Letter writing prompts for when the page is blank
Written by hand · Sealed with wax · Sent as one link
Most people who can't start a letter aren't short on feelings, they're short on a first question to answer. A prompt works because it narrows the whole world down to one small thing you can actually write about, like a smell, a day or a person. Pick one that makes you hesitate for a second, because that's usually the one with a real letter inside it.
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Ways to begin
“Here is something I haven't said out loud to anyone: I'm still thinking about the day we stopped talking, and I'd like to tell you what I wish I had said.”
“Dear me, one year from now. Right now I'm worried about three things, and I want to see how many of them turn out to matter.”
“I was trying to remember the last time I laughed until I couldn't breathe, and it was with you, in your kitchen, over something that wasn't even funny.”
What to write
1. Choose one prompt and answer only that. A letter that goes deep on one question reads better than one that skims five.
2. Write down a real detail: a date, a place, what the room looked like, what someone was wearing. Details give a prompt something to hold on to.
3. Don't edit while you write. Answer the prompt badly first, then fix the wording later, because the honest sentence is usually the clumsy one.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What are good prompts for a letter to a friend or to myself?
For a friend, try: a moment you still laugh about, something they said that stuck with you, or what you wish you had told them sooner. For yourself, try: what you are carrying right now, what you'd tell yourself five years ago, or what you hope to be doing a year from today.
Q. Can I write a letter to myself and open it later?
Yes. Write the letter, seal it with sealing wax and set an opening date. It unlocks at 00:00 that day. You can send the link to yourself by text or email, and add a password if you want it to stay private. Writing, sealing and sending are free.