be able to save the Post Office.

Posted by seatackled on January 26, 2012 at 2:30 PM

This'll be fun. I'm going to put my resume with a card saying "find me a job" in every return envelope a Democrat seeking (re-)election mails me. I'll have my 24 limit no problem. For those wondering where to get additional addresses: PostCrossing can help you out.

Posted by Keister Button on January 26, 2012 at 2:47 PM

What a great idea! This will make the post office solvent again!

Posted by Weekilter on January 26, 2012 at 3:05 PM

In the past I've sent a piece of mail every day for a month to the same person (no, it wasn't stalking). It was interesting (to me) to find out the order that the items were received. There was lots of leap-frogging going on in the usps system.

Posted by stinkbug on January 26, 2012 at 3:12 PM

But what would I say that I haven't already said on Facebook?

Oh wait, I can write to my extended family who isn't on Facebook (my nephews in particular because kids REALLY LOVE mail)...and I can mail all those useless coupons and "helpful" articles back to my mom while I'm at it. OK, I'm in.

Posted by Baby Blue on January 26, 2012 at 4:46 PM