How To Write A Personal Letter, According To A Hallmark Card Writer

Personal writing can foster authentic connection, boost your creativity and “brighten someone’s day,” says Courtney Taylor, a senior writer at Hallmark Cards. When done right, “It feels like someone’s really seeing you.” And all it takes is a little time and intention.

Lead with vulnerability and curiosity

Be open and vulnerable with the person on the other end of the message.

• Ask open-ended questions and let your own personal experience inform your curiosity. Ask the receiver if they’ve had a similar experience, or if they could offer you advice.

Tell your authentic story, regardless of medium

When writing to loved ones, it might be easier to write as yourself without airs or self-consciousness

• Writing to an acquaintance, a co-worker or an anonymous stranger can feel like a much bigger task
• Make sure the language you use and stories you share are appropriate for the setting

To write more letters, set goals and craft your space to encourage creativity

Sonia Cancian is a historian specializing in migration, and an expert of immigrant letters and love letters

• Taking the time to actually put pen to paper lights up our creativity and stretches our vocabulary in ways that other forms of communication don’t
• The best way of accessing and expressing gratitude may be different for each person
• Start with a quick note in the mail and then see where that goes
• You don’t have to wait for that special occasion or the spark of inspiration
• Gratitude is being endorsed by wellness blogs and magazines
• Studies have found that giving thanks and counting blessings can help people sleep better, lower stress and improve interpersonal relationships
• There’s also some evidence it could lower your risk of heart disease and lower symptoms of depression for some people
• A growing body of research on the benefits of gratitude
• Making gratitude lists is one way to accessing those benefits

Aim for “universal specifics”

“The universal in the specific” is a common tool in the writing world – but it’s much easier understood than accomplished.

• Being specific in your personal writing will help create a fuller picture that better reflects your story and your relationship with the reader.

To find the right tone, know your audience

Focus less on the occasion and more on the relationship you have with the person you are writing to

• When trying to connect emotionally, don’t be scared to go all in
• Share your favorite memory with your reader, and how they made you feel

Source