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Letter Writer of the Month - Suzanne

by Jennifer Bishop

The London Letters Pen Pal Club began its life in 2019 with the hope of bringing together letter writing enthusiasts from across the globe to celebrate the joy of receiving letters and the power of the written word.

Over the years we've grown slowly but surely in numbers each week, and we're so proud to now be a 750+ community of snail mailers! We have members from different countries, ages, religions, sexualities, political views, careers, disabilities, and genders - and whilst our differences vary dramatically, we are all united by a love of letters.

'Letter Writer of the Month' is a monthly journal entry where we invite one member from the club to give us an insight into their journey with letters. Some have always been letter writers from a young age, others only began when they signed up to the club. Our members all have a unique story to tell, and we hope you'll love getting to hear it. 

Our Letter Writer of the Month for February is Suzanne.

London Letters - Letter Writer of the Month - Suzanne

"Letter writing is food for the soul, it expands your world and knowledge of people, places and emotions. In that space of sitting down to write from the heart, you share an intimate piece of yourself with another being, and it is cathartic and freeing."

Name: Suzanne
Age: 65
Job Title: Complaints Lead for a Learning Disability Organisation
Location: North Yorkshire
Member since: October 2021

Tell us a little about yourself and how you became interested in letter writing?

When l was eleven, our Girl Guide group twinned with a Dutch one, and l began writing to Karin. We are still friends. I met a Polish woman at a European Congress around 30 years ago. We said hello, sat together for the next few days, and still exchange letters to this day. She turned 80 this June, so l visited Anna in April. Letters have sustained these two friendships for decades and that's thanks to the power of written word, common understanding and a genuine desire to know someone from a distance.

What is it about letters that you think makes them special?

I’ve always loved English, our beautiful language, and writing offers a freedom of expression in the privacy of one’s mind and home that cannot be replicated in a text or an emoji. Who doesn’t love receiving a love letter, a birthday card, an invitation through the post. I certainly do. I genuinely adore stationery, especially fountain pens and colourful inks and get lost in a stationery store for hours on end.

Describe your letter writing set up. Do you have a favourite pen or paper? Where are you when you're writing?

I write in my study, l work there too. It’s bright and colourful and has stashes of art materials, cards, pens, paper and books. My favourite pen is a Peacock Esterbrook fountain pen. It was a generous gift for a friend. I learned how to write Italics when l was 8 at school, and being left-handed, it is not without its trials! My handwriting still reflects that style. I am practising calligraphy ahead of my daughter's wedding place card request!

What made you sign up to our pen pal club and take a leap of faith by writing to a stranger?

Writing to strangers, there’s a thing. You begin by introducing yourself, the you that is genuinely you, because there’s no photo or other identifying factor in that first letter. After that you unravel pieces of each other’s identities, lives, joys, despairs, confessions, and share your soul's desires if you are lucky enough to find that special pen pal you click with. I write to a dog! Well, his owner, but l send the envelope addressed to them both because she has made him come alive to me, and it feels right to include him. Hi, Wilson!  I have three other London Letters pen pals who l'm getting to know, and their letters bring me enormous joy. I’m a spontaneous responder; l can’t wait to write in answer as soon as that letter drops on the doormat. I think that speaks volumes about the pleasure l get from those wonderful people who write ‘Dear Suzanne’.

What role do you think letters will play in the future?

I hope letter writing continues and the price of stamps drops! Feeling that connection through someone’s handwriting, going to post your letter, knowing there will be one for you a little while after, that's a precious human connection.

What would you say to someone to encourage them to give letter writing a try?

To anyone hesitating to take the first step, jump in. It’s food for the soul, it expands your world and knowledge of people, places and emotions. In that space of sitting down to write from the heart, you share an intimate piece of yourself with another being, and it is cathartic and freeing. I’ve called it freeing, so perhaps that is my personal take on the power of writing and sharing oneself through this medium with another human being. Heaven forbid when AI takes over and does it for us!!

 

A huge thank you to our Suzanne for her time, and we hope you enjoyed getting to know her! Why not gather a bunch of cards for your next correspondence like Suzanne?

Would you like to join our club? We're always open to new members, you can learn more about the club here.

3 comments

  • How lovely to read that from Suzanne . I too love stationery and fountain pens with beautiful inks. I’m just in the middle of writing to my friend of many decades who I met through a pen pal club.

    Ronny Williams

  • I loved taking the letter writing journey through Suzanne’s emotive words! How wonderful she has had exchanged letters all those years with her two pen pals – letter writing surely connects us in a way no other form of communication can or will! Loved getting to know Suzanne ♥️

    Katherine Hart

  • I loved taking the letter writing journey through Suzanne’s emotive words! How wonderful she has had exchanged letters all those years with her two pen pals – letter writing surely connects us in a way no other form of communication can or will! Loved getting to know Suzanne ♥️

    Katherine Hart

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