Quiet Comeback of Letter Writing

Letter writing is having a quiet comeback, and we couldn’t be more excited for the paper renaissance. 

Since the late 1990s, “staying in touch” meant texts and emails that quickly vanish, and over the past decade or so, it has meant disappearing voice notes and social posts that feel oddly public for something that’s supposed to be personal. While this may be convenient, it’s not lasting. That’s why the revival of letter writing and pen pals makes sense. It’s a practical response to how disposable digital connections can feel. 

Pen pal culture is showing up everywhere again, from classrooms pairing students across states to adults finding online correspondence communities. Some people are reconnecting with old friends in an analog way. Others are meeting new ones, through the mail, with clear boundaries and low expectations. A letter doesn’t demand immediacy. It gives you room to think, to notice what you want to say, and to be fully yourself without an audience 

We’d be remiss not to mention the romance in handwritten letters. Reading the words of someone who authentically knows you is low-drama and high-intensity. Whether the words are written on notebook paper or a carefully selected greeting card, they have a way of saying, “This couldn’t fit in a text.” Love letters don’t have to be romantic, either. They can be for a best friend, a sibling, a parent, a kid away at school, or even your future self. The act of writing a letter to a loved one is a symbolic way to show you care.  

At Found Image Press, we’re biased toward paper. We spend our days in the company of vintage imagery, and those old pieces teach us something about how people used to make room for small rituals. Not because life was simpler, but because the ritual made life feel more grounded. Letter writing is one of those rituals. It’s tactile, slow, and human.

Do You Want to Trade Your Texts for Paper? 

If you’re thinking about finding a pen pal, keep it easy. We suggest finding someone (a cousin, an old coworker, or a college friend) to correspond with and decide on a realistic cadence. Share a quick story, ask a question, and include a small trinket like a gathered leaf, a clipped recipe, or a funny picture from a magazine. If the time commitment feels too overwhelming, you can always send postcards instead. Short is still sweet.  

Letter writing may be a new-year trend we can get behind, but what we really love is the why. Letters create a record of care. They turn connection into something you can hold, tuck away, and find again years later. And in a world that moves fast and forgets quickly, the love and joy sent through the mail feels like a small act of resistance against the status quo.