Axios: Why we write

Presented By The Skoll Foundation

Axios Finish Line

By Mike Allen and Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Apr 16, 2026

Happy Little Friday! Smart Brevity™ count: 747 words … 2½ mins. Edited by Natalie Daher and copy edited by Amy Stern.

1 big thing: Your handwritten notes

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

We wrote last week about the charm of handwritten notes, and the letter-writing revival sparked by Virginia Evans’ novel “The Correspondent.

“Here’s a selection of the dozens of thoughtful responses we received from you:“I recently got a kidney transplant from my second cousin. We grew up together and were very close, but drifted apart. … The gratitude I have for her and what she’s done I’ve shared with her as best as I can, but I kept putting off reaching out to her parents. … I finally settled on a letter as the best way. I bought stationery, drafted what I wanted to say a bunch of times, then actually wrote it out by hand. It may not have been pretty, but it was authentic.” —Sujata T., Gen X, Rochester, N.Y.

“I enjoy writing and, as part of my senior leadership roles, wrote regularly to employees, peers and customers. … I also began writing to my wife 45 years ago, a Christmas letter sharing how important she is to me and what I cherished with her from the prior year. She loved it, so it was an annual thing.” —Ed S., boomer, Charlotte, N.C.

“My book club read ‘The Correspondent’ and randomly paired members to exchange letters. My friend used her letter to me to share something she’d had on her mind for a while: the inner struggle she