Write Stuff

A Different Kind of Writing Challenge

A few weeks ago I began a question and answer exchange with my ten-year old son when he asked me if we wrote letters when I was a child. Evidently the question stemmed from a class discussion where his teacher tried to convey to them that the idea of instant communication was very new.

I know from firsthand experience that today’s youth just doesn’t understand having to wait for an answer. The older two are now old enough that they’re starting to exchange phone numbers with friends—and those friends are now calling the house. I’m still one of those old-fashioned types who see no reason to dive for the phone as soon as it rings, nor do I answer every call. If, however, a missed call happens to be one of the kids friends, I know the phone will ring again—almost immediately. It seems their generation is unwilling to accept that someone they want to talk to may be out of reach even for a few minutes.

It goes without saying that this is a direct result from ubiquity of mobile phones and the accessibility of the internet. These children know nothing of going to the library to research a topic—they go directly to Wiki and have an answer within seconds. They know nothing of letting your anger at your close friend winnow away while waiting for them to return your call—instead they obsessively try each of the three phone numbers and two email addresses they have for their friend so they can speak their mind immediately.

By no means are those of us who grew up in a slower time (the 80s for instance) free from guilt on the subject. My sweetie has a cell phone, and during the day is usually close to the house phone as well. When I have a question I am often frustrated with how long it can take to reach her, even if it’s only a few short minutes until she calls me back.

But lost in all this hustle and bustle is the tragedy that we are losing the ability—or perhaps, merely the desire—to measure and consider our words before we use them.

When I was eleven or twelve, a close friend moved away. I lived in South Florida, and he moved to Houston. It was the early- to mid-80s and long distance was still expensive. Email was confined to the geek elite on the primordial internet, and that left us with…the old reliable U.S. Mail. Over the next four years we conversed by letter. Brief, childish, clunky letters at first, built over the years getting less frequent, longer, and much better in quality.

Looking back, these letters were critical, not only in helping me learn to write, but also in learning to measure my words and collect my thoughts before tackling an issue.

I’ll hazard a guess that most of you fall into the same category as me—over the years as communication has gotten more frequent, more intrusive, the level of communication in your life has plummeted.

So right now I’m throwing down the gauntlet to each of you—and myself as well. This week I want us all to write a letter. I don’t care if you sit down at your computer or with a nice pen and fancy paper. But however you choose to write the letter, you must mail it—No Email.

I don’t want to hear any complaints that you have no one to write a letter to. Write a love letter you your better half—I guarantee a letter will have a greater impact than a XOX at the bottom of an email. Take the time to tell a friend—with no LOLs or IMOs—how much you enjoy their company.

Take the time to compose a letter. Consider each sentence. Be profound if that’s the mood you’re in. Don’t ask shallow questions that are merely conversational, because this person won’t read this for at least a few days.

Savor the experience. I guarantee, it will be more difficult than you remember. But it will also be more rewarding.