The Advantages & Disadvantages of Writing a Letter

Writing a letter can be a great way to reconnect with significant others or anyone the writer wants to connect with. Letters are thoughtful and allow the writer to get out all of her thoughts and feelings without interruption. However, they take time and energy, which is not always fully recognised and appreciated, and they could be a way for the writer to avoid difficult emotions.

Writing a letter indicates thoughtfulness because it takes time and energy to complete. In a world dominated by technology, writing a traditional letter can be a refreshing deviation from the normal mode of communicating in short bursts with e-mails, text messages, tweets and Facebook messages. Letter writing forces the writer to carefully choose each word without a sense of rush or accidentally hitting the send button too soon. The receiver may feel special that the writer took the time to send an old-fashioned, handwritten letter.

Writing a letter means the writer has the chance to get everything he wants to say down on paper without being interrupted. A letter provides the writer a useful outlet to take time, really think about everything he wants to say and be more open and honest than other modes of communication because the pressure to say the right things immediately or be put on the spot is alleviated. The writer can sit quietly with his thoughts and express himself thoroughly and accurately.

Going back to the idea that the world is saturated with instant communication, the receiver might not fully appreciate the thoughtfulness of letter writing. This person could feel that she would have rather the writer say whatever the letter includes in person or in an e-mail so she could have read it immediately. If the letter says something of importance, the receiver might feel cheated that the writer did not come to her with the information right away.

If the writer sends a letter with the purpose to surprise a sweetheart or friend occasionally so he has a keepsake of how the writer truly feels, then writing a letter is an appropriate idea. However, if the writer sends a letter so she doesn't have to immediately deal with something bothersome, then writing a letter is just a way to avoid or prolong a situation.