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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 23, 2020 13:47:01 GMT
I wonder, why do you write letters. My own reasons vary. Some motivations are more consistent and more elevated than others, and occasionally I’m simply itching to use that new ink. Mostly I find satisfaction and enjoyment in written conversation. I could go on for a on that theme that but would rather hear from you. So why do you write?
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Post by stompie on Sept 23, 2020 13:49:48 GMT
To meet new people and to learn what other people are all about. To give me different perspectives on life.
Also, sometimes it is cathartic to tell someone something in a way that writing allows you to but talking doesn't.
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Post by Gary S on Sept 23, 2020 14:55:31 GMT
I'm not a talker in person but like the slower type of idea exchange that letter writing affords. In face to face exchanges some of my personality/upbringing is detrimental to conversation as I like to make sure you're done with a thought before I respond and I find many others can't seem to have even what I consider a normal pause/lull in the conversation so they blurt out another thought when there's more than a second or two of silence. You can imagine how that goes as I never get in a word edgewise as it is/was considered impolite to talk over someone where I was raised. My phone conversations are usually pretty one sided affairs with my part being an occasional grunt. Even my wife has found text messages elicit a much better response from me as I consider your sending the message to be a complete thought that warrants an answer. I like the idea that letters can wait until I'm ready to answer them at a convenient time as well.
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Post by richila on Sept 23, 2020 19:01:34 GMT
I started writing letters as a way to use my fountain pens and inks more often. Fountain pens made me want to have better handwriting. I couldn't show off my new improved handwriting for my students because too many couldn't read cursive. However, once I started writing letters I fell in love with Tomoe River paper, printing my own stationery and finding the perfect C6 envelope. I also discovered ordering stamps by mail.😍
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oregonclaire
Pencils
Posts: 96
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: USA
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Post by oregonclaire on Sept 24, 2020 0:21:01 GMT
I started writing to pen pals two months after becoming a stay at home parent to three small children. I am a licensed esthetician by trade (specifically face and body waxing), and had quit a busy clientele that formed the bulk of my adult interactions - ladies (and gents) that I saw every 4-6 weeks for 30 minutes to an hour, year round. I found a penpal group on the knitting website Ravelry, and realized that my client interactions that I missed so much were not unlike writing letters - the space of time between meetings, catching up on each others' lives, etc. That was a year and a half ago, and one LetterMo/InCoWriMo later, here I am. I'm still very active in my Ravelry group, but it's nice to have a source of correspondents with other interests as well.
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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 24, 2020 0:40:59 GMT
I'm not a talker in person but like the slower type of idea exchange that letter writing affords. In face to face exchanges some of my personality/upbringing is detrimental to conversation as I like to make sure you're done with a thought before I respond and I find many others can't seem to have even what I consider a normal pause/lull in the conversation so they blurt out another thought when there's more than a second or two of silence. You can imagine how that goes as I never get in a word edgewise as it is/was considered impolite to talk over someone where I was raised. My phone conversations are usually pretty one sided affairs with my part being an occasional grunt. Even my wife has found text messages elicit a much better response from me as I consider your sending the message to be a complete thought that warrants an answer. I like the idea that letters can wait until I'm ready to answer them at a convenient time as well. You must be an introvert, Gary S. I’m more wired for listening myself and communicate better in writing. Like you I’ve listened to quite a few monologues over the years. Being the mistress of word economy I marvel at those who can speak endlessly neither drawing breath nor requiring a response. I simply have no capacity for it myself but unless a person is overbearing I’m usually a willing audience.
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Post by Gary S on Sept 24, 2020 1:09:56 GMT
I'm so introverted I'm practically a hermit. I used to attribute a lot of my listening rather than talking over others to my heritage but then I met a full blooded Creek who talks incessantly and realized part of it was personality. The talker's brother is quiet like myself and putting two of us in a room and watching us awkwardly make small talk is quite funny. There are long silences interspersed with bits of small talk when we begin to think the other may think we're mad rather than just thinking of something worth sharing. When we're discussing something we share an interest in we have normal, if polite, conversations where we never seem to step on each others train of thought
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Post by tramplingrose on Sept 24, 2020 1:48:36 GMT
I write because it’s almost a compulsion with me. I process thought better by writing it down. I love having long conversations with people - in person once I get to know them well enough, or on paper, which takes longer, but it’s fun to have those on-going threads. I also have a minor (HA!) stationery addiction, so letter-writing gives me an excuse to support my habit.
