Blog — Letter writing

Celebrating the art of penmanship on ‘National Handwriting Day’

Celebrating the art of penmanship on ‘National Handwriting Day’

What is National Handwriting Day? It was started in 1977 by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association, an organisation that’s based in Washington, D.C., USA. Their aim for coming up with this day was to promote the use of pens, pencils and writing paper. It was decided that the 23rd of January would be the date of the holiday, as it’s the birthday of John Hancock, who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence; and although its roots may trace back to the United States, handwriting remains an essential skill for people worldwide. Despite the influence of technology,...

Read more


8 topics to help you write more letters

8 topics to help you write more letters

Writing a letter is such a thoughtful way to express your feelings, and something that the recipient will cherish so much due to the time and care you have spent on it. A blank sheet can however be a bit daunting, and you may feel a bit lost in terms of where to begin, and so here are 8 ideas for writing one: Encouragement letter: Everyone goes through challenging times, and sending a letter to uplift someone's spirits & offer support will mean the world to them. Share words of encouragement, remind them of their strengths, and offer any assistance or...

Read more


8 reasons why using a fountain pen can improve your writing experience

8 reasons why using a fountain pen can improve your writing experience

Most of you may hear the words ‘fountain pen’ and are instantly taken back to memories of school and the start of a new term. It was always a standard navy or black Parker pen, you’d get ink on your fingers when changing the cartridges, the pen would roll off your desk and skid across the classroom, and it’d drive you crazy when the ink would take forever to start working through the nib. So you were overjoyed when school finally finished and you got to throw it in ‘the stuff drawer’ and get a trusty ballpoint. However fountain pen...

Read more


Guest blog – Dr Fiona McMaster, on the psychological benefits of writing

Guest blog – Dr Fiona McMaster, on the psychological benefits of writing

In the stack of 10 or so letters you’ve just picked up by your front door, there’s one that stands out from all the rest. It’s not the bill, the takeaway menu (well ok maybe later that will come back into play), or the latest broadband deal. It’s the one in the beautifully textured envelope with your name on it that’s been carefully written by hand. When it comes to handwritten communication, psychologically we are drawn to the tactile & tangible element of it, our brains are attuned to notice things that are different. Hence why you’ll always bypass the generically...

Read more