“Correspondence is a leap of faith, and that is part of what makes it wonderful,” states Rachel Syme, author of Syme’s Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence. The act of sending a letter comes with uncertainty. You might not always get a reply.
The art of letter writing remains vibrant. Rachel Syme, who writes for The New Yorker, realized this when she sought connection during the pandemic. On social media, she invited people to become her pen pals. “I got 300 responses,” she recalls. To manage this interest, she started PenPalooza, a program to connect these individuals, which now boasts over 10,000 members.
This initiated a routine that Syme finds deeply fulfilling. “I’m regularly surprised by the creativity, honesty, and beautiful writing that arrive in my mailbox,” she shares. This experience led her to pen Syme’s Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence. The book, published in 2025, provides guidance on finding pen pals and crafting engaging letters. It also includes inspirational letters from notable writers such as Octavia Butler and Zelda Fitzgerald.
Syme advises starting with familiar contacts or using social media. Posting, “I’d love to write you a letter,” can yield surprising connections.
Discussing weather in letters isn’t mundane. Syme suggests that weather can reveal much about emotions, echoing novelist Bessie Head, who noted weather helps explain many feelings.
Letters need not only convey life updates. Syme proposes using writing prompts or alternative creative expressions. Ask about life hacks, favorite impulse buys, or map a neighborhood walk with memories. Or try sending Polaroids or personal recipes.
Gifts enhance letters. Enclose flat items like stickers, pressed flowers, or tea bags. Ensure items are mail-compliant.
Paper choices are extensive. Syme has written on diverse materials, including postcards, vintage hotel stationery, and pink legal paper, reminiscent of Jacqueline Susann’s writing style.
A typewriter can offer a refreshing alternative to handwriting. Syme mentions it aids those with wrist issues or who prefer to avoid screens, enhancing the tactile experience of letter writing.
Capture your letters through photography. While corresponding creates an archive, Syme advises photographing letters to maintain a personal record of correspondence.
Not all correspondences last, and that’s acceptable. Initial excitement can fade. Connections may endure or slowly dwindle. Changes in relationships are normal, and it’s important to recognize when to let go if commitment wanes. “Correspondence is a leap of faith,” Syme reiterates. “You may never know if the person you are writing to will write you back.”
This episode of Life Kit was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler. Edited by Malaka Gharib. Visual production by Beck Harlan. Listen to Life Kit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Sign up for the newsletter. Follow on Instagram: @nprlifekit.
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