The Lost Art of Writing

Before you throw something at your screen, let me explain.

I’m not talking about the writing that you and I do on a daily…okay, at least weekly basis, the writing that we send out into the world, hoping to make a bit of money. I’m talking about the warm fuzzy writing, the thank you notes, the letters, the sticky-note or maybe even messages-in-a-bottle—writing that reaches out from our hearts to other specific hearts. I’m beginning to think that kind of writing is falling by the wayside of technology and that makes my heart more than a bit sad.

And so as we dash into the last month of the year, maybe you and I can do our part to bring back the lost art of writing. I just happen to have a couple of ideas to help us find it!


Model Writing

Do your kids see you writing? I’m sure they know you write—we certainly talk and/or complain about it enough! But do you ever write around them? Do they see the process? When you model your writing, you give your children the opportunity to see how thoughts become words, words sentences, and sentences can become anything!

Take community politics. If you’re that citizen who rallies the governmental troops for changes through a letter-writing campaign, share that process with your kids.

Or maybe you rally the troops on a smaller scale. Instead of telling your family about the wants and needs of the household, get a chalkboard and write messages. Encourage your kids to write a letter to Santa, not just a list. Put a sticky note in a backpack with a sentence or two of encouragement.

Look for ways to include writing in everyday life and then watch how your family’s skills grow.


Resist Short Cuts

Oh, the short cuts technology provides! It’s so much easier to grab the cell phone and call to say thanks or congratulations to our friends and family. But sending a note is something to be treasured.

A few years ago, a dear family friend in failing health had moved to North Carolina, and we made several trips to see Ann. My daughter was unable to go, and so instead, she wrote to her. I assumed it was just a short note, but when I arrived for the last time in North Carolina, Ann’s brother showed me the “note.” It was a two-page long letter!

He went and on and on about that letter and how much it had meant to Ann! He practically knew it by heart, since she’d read it so often. It had been a small thing to my daughter, taking the time to write that letter, but it had been a whole treasure chest of love for Ann.

Sure, a text or comment may last forever out there in the internet world, but no one ever bundled a bunch of texts or comments and tied them with a ribbon. A face-to-face call is nice, but memories fade with time.

Which brings us to the probable reason why the art of writing is fading from our busy lives. There’s no denying that it takes more time to write a meaningful thank you note, a cheery letter, or a happy congratulations. But if we can write 50,000 words for Nano, we can manage a few more words for the people we love.

Let’s challenge ourselves this holiday season to send a true gift from the heart. We’re writers! And we can bring back the lost art of writing, word by lovely word.

Cathy C. Hall is a kidlit author and humor writer and she's challenging herself to write letters--actual letters--during December. Though she'll probably put them in an envelope and mail 'em, she does love a good message in a bottle. (Isn't that the best photo? Check out Pexels for more fabulous and free photos. And check out more about Cathy here! She's kinda fab, too.)