How to Write an Interesting Letter

Although it's a dying art, writing letters is still most definitely an art. Making them interesting requires a little craft, a little consideration and a touch of creativity.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Personalized Stationery
• Plain Stationery
• Writing Papers
• Writing Pens
• Oxford English Dictionary On CD-ROM

1. Do a bit of prep work, as you would for any piece of art.

2. Gather preceding correspondence with your pen pal, photos or news stories, bits of poetry, recipes, sketches, even scraps of material or pressed flowers - whatever would be of interest.

3. Decide on your materials. Will your letter be on traditional stationery, or will you use graph paper, sketchbook paper, musical scoring or a card of some sort?

4. Consider telling the news in an interesting manner, such as in a poem or song.

5. Keep the journalism rules in mind for a straight read: who, what, where, when and why.

6. Keep your recipient in mind. If he's a fashion-oriented person, describe what Aunt Jewel wore to the Bar Mitzvah, or the feel of the cashmere sweater you just bought. If she's a musician, describe the sidewalk aria you heard.

7. Include pictures, if you have them. Each is worth a thousand words - even if it's a bit fuzzy.

8. Remember that what elevates a good letter to greatness is often analysis of the facts. For example, "His face told me so much more than his words. I felt he was being sincere for only the second time in our lives."

9. Reference a past letter if you're answering questions or continuing a saga. "Yes, as a matter of fact I did go to medical school as a result of your advice."

10. Always date a letter, and note the time and weather if the recipient is in another climate, time zone or country. They might keep it forever.

Tips & Warnings

• Make certain to number pages for clarity. Use the computer/typewriter or ink for ease of legibility, and don't write on both sides of a thin piece of note paper.
• A handwritten letter is a wonderful, personal touch - if your handwriting is legible.
• Form letters are cold and impersonal, especially computer-oriented ones.

on 11/22/2005 Before you start get a piece of scrap paper and make a list of everything that you have been up to so that you don't run out of ideas and bore your reader to death!

on 11/22/2005 I like collecting odd pieces of paper that I find. Writing on the back of a nice textured paper or a receipt from a foreign country or an amusing advertisement may add a personal touch.

on 11/22/2005 Make it a work of art. Think about creative ways for them to open the letter (ribbon binding?), draw a picture (they'll love it no matter what), make up your own Mad-Libs. Make it as fun and creative as possible using unusual items.

on 11/22/2005 Not just how they are, but what they're doing, how their life is - friends, family, pets, work, school. Asking questions makes it easier for them to write back, too, and hopefully they'll follow suit!

on 11/22/2005 When you're describing an event, use the active voice and use quotation marks in speech.
Also, put humor into the incidents you describe.