On Writing Letters, and the Stationery That Makes It a Pleasure

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The Pleasure of Putting Pen to Paper

In an age of emails and instant messages, a handwritten note stands out. The deliberate pace, the sound of nib on paper, the pause to think before you write – all add a warmth that digital messages rarely match. You do not have to write pages and pages; one side of decent paper, written clearly and signed with care, feels considered in a way that a quick WhatsApp never will.

If you’d like to write letters more often, it helps enormously if your tools behave. A pen that doesn’t scratch, paper that doesn’t feather, ink that dries in good time – these small details quietly remove the friction and make letter-writing something you look forward to.

Letter Writing Stationery That Makes It a Pleasure

You do not need a mahogany writing desk and a library to enjoy writing letters. A small kit of letter writing stationery is enough: one reliable pen, paper that suits it, envelopes that fit, and ink you trust.

A Pen That Encourages Writing

The right pen makes writing a pleasure rather than a chore. We like a simple fountain pen: robust, well balanced and reliable enough to live in a pencil pot or bag without fuss.

• Made from impact-resistant plastic or lightweight metal.
• A self-sprung metal clip so it doesn’t roll off the table.
• An ergonomically shaped grip that lets your hand relax.
• A window or converter so you can see how much ink is left.
• A polished steel nib that glides smoothly rather than scratching.

If you’d like to upgrade your everyday writing tool, take a look at a few entry-level fountain pens here:

Browse simple, everyday fountain pens on Amazon UK

Paper and Envelopes That Behave

Good paper quietly improves your handwriting. Anything around 90–120 gsm with a slight texture will usually work well with fountain pens and decent ballpoints.

• Paper: Choose 90–120 gsm paper in an off-white or cream shade. It resists feathering (ink spreading into fibres) and show-through.
• Envelopes: Match your paper stock if you can; C6 envelopes are perfect for a folded A5 sheet. A square flap feels a touch more civilised than the everyday triangle.

For an easy, all-in-one option, a boxed letter writing stationery set is ideal:

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  Letter writing paper and envelope sets
  
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  Packs of plain C6 envelopes
  

Ink You Won’t Regret

Ink is where many people come unstuck: too bright and it looks childish; too pale and it is hard to read. A good, ordinary blue-black strikes the right note and hides minor slips.

• Colour: blue-black or a soft blue; both look grown-up without feeling corporate.
• Behaviour: quick-drying, resistant to feathering, and friendly to most papers.
• Format: bottled ink if you enjoy the ritual, or cartridges if you value simplicity.

See well-reviewed blue-black fountain pen inks

Small Extras that Feel Surprisingly Useful

• Blotting paper: speeds drying time and saves smudges on your signature.
• Address labels: handy if your handwriting shrinks under pressure.
• A wax seal kit: entirely unnecessary, utterly charming for birthdays and Christmas cards.

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  Wax seal kits and sealing wax sticks
  
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  Blotting paper for fountain-pen ink
  

If you’d like a complete shopping list, you might enjoy our companion piece, The Lost Art of Letter-Writing: A Simple Kit for Civilised Correspondence, which gathers everything into a simple starter kit.

A Letter-Writing Ritual to Savour

Tools are only half the pleasure. The rest comes from the small ritual of making time to write.

1. Clear a space. A corner of the kitchen table or a small desk is enough. Put your phone out of reach for ten minutes.
2. Lay out your tools. Paper, envelopes, pen, blotting paper, address book and a cup of something hot.
3. Date the page. It seems obvious, but future-you – or the person you’re writing to – will be glad you did.
4. Write the address on the envelope first. Far easier to correct a mistake there than on the final line of the letter.
5. Slow down. You are writing to be read, not racing to the end. A page or two is plenty.
6. Let the ink dry. Leave the letter open for a minute while you tidy your pens and think about when you might next see the recipient.
7. Fold neatly and post. The simple act of walking to the post box becomes part of the ritual.

When your tools behave and your pace is unhurried, letter-writing becomes a small pleasure rather than a task to get through.

Setting Up a Small Writing Corner

You don’t need a dedicated study, but a semi-permanent spot for your letter writing stationery helps. A shallow box or tray that holds your paper, envelopes and pen can live on a shelf until needed.

If you enjoy surrounding yourself with things you love, a piece of wall art above your writing spot makes it feel deliberate rather than improvised. We like the idea of a vintage-style print or travel poster:

Browse instant-download wall art posters for your writing corner

For more ways to make everyday corners of the house work harder, explore our Start Here page or sign up to the Danbury & Lovejoy newsletter for weekly ideas from the kitchen, garden and study.

Email is efficient; letters are remembered. With a simple set of stationery that makes writing a pleasure, you may find yourself reaching for pen and paper far more often.