Can writing a letter change your life?

Published: Sun, 01/04/15

Can writing a letter change your life?

I can’t speak for everyone, but in my experience… the answer is a big, resounding “yes.”

- Early in my career, I landed a copywriting project with an award-winning marketing agency — even though I was very young and inexperienced at the time — because I wrote a follow-up note that caught the director’s attention.

- Last year, I got hired by a major technology corporation — the highest-paying writing project of my entire year — because I left a handwritten “thank you” note in a beach cottage that I had rented for a short vacation… which was later discovered by the company’s HR director. (She owned the house. I had no idea.)

- After meeting my sweetheart, we corresponded through letters, postcards and emails for the first three weeks of our new relationship. (I was traveling out of town, teaching workshops in other cities.) It was a powerful way to connect — slowly, thoughtfully, honestly. Letters brought us closer together.

These are just three examples from my own life.

How about you?

Can you think of a time in your life where writing (or receiving) a letter unlocked a new opportunity, enhanced a friendship, helped you make a difficult choice, or helped you fall more deeply in love?

How long has it been since you sat down and wrote a heartfelt letter to someone you admire, someone you care about, someone you know, or want to know better?

Maybe… it’s time to write a few letters.

This January, celebrate Universal Letter Writing Week (January 8 – 14, 2015) by sending 7 letters to 7 different people.

Feeling a little rusty? Not sure if you'll be able to get the words flowing?

Good news: I’m leading a free e-course on the art of letter writing!


(Over 150 people have already enrolled! Hooray!)

When you sign up for the course, I will email you a new letter writing prompt, every day, throughout Universal Letter Writing Week. You will also receive some of history’s greatest letters — from Ernest Hemingway, Neil A. Armstrong, Oscar Wilde, Marilyn Monroe, and many others.

This course is going to be super inspiring and fun — a very gentle initiation into starting a "daily writing practice," not to mention, a great excuse to reconnect with old (and new) friends.

If you'd like to participate, don't forget to sign up before January 8.

Sincerely, truly, fondly, and with deep respect,

-Alex

PS. Here's a song that I can't stop playing. So good.

PPS. I'd love to spread the word about Universal Letter Writing Week to as many people as I possibly can. If you work in the media — and you'd like to book a communication expert to talk about why letters are still relevant and important, even in our hyper-digital world — I'm your gal.

Check out my Press & Media page or simply hit "reply" to this email to get in touch. I'll share a couple of story angles that could make for a very inspiring radio or TV segment. Thank you!