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Blog > A Month of Letters - 2014 edition (repost)

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February is just around the corner… which means it’s time for another Month of Letters challenge! Are you in? :)

A Month of Letters Challenge

On September 2011, Mary Robinette Kowal decided it was time for a break. She spent the entire month offline, and asked her friends to communicate with her through letters. The results of this personal challenge were a revelation:

When I write back, I find that I slow down and write differently than I do with an email. Email is all about the now. Letters are different, because whatever I write needs to be something that will be relevant a week later to the person to whom I am writing. In some ways it forces me to think about time more because postal mail is slower. “By the time you get this…” It is relaxing. It is intimate. It is both lasting and ephemeral.

How so? I find that I will often read the letters that I receive twice. Once when I get them and again as I write back. So, that makes it more lasting. It is more ephemeral because I don’t have copies of the letters that I write and I am the only one who has copies of the letters that my correspondents write. So, more ephemeral.

I know a lot of postcrossers share these feelings – this is part of the reason why Postcrossing exists!

Mary’s decided to turn February into a Month of Letters, in which she challenges herself and everyone who decides do join to write and send at least a piece of postal mail every day. Here are the rules:

Mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch.
Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items.

We can’t help but feeling postcrossers have their work cut out for them in this challenge… :) Nevertheless, we wanted to dare you all to do it! Write postcards, letters or aerogrammes or surprise a friend with an unexpected package. Maybe even pick a Facebook/Twitter friend and send them with an offline “hello!”.

Are you up to Mary’s challenge? Grab your stationery and stamps and start writing! :)

33 comments so far

Blogger, United States of America

Sounds like a challenge I am up for!! Watch your mailboxes people!! :D

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Shaneez, South Africa

I will be mailing a postcard a day

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Sofa, Germany

I'm in for the second time - this time going to try to send a letter each day (last year I had a mixture of some days with letters, others with "just" postcards) :D

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keithert, United States of America

Ryan and I are in--we will send mostly postcards but we will do it!!!

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marica_t, United States of America

I'd love to do this! I wasn't so successful last year. :(

If anyone (USA residents only) would like to swap with me (postcard, handmade card, or a letter) next month, send me a message!

Greetings from Ohio, Marica

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ESD, United States of America

I will do my best! I'm working on increasing my sending limit! :)

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Riekjuh, Netherlands

I will try this, not sure if I can keep it up (it's so expensive to send mail to europe in Sweden!) But I am always in for a challenge!

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maydina, Indonesia

at least one piece for one month maybe ;)

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kelrinoleino, Russia

It's harder for me to go outside everyday than to write letters and postcards. But I want to try :)
(It's so cold outside. Why isn't this in May?))

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shammy, Canada

Send a piece of mail a day? That would be just far too expensive with current Canadian postal rates. And the cost of stamps is going up in the spring. Plus home delivery is being cancelled.

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cleopatra-matta, Italy

One a day would be too expensive.... but I'll make an effort and try to send more than my usual ;)

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fallingrockinct, United States of America

A month of my chicken scratch hand writing would send people running in to the night screaming

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Auke56, Australia

I will try I am that sounds like a great idea, I will have to do it on the road, I am moving to another state so have been very busy packing but am going to try..........

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SimonBurrow, United States of America

I'm in. It should be a fun challenge.

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IndigoAngel, Australia

i'm a lettermo fan .. addict .. supporter ...

i'll put my addy on my profile for a week and will return a letter if you write to me

happy writing :)

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Sutomi, Germany

oh nice idea...but I have to quit postcrossing for this month than..alone to spent the money for the every day letter ;o) hmmmm

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petrini1, United States of America

This is my third year of the Month of Letters challenge. Can't wait to get started!

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GoCindy, United States of America

Me too! I think it's great!

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jjmedusa, United States of America

This is my birthday month! While I can't participate in the Month Of Letters, I will try to send as many postcards as I can to celebrate!

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Boerdefloh, Germany

What a nice idea, I will try to write. My penpals sure wait for the answer of their letter..

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Yunasama, Germany

I never heard before over this project but I'm in. Everyday i send a card (this month a letter) to one postcrosser :)
It's not the cheapest hobby, but I will made it for my wellness :) Postcard writing is so relaxing :)

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penvriendin, Netherlands

I took up the challenge and am going to try to mail a piece every day. Today I started with a postcrossing card to Germany. I have enough ideas whom to write a card or letter but time (or lack of it) will tell if I succeed.

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Seashelly, Netherlands

What a nice challenge! I am going to give it a try!

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danielc, United Kingdom

I will send as many postcards as my limit allows.

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Marijaxxx, North Macedonia

I am doing this :))

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Lord5005, United States of America

I am in! Son away at college as well as his friends to send little gifts to and 8 nieces and nephews plus postcrossing, should be easy!

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YiliLoh, Malaysia

I'm in! I think it is fun, interesting and challenging!!! :)

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Roadrunner73, Germany

Sounds very interesting. I will see if I can manage this challenge.

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FairyFoot, United Kingdom

3rd time for me too!

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Ching6767, China

first time know this interesting activity. i will try within my limit:)

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Ching6767, China

first time know this interesting activity. i will try within my limit:)

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messuage, United States of America

This is the last day of the challenge. I've sent more than the month's worth of 28 letters/postcards/pieces of mail. I've sent out a lot of mail but I've also received many treasures. Thanks to those who provided addresses so we could exchange and thanks to those who provided addresses that allowed me to send without contacting such as Ana's request for postcards. That came at a good time. I've enjoyed this push to send more but I bet I slow down in March. Thanks for postcrossing. It is an excellent idea made excellent through practice.

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meiadeleite, Portugal

i have to say, my month of letters was a disaster :( it started well enough, but i had too much on my plate and ended up slowing down half-way through.

must make up for it in march! :)

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