September 1st is World Letter Writing Day, and with that in mind I bring you five different ways to be inspired to write letters, from books and movies to letters themselves, plus quotes and more. While you might end up reading this after the 1st of September, I assure you that any day is good for picking up a pen and writing a letter; rather every day is letter writing day!! So no matter when you come upon this post, I hope it inspires you to write someone a letter, and make their day in the process.
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Inspiration in Books & More this Letter Writing Day
Books Around Letter Writing
Artists’ Letters
Artists’ Letters by Michael Bird (Artist Biographies/History | Frances Lincoln | October 22, 2019)
A treasure trove of carefully selected letters written by great artists, providing unique insight into their characters and a glimpse into their lives.
Source: Netgalley digital review copy/current read
I read Bird’s Writers’ Letters and when I saw this one, I had to pick it up. Definitely a book that provides a cool and insightful look into the lives of the featured artists (just like the other one)
The Jolly Postman
The Jolly Postman or Other People’s Letters by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Children’s Fantasy Books | 3 – 7 years, and up | LB Kids | September 1, 2001)
This gorgeously illustrated, full-color classic celebrates a time before email by depicting amusing correspondence between fairy tale and Mother Goose characters.
Oh my! This one is unexpectedly delightful and heartwarming and so much many things wrapped up within its pages! I love the details in the illustrations that are adorable and so very cute, while the narrative interspersed with all those letters never failed to make me smile throughout!
The Forever Letter
The Forever Letter: Writing What We Believe For Those We Love by Elena Zaiman
Inspired by the centuries-old Jewish tradition of the ethical will, a forever letter is a perfect way to share your most precious possessions: your values, wisdom, and love with the people who matter to you most. Through empowering stories, sample letters, and writing tips, author Elana Zaiman serves as your companion on this journey of self-discovery and deepening relationships.
An answer to that post I wrote earlier about 13 questions to ask our parents now! While I am not sure I can have my mom do this at the moment and will have to keep asking the questions I need answers for, this is something I plan to use myself or gift to others.
Write Back Soon!
Write Back Soon!: Adventures in Letter Writing by Karen Benke
Connect to your friends through handwritten notes, cards, letters, and postcards—an interactive workbook that encourages creative interactions between friends through the written word, complete with cross-outs, smudges, and parenthetical asides.
A fun workbook/journal style book that is sure inspire you to write letters!
The Stockwell Letters
The Stockwell Letters by Jacqueline Friedland
From USA Today best-selling and multi-award-winning author Jacqueline Friedland comes a gripping work of fiction based on the true story of female abolitionist Ann Phillips and her connection to Anthony Burns, a young man who briefly escaped American slavery and rocked the nation with his astoundingly heroic story.
Source: Netgalley digital review copy/current read
(1 & 2) Book Beginnings and First Line Friday
BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.
Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.
Six months after I met Wendell, I began to feel ill.
3 Friday 56
THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up on Freda’s Voice and visit others in the linky.
“They’ve got a fugitive over at the courthouse! A runaway!”
4 Book Blogger Hop
The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.
Book Suggestion for Billy’s 42nd birthday: Here are a couple of suggestions:
- My first thought was The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: The Illustrated Edition (the #42 of course, and well, if Billy has the book, this one is an illustrated edition, a newer one).
- And then there is Ross Gay’s The Book Of Delights: Essays, a book he began on his 42nd birthday!
5 Five More Lettered Books
- The Book of Last Letters by Kerry Barrett. More about it here.
- Writers’ Letters by Michael Bird. My review is here.
- Mysteries of Trash and Treasure: The Secret Letters by Margaret Peterson Haddix. My thoughts on this children’s fictional read are here.
- Letters to the Sons of Society by Shaka Senghor. Read my quick review here.
- Letters to a Writer of Color edited by Deepa Annapara and Taymour Soomro. My thoughts on the book are here.
Movies Where Letter Writing is the Story (Or Almost)
From Shop Around the Corner to You’ve Got Mail, from The Lake House to P.S. I Love You, movies that revolve around letters do make the heart beat with a unique kind of nostalgia and longing. I have watched each of these movies a few times over, the Meg Ryan starrer more than a few actually!
Whether it’s the anticipation of receiving a heartfelt letter or the bittersweetness of reading words from a loved one who’s far away, these films beautifully remind us of the power of the written word to transcend time and touch our souls.
Quotes
“Life is bearable when you have someone to write, and someone who writes you back. Even if it’s just one person.”― Eunjin Jang
“I’ll write to you. A super-long letter, like in an old-fashioned novel”― Haruki Murakami, After Dark
“I think I became a writer because I used to write letters to my friends, and I used to love writing them. I loved the idea that you can put marks on a page and send it off, and two days later, someone laughs somewhere else in the world.” – David Nicholls
“To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.” – Phyllis Theroux
“Letter writing is the only device combining solitude with good company.” ― Lord Byron
Epistolary Inspiration
I have gotten different books in the below ‘Letters‘ series before and they are such a wonderful thing to have to use in an instant for loved ones.
The gift-giver fills this book of letters with pep talks and good cheer, seals each envelope with a sticker, and gifts this keepsake for future opening. The recipient gets to break the seals to find the greatest gift: their loved one’s encouraging words whenever they need them the most.
Little Letters to Love is quick and easy: write a little message, fold, seal, and deliver! Included are 75 little letters that fold into adorably small envelopes, perfect for many occasions.
More
- The Art of Letter Writing: Dear Reader, With Love
- A Love Letter to Wondrous Words and the Letters Within
- Sunday Scribblings #78: With Love, A Letter to My Daughter
And Now, the End of This Post
Dear reader, which of these books / movies are you familiar with, and enjoyed? Which one would you read/watch first? What would you recommend? And last but not the least, who would you write a letter to first?
Sounds like an interesting read!! Happy weekend!
I fid not know snout this day. I love this article. Thank you!!!
What a lovely collection of inspiring books. I love the Jolly Postman, and will have to get this for the kids
I love getting handwritten letters. It’s not often people take the time anymore. Such a lost art!
It is fun to celebrate this love of writing. Great books and ideas. I used those little love notes for my kids in their lunches.
Writing a letter is beautiful and receiving a hand written letter is a wonderful thing and rare these days. Thanks for reminding us of the beauty of letters!
This is a really great and nice collection of books! Thanks for sharing this with us
The idea of connecting with others through handwritten letters and drawing inspiration from literature is heartwarming. This post has motivated me to pick up a book and start writing letters to loved ones.
I will add these books to my list! Thank you so much for sharing and recommending it
The forever letter sounds so good, also the stack well letter sounds so interesting, I will add these to my reading this for future reads. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Your post on letter writing is a heartwarming tribute to the power of the written word. You’ve beautifully covered books, movies, quotes, and even provided practical suggestions for letter writing. It’s a lovely reminder that letters can touch our souls and connect us in unique ways. 💌📚🎥
I didn’t know those books exist. I would love to read any or all of them. I know I’ll enjoy reading those books.
What a great post about letters! I am actually thinking about someone who would love to receive a letter – she’s a friend I cannot talk into getting on FB so we could pm each other, instead. And I love those movies you mentioned. I’m interested in The Forever Letter. I may go check that one out right now. Happy September!!
Thanks for the many inspiring books to read. I am going to have to check some of them out.
I’m so out of touch from real writing, I wasn’t even aware that there’s letter writing day! 😀 Thanks for the wonderful recos!