Letter writing enjoys a revival as fans seek connection and a break from screen time

In an age of digital burnout, many are turning to the analog world, finding solace and connection through vintage communication methods that were once the only way to share thoughts across distances. From handwritten letters to typewriters, these tactile pursuits are experiencing a renaissance not merely as nostalgic hobbies but as deliberate choices to disconnect from screens and reconnect with intention.

Melissa Bobbitt, a 42-year-old resident of Claremont, California, maintains correspondence with about a dozen pen pals, though she’s had as many as 40 at one time. “I feel as though my pen pals are my friends,” Bobbitt explains. “Focusing on one person and really reading what they are saying, and sharing what’s on your heart is almost like a therapy session.”

This resurgence of analog communication tools isn’t happening in isolation. Entire communities have formed around these practices, from typewriter clubs to TikTok accounts showcasing calligraphy skills and elaborate wax seals. The movement represents more than aesthetic appreciation – it’s a conscious push against the perpetual connectivity that defines modern life.

For many enthusiasts, the appeal lies in creating space for mindfulness in an otherwise hectic world. Stephania Kontopanos, a 21-year-old student in Chicago, finds herself deliberately stepping away from digital distractions. “There are times when I’m with my friends and at dinner, I’ll realize we are all on our phones,” she says, noting how she tries to put her device down in those moments.

Kontopanos has incorporated analog activities into her routine, sending postcards to family and friends, creating scrapbooks, and “junk journaling” – repurposing everyday materials like tickets and receipts to document memories. Even visiting the post office has become a meaningful ritual she shares with her mother when back home in Kansas, complete with conversations with postal workers she might never have met otherwise.

For others, these analog pursuits carry deeper emotional significance. In Ontario, Canada, 28-year-old KiKi Klassen finds that writing letters helps her feel connected to her late mother, who worked with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. This personal connection inspired Klassen to launch the Lucky Duck Mail Club in October 2024, a subscription service sending monthly packages of art and inspirational messages to more than 1,000 members across nearly three dozen countries.

“When I sit down, I’m forced to reflect and choose my words carefully,” Klassen explains. “It also lends itself to vulnerability because it is easier to write down how you are feeling. I’ve had people write me back and I’ve cried hearing so many touching stories. I think for a lot of people paper creates a safe space. You write it down, send it off and don’t really think about it after.”

Bobbitt, who began her pen pal journey in elementary school, describes a “grand excitement” when finding personal mail among bills and advertisements. “If we all filled each other’s mailboxes with letters, we would all be kinder and, at the very least, won’t dread checking our mailboxes,” she suggests. Her network expanded through Postcrossing, an online project connecting people worldwide to exchange postcards, with some of these exchanges evolving into deeper correspondence as friendships developed.

The desire for authentic connection also motivated Dallas-based DJ Robert Owoyele, 34, to establish CAYA, a monthly “analog gathering” featuring activities like letter writing, coloring, and vinyl listening sessions. “We live in a digital age that fosters a false sense of connection, but I think true connection happens in person,” Owoyele says. “When we are able to touch or see something, we are more connected to it naturally.”

Despite the apparent simplicity of these analog activities, incorporating them into already busy lives presents challenges. Kontopanos acknowledges having to deliberately reprioritize her time. “The older I get, the more I realize how much time had been wasted on my phone,” she reflects. This realization led her to carve out space for discovering hobbies she genuinely enjoyed enough to make them priorities.

Fortunately, numerous communities exist for those interested in exploring these pursuits, many requiring minimal investment in equipment or time. Typewriter enthusiasts can join groups like Type Pals, while print aficionados might attend events such as the Los Angeles Printers Fair hosted by the International Printing Museum. Social media offers entry points too, with communities like the Wax Seal Guild on Instagram and The Calligraphy Hub on Facebook providing guidance and inspiration.

Klassen, observing trends in her social media feeds, suggests analog communication tools may soon experience even greater popularity. “The girls are going analog in 2026,” she predicts, pointing to a broader cultural shift toward tactile experiences in an increasingly digital world.

As screens continue to dominate professional and personal landscapes, these intentional returns to slower, more deliberate forms of communication offer not just nostalgic appeal but meaningful alternatives to digital saturation – creating space for reflection, fostering genuine connections, and providing tangible artifacts of human expression in an increasingly virtual world.