This week is Universal Letter Writing Week, some may say this form of communication is a lost art. However, even though people no longer send letters as much as they used to, preferring to send emails or texts, letters do still play a part in modern life. People that do send handwritten letters say it is like sending a piece of yourself. It takes intentional effort to craft one, and that emotional energy is sent along with the letter. That is why they're so special.

For may years I wrote regularly to a friend living in Canada, while I was in England. I was always delighted to receive a reply, it was a special link when other means of communication were not available. Once emails came along we continued our correspondence, and although more frequent and 'instant', it was not quite the same.

Have you had a pen-pal, or letter writing friend or relative?

If we look at the benefits of letter writing, we see putting pen to paper relays so much more:

• We gain clarity about how you feel about a situation.
• It can release negative feelings, or thoughts.
• We share gratitude and positive feelings toward a person, or circumstance.
• It allows us to meaningfully prepare for a conversation with a loved one. 
• You can say exactly what you want, although its best to adjust your words if needed.
• It is a tangible way to let someone know how much they mean to you.
• Letters are a legacy that can outlast you. Many have led to more understanding of an ancestor.

In relation to books, letters can be the source of a narrative. These novels are called "epistolary novels" which are written in the form of letters or other documents. "Epistolary" is simply the adjectival form of the noun epistle, from the Latinized Greek for letter.

Examples include: The Colour Purple, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Dracula to name a few.

Have you read an epistolary novel? Which one was it?