I started this challenge back in 2012 on a whim, and it turns out that I’m not the only person who enjoys sending mail. It’s like I know a bunch of writers or something. Fancy that.
A couple of things about the challenge, for those of you who are looking at it and feeling like it is too intense.
- I’ve seen you do NaNoWriMo. This is way fewer words.
- It’s only 24 items.
- People love getting physical mail.
- They don’t have to be handwritten.
- They don’t have to be letters. A postcard. Fabric swatch. You name it.
- To repeat, people love getting something personal. They love getting real mail.
But, awkwardly, this year, I have a favor to ask: Don’t write to me.
I know– I know it is totally counter-intuitive, but the thing is that as the founder of Month of Letters, I get more than my fair share of mail. I’m still working my way through the mail I got last February in fact, which cause me more than a little anxiety. So… What I’d like to ask is that you pick a friend who maybe doesn’t get mail and write to them, even if it is unlikely that they will write back to you.
There will still be a connection with that person. So take a moment, sit down, and send someone a tangible expression of the fact that you are thinking about them.
It’s fun. I promise.
I love this idea… But just a little reminder that February has 29 days this year, so there’s 29 items to mail.
Ok, I’m dumb… I forgot you can’t mail anything on Sunday. Duh.
And there’s a federal holiday in the US.
And in Canada the mail doesn’t get picked up on Saturday, either, and we have Family Day on the 15th, so we can get away with 20 letters.
Sigh. Must have bounced the “i” on my first name the first time I commented on this site. It’s really “David”.
All signed up! Now who to send a letter to today…
Hmmm- does mailing the rent check count?
Hi Mary. OK. I am going to jump in on this. I have few ideas already on who to write to. Now where did I put that quill . . . .
I have just pledged to do this… It seems daunting in some ways, but it really isn’t, if you think about it. Important looking forward to it!
Glad you’re playing along.
Whoops… that should have read “I’m really looking forward to it”. . . I need to learn to proofread!
Anyway, I’ve surprised myself because I have sent out 4 letters so far, and it really isn’t as stressful as I imagined!