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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 24, 2020 1:56:20 GMT
I started writing to pen pals two months after becoming a stay at home parent to three small children. I am a licensed esthetician by trade (specifically face and body waxing), and had quit a busy clientele that formed the bulk of my adult interactions - ladies (and gents) that I saw every 4-6 weeks for 30 minutes to an hour, year round. I found a penpal group on the knitting website Ravelry, and realized that my client interactions that I missed so much were not unlike writing letters - the space of time between meetings, catching up on each others' lives, etc. That was a year and a half ago, and one LetterMo/InCoWriMo later, here I am. I'm still very active in my Ravelry group, but it's nice to have a source of correspondents with other interests as well. I’ve come to appreciate the “delayed response” and the complete lack of time pressure. It’s a completely different expectation and experience than digital commumication.
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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 24, 2020 1:59:12 GMT
I write because it’s almost a compulsion with me. I process thought better by writing it down. I love having long conversations with people - in person once I get to know them well enough, or on paper, which takes longer, but it’s fun to have those on-going threads. I also have a minor (HA!) stationery addiction, so letter-writing gives me an excuse to support my habit. 😄 I love it when happy addictions are integrated. I like that letters allow a single conversation to span a period of years. There’s no other conversation like it.
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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 24, 2020 2:04:15 GMT
See Gary S? It’s all about having something to say which is entirely different than having ideas.
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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 24, 2020 2:09:48 GMT
A very good question. Thank yu. It started as Sue's idea as a way for her to explore envelope art and practice her calligraphy. However, Sue didn't have the time to sit and write and given that I had more time and experience in writing I willingly took it on as a way to use my fountain pens that had sat idle in a drawer. We write though to form a connection with others in the hope of developing a friendship that lasts for years and, in doing so, to have written conversations that ebb and flow.... My renewed live for writing actually was sparked by my (once upon a time) new love for fountain pens but it’s the connection and conversation with other people that drives me to put pen to paper year after year.
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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 24, 2020 2:17:59 GMT
I started writing letters as a way to use my fountain pens and inks more often. Fountain pens made me want to have better handwriting. I couldn't show off my new improved handwriting for my students because too many couldn't read cursive. However, once I started writing letters I fell in love with Tomoe River paper, printing my own stationery and finding the perfect C6 envelope. I also discovered ordering stamps by mail.😍 I too have enjoyed the pursuit of the perfect paper and even at one time had a short romance with Tomoe River. Only my newfound love of bookbinding could have parted me from the Nanimi Seven Seas notebook.
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Post by MKB on Sept 24, 2020 13:29:05 GMT
I started letter writing as a way to practice writing with my non-dominant hand. I had just purchased a fountain pen out of curiosity, but wanted to avoid smearing the ink with my left-handed side writing. It was just kind of a fun challenge. I got into the habit of writing a letter almost daily.
Laying down wet ink on the page and with blatant disregard for color norms is so satisfying. The pens, the ink, the paper the stamps, the wax and seals. The blissful slowness of it is attractive in our carelessly hurried world. I feel like I am gifting my time and care to the recipient. A letter is an expression to another person that they are important.
I enjoy the exchange of friendship through writing. It’s different than the relationships I have in person, so it’s like an exploration of a different world that many people miss out on.
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Post by mrsduffy on Sept 24, 2020 18:00:59 GMT
The blissful slowness of it is attractive in our carelessly hurried world. I feel like I am gifting my time and care to the recipient. A letter is an expression to another person that they are important. I really like that MKB. Don’t be surprised if I quote you one day. Kudos to you for even attempting to write with your non-dominate hand. I don’t feel quite up for that challenge.
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