I write letters. I started a few years before the pandemic. I'm lucky to have two pen pals who keep up a fairly robust (once a month at least) correspondence. There's nothing like seeing a hand-addressed envelope in the mail, pouring a cup of tea, and reading a nice, thick letter. I believe we could all learn to communicate better if everyone started writing letters. I read my friend's letter. I consider what she wrote. I reread it and formulate a response, write, then reread my response. What would our world look like if people took that kind of time to write and respond to social media posts?
I loved this so much! It feels multi-layered, nuanced and so well crafted.
"Some activities need to be undertaken with no expectations (I try to train myself into this mentality for my career, which is wily and unpredictable and promises me nothing, even as I hope), and letter-writing is one of them." - It seems to me that very gently, you are challenging the" return economy", whereby we expect something back - some return - on every action we perform. Thank you not only for the contents but also for your style, for your lesson in writing.
i have so much adoration for letter writing, an extensive stationery & stamp collection, & a few solid pen pals -- things i'd always enjoyed but which had fallen by the wayside once adulthood set in. like you, the lockdowns reintroduced me to my self. also, i'm still smiling over the mention of a mci bill! weren't those the days.
Nov 30, 2023·edited Nov 30, 2023Liked by Esmé Weijun Wang
@esmewwang, do you have a mailing address you would be comfortable sharing with your readers here? I come to Substack by way of procrastinating on the first draft of my speculative novel. One that borrows from the worlds that I inhabit: psychiatry, supernatural beings and artificial intelligence. I've been recommending your book at work since it came out and, as a novice writer, was delighted to see your newsletter here. Would love to reach out in a handwritten letter to slow down and gather my thoughts on the intersection of things. The right combination of Tomoe River paper + fountain pen + ink!
During the pandemic, I made cards and sent them to friends and people I wanted as friends - notes of appreciation. Like in your effort, I didn’t hear back from many, but I think I did a decent job of not taking it too personally.
I have a shoebox stuffed to overflowing with letters I received in high school, during my own queer, weird, creative kid days. The shoebox is one of my most important possessions, just knowing that I have it and can put my hands on it, even if I haven’t read the letters in I don’t know how long. Having the solidity of them, the proof.
One of the letter-writers from long ago - my first kiss - still writes me, using bespoke stationary. I feel bad that I write back on computer printer paper, typing instead of using my fountain pen with flourishes. I feel the need to get my letters right for the reader, but also for me. It’s like journaling to someone else. My most recent letter for him is already out of date; I wonder if I should I send it or start over, and what is more honest.
I've always been a letter-writing fiend, though few people have taken up the practice with me as enthusiastically as I'd like. I did, however, begin a letter-writing practice with a fellow author a couple years ago, which allowed our friendship to blossom from the shallow waters of acquaintanceship to something much deeper. The slowness of waiting for physical mail makes getting that letter so precious to me. It also helps me craft my responses with greater care and thoughtfulness.
I remember past days when I'd handwrite letters to everyone I could think of, scribbling away at my desk, sometimes sliding the sheet of paper underneath homework to hide it from prying eyes (and disapproving parents haha). It's funny you mention writing from Taiwan, because I used to send letters to cousins and friends in Taiwan as well. I loved the intimacy of it.
If only more people would be willing to exchange letters with me! And on that note, I must respond to the latest one from my friend I mentioned above. ^-^
I love this. I would love to write more letter, but sadly, and this sounds awful, I know many of the people I would write letters to would think I had gone crazy not sending an email or a text, and that gets in the way. I do push back on birthdays and Christmas by handwriting long messages in cards and including my postal address for hinting purposes. Not one single person has ever responded with a letter....:-(
I used to write letters to my friends who stayed behind in Mexico when my family moved to the U.S. I also wrote letters to one of my uncles while he was in jail. I've had a few friends with whom I've kept correspondence. It's something I definitely want to do more of. I love the idea of using special paper and pens to make letter writing more special.
I love love letters. It’s been awhile since I’ve done much letter writing, unless you count paragraphs-long missives on occasion cards. In 2007, I meandered around the US East coast with a backpack, and I wrote some letters during that time. A few (especially to a then love interest I now refer to as the mountain man), I copied into my journal before sending. It was a one-sided exchange, kind of necessarily given I was roaming. I do remember hinting that I could receive posts via general delivery in whatever city I’d be in next. But that was mostly because how romantic would that be? more than any expectation he’d be inclined to write even if it didn’t involve tracking mean. Even in person, he was more the silent type. It’s fun to read the letters now.
This is gorgeous. I wrote letters during the pandemic, too, and I bought an absurd amount of stationery, only to give up on the letter writing eventually. I want to be a letter writer, but perhaps I am more of a stationery collector? You‘ve inspired me to give it another go... It is such a beautiful practice. 💌
thank you for your sincere and bright voice. I also love writing letters. I write to you from the coastal hills of California on an overcast day. The rain has been blessing us on and off, not like the rain of last winter, where branches from trees struck the house for minutes on end. This rain is tranquil. I sense most the people who write on Substack are younger than me. This happens as time goes by. To report on the day here, chickens were running surprisingly fast across the grass and I am pretty sure it was sheer joy as there was no predator. My cat's pelts are winter shiny. The sheep and goats are thankfully quiet as they can sound like very drunk old men who smoke and drink excessively when they are hungry. Until the grass gets taller they are mostly eating grain. Blessings to you, and good luck, letter writing sister.
I write letters. I started a few years before the pandemic. I'm lucky to have two pen pals who keep up a fairly robust (once a month at least) correspondence. There's nothing like seeing a hand-addressed envelope in the mail, pouring a cup of tea, and reading a nice, thick letter. I believe we could all learn to communicate better if everyone started writing letters. I read my friend's letter. I consider what she wrote. I reread it and formulate a response, write, then reread my response. What would our world look like if people took that kind of time to write and respond to social media posts?
I loved this so much! It feels multi-layered, nuanced and so well crafted.
"Some activities need to be undertaken with no expectations (I try to train myself into this mentality for my career, which is wily and unpredictable and promises me nothing, even as I hope), and letter-writing is one of them." - It seems to me that very gently, you are challenging the" return economy", whereby we expect something back - some return - on every action we perform. Thank you not only for the contents but also for your style, for your lesson in writing.
i have so much adoration for letter writing, an extensive stationery & stamp collection, & a few solid pen pals -- things i'd always enjoyed but which had fallen by the wayside once adulthood set in. like you, the lockdowns reintroduced me to my self. also, i'm still smiling over the mention of a mci bill! weren't those the days.
@esmewwang, do you have a mailing address you would be comfortable sharing with your readers here? I come to Substack by way of procrastinating on the first draft of my speculative novel. One that borrows from the worlds that I inhabit: psychiatry, supernatural beings and artificial intelligence. I've been recommending your book at work since it came out and, as a novice writer, was delighted to see your newsletter here. Would love to reach out in a handwritten letter to slow down and gather my thoughts on the intersection of things. The right combination of Tomoe River paper + fountain pen + ink!
I would love a letter! You can reach me at 95 3rd Street, 2nd Floor #0582, San Francisco CA 94103
Thank you!!
During the pandemic, I made cards and sent them to friends and people I wanted as friends - notes of appreciation. Like in your effort, I didn’t hear back from many, but I think I did a decent job of not taking it too personally.
I have a shoebox stuffed to overflowing with letters I received in high school, during my own queer, weird, creative kid days. The shoebox is one of my most important possessions, just knowing that I have it and can put my hands on it, even if I haven’t read the letters in I don’t know how long. Having the solidity of them, the proof.
One of the letter-writers from long ago - my first kiss - still writes me, using bespoke stationary. I feel bad that I write back on computer printer paper, typing instead of using my fountain pen with flourishes. I feel the need to get my letters right for the reader, but also for me. It’s like journaling to someone else. My most recent letter for him is already out of date; I wonder if I should I send it or start over, and what is more honest.
I've always been a letter-writing fiend, though few people have taken up the practice with me as enthusiastically as I'd like. I did, however, begin a letter-writing practice with a fellow author a couple years ago, which allowed our friendship to blossom from the shallow waters of acquaintanceship to something much deeper. The slowness of waiting for physical mail makes getting that letter so precious to me. It also helps me craft my responses with greater care and thoughtfulness.
I remember past days when I'd handwrite letters to everyone I could think of, scribbling away at my desk, sometimes sliding the sheet of paper underneath homework to hide it from prying eyes (and disapproving parents haha). It's funny you mention writing from Taiwan, because I used to send letters to cousins and friends in Taiwan as well. I loved the intimacy of it.
If only more people would be willing to exchange letters with me! And on that note, I must respond to the latest one from my friend I mentioned above. ^-^
Ooh, I was talking to you on Notes about substack being like a letter to a friend the other day! How delightful to read your history of letter writing
I love this. I would love to write more letter, but sadly, and this sounds awful, I know many of the people I would write letters to would think I had gone crazy not sending an email or a text, and that gets in the way. I do push back on birthdays and Christmas by handwriting long messages in cards and including my postal address for hinting purposes. Not one single person has ever responded with a letter....:-(
I just put three postcards in the mail this week--short missives, but artful and slow all the same.
What a pleasure to read. So nuanced and dear. Thank you.
I used to write letters to my friends who stayed behind in Mexico when my family moved to the U.S. I also wrote letters to one of my uncles while he was in jail. I've had a few friends with whom I've kept correspondence. It's something I definitely want to do more of. I love the idea of using special paper and pens to make letter writing more special.
I love love letters. It’s been awhile since I’ve done much letter writing, unless you count paragraphs-long missives on occasion cards. In 2007, I meandered around the US East coast with a backpack, and I wrote some letters during that time. A few (especially to a then love interest I now refer to as the mountain man), I copied into my journal before sending. It was a one-sided exchange, kind of necessarily given I was roaming. I do remember hinting that I could receive posts via general delivery in whatever city I’d be in next. But that was mostly because how romantic would that be? more than any expectation he’d be inclined to write even if it didn’t involve tracking mean. Even in person, he was more the silent type. It’s fun to read the letters now.
What a beautiful story! Thank you so much for sharing.
Loved this!
This is gorgeous. I wrote letters during the pandemic, too, and I bought an absurd amount of stationery, only to give up on the letter writing eventually. I want to be a letter writer, but perhaps I am more of a stationery collector? You‘ve inspired me to give it another go... It is such a beautiful practice. 💌
Dear Esmé in Tai Wan,
thank you for your sincere and bright voice. I also love writing letters. I write to you from the coastal hills of California on an overcast day. The rain has been blessing us on and off, not like the rain of last winter, where branches from trees struck the house for minutes on end. This rain is tranquil. I sense most the people who write on Substack are younger than me. This happens as time goes by. To report on the day here, chickens were running surprisingly fast across the grass and I am pretty sure it was sheer joy as there was no predator. My cat's pelts are winter shiny. The sheep and goats are thankfully quiet as they can sound like very drunk old men who smoke and drink excessively when they are hungry. Until the grass gets taller they are mostly eating grain. Blessings to you, and good luck, letter writing sister.