Letter writing enjoys revival
Tactile activities from writing or typing letters to calligraphy skills and wax seals shown on TikTok are giving “retro” writing instruments a resurgence.
More than quaint throwbacks, these pursuits provide enthusiasts with opportunities to reduce their technology use, be more deliberate with time and build meaningful connections.
“Focusing on one person and really reading what they are saying, and sharing what’s on your heart is almost like a therapy session,” said Melissa Bobbitt, 42, who corresponds with about a dozen people from her home in Claremont, California.
Chicago student Stephania Kontopanos, 21, unplugs by sending postcards, scrapbooking, and junk journaling, which involves repurposing everyday materials like tickets and receipts to document memories or ideas.
For Bobbitt, there is a “grand excitement” when she opens her mailbox and finds something that is not a bill or advertisement.
Ontario, Canada resident KiKi Klassen, 28, says writing letters helps her somehow reconnect with her late mother, a postal worker.
She said based on her social media feeds, these tactile pleasures might be on the verge of becoming trendy. “The girls are going analog in 2026,” she said.
