The Art of the Handwritten Note: A Guide to Reclaiming Civilized Communication

Summary (from the publisher): When you receive the daily mail do you jump to open the handwritten envelopes first because you can’t wait to see who has written and why? Or do you hold those letters aside to savor and enjoy after you are done sorting your bills and tossing the junk mail? Whatever your approach, you no doubt recognize the importance of the note that comes in a unique envelope with distinct handwriting and possibly a decoration or two. Indeed, in an age when even birthday greetings are sent by e-mail, the personal letter is appreciated more than ever before.
For those who enjoy writing notes, or those who value doing so but find themselves intimidated by the task, acclaimed calligrapher Margaret Shepherd has created both an epistolary tribute and rescue manual. Just as you cherish receiving personal mail, you can take pleasure in crafting correspondence. Love, gratitude, condolences, congratulations–for every emotion and occasion, a snippet of heartfelt prose is included, sure to loosen the most stymied letter writer.

Not only providing inspiration for the content of the missives, The Art of the Handwritten Note gives thorough instruction in the specific details that give so many men and women the jitters when it comes to correspondence that can’t (or shouldn’t) be produced on a keyboard. From overcoming illegible penmanship to mastering the challenge of keeping straight margins, avoiding smeared ink, and choosing stationery that is appropriate but suits your style, this is a powerful little guide to conveying thoughts in an enduring–and noteworthy–way.

 

Review: This concise little volume tells you precisely why and how you should go about writing notes - on what occasions and using what phrases, writing instruments, etc. "The handwritten note has an intrinsic value beyond its rarity. It's not just an antiquarian curiosity, it's an extremely useful tool. It upgrades a wide variety of messages, transforming 'Oops' into 'Please accept my apology,' and 'Got the money' into 'Thank you for your generosity.' Ink on paper is still the classiest way to express the thoughts that really matter, on the occasions that really count" (xiv - xv).

 

Although I absolutely agree with Shepherd that the handwritten note remains an excellent way to convey sincere meaning to the recipient, I imagine that most anyone who would pick up this book already agrees. This book is written with a supercilious tone that is unlikely to convince others if they aren't already in agreement with the author. Such definitive phrases as "When you write a note, you are giving yourself to the reader in the most civilized way" (21) and "You deserve that black cloud over your head when you don't write, because your silence has made someone think you don't care" (7) are a bit too clear cut and judgmental for me. I'm not convinced writing a note is necessarily the best way to show you care, nor am I sure that telling your reader that you deserve to feel guilty or be embarrassed if you fail to write is the best tactic. I also fully disagree with the author's argument that sometimes its appropriate to break up with someone via note "because it lets you get your feelings down on paper in a form the other person can understand" (125). While that may be true, I strongly feel that the most honorable choice is to say it in person.

 

This book certainly lets the passion the author has for handwritten notes shine through and does have some practical advice for when to write and what to say versus what is not appropriate to say. I fully agree that the handwritten note is an excellent and still very much useful way to show someone that you care. However, I do wish the tone of this book had been less snooty and know-it-all and more conversational and down to earth.

 

Stars: 3