you bought the pretty paper. you found a pen that works. and then you sat there, staring at "dear ___," for eleven minutes. if you've ever wondered what to write in a letter, you're in very good company. the blank page is the number one reason letters never get sent.
here's the secret: a good letter isn't a speech. it's a little slice of your week plus one honest feeling. that's it. below are our favorite prompts, sorted by who you're writing to, so you can go from blank to sealed in about ten minutes.
the 3-part letter formula
every letter we love follows the same easy shape:
- 1the hello. where you are right now. "i'm writing this at the kitchen table with cold tea and a cat on my notes."
- 2the middle. one story, one memory, or one question. not ten. one.
- 3the warm close. tell them what they mean to you, then sign off with something that sounds like you.
that's the whole trick. the prompts below just fill in the middle.
how to start a letter (without "how are you?")
- "i saw something today that was so you, i had to write."
- "you crossed my mind this morning and you never left."
- "quick question before anything else:"
- "this letter comes with a cup of tea. please make one before reading."
- "i'm sitting at ___ and here's what it looks like:"
what to write in a letter to a friend
- the moment you knew you'd be friends forever
- a tiny thing they do that you'd never want them to change
- the funniest thing that happened to you this month
- three things you're looking forward to (and one you're nervous about)
- a song you've had on repeat and why
- an inside joke, explained badly, on purpose
- "if you were here right now, we'd be ___"
what to write in a letter to your person
- the first thing you noticed about them
- an ordinary day with them you'd happily live again
- something they taught you without knowing it
- a little promise for the next year
- the thing you're too shy to say out loud (paper is braver than you are)
what to write to family
- a memory from childhood they might not know you remember
- a recipe, a habit or a saying of theirs you still use
- what your week looks like right now, in small detail
- a question about their life before you were around
what to write to future you
- what your mornings look like right now
- what you're worried about (so future you can laugh)
- one thing you hope you still do
- a little permission slip: "you're allowed to ___"
how to end a letter
- "write back soon, i'll be checking the mailbox like a golden retriever."
- "until the next envelope ♡"
- "for the people worth writing to, which is you."
- "sealed with more love than this envelope can hold."
still stuck? let the prompts do the talking
if you'd rather skip the blank page completely, our “What Do I Even Say” Letter Set gives you 20 letter sheets with faint prompts printed right on the lines. read the nudge, write over it, sign it, and you've got a lovely finished letter in about ten minutes. want to try before you buy? grab the free little sparrow starter pack: an envelope template, 20 letter prompts and faux stamps, ready to print tonight.
more ideas from the sparrow desk: open when letter ideas · how to find a pen pal · letters to grandma from grandkids · free printable envelope template
follow the prompts, fold the envelope, make someone's whole week. ✉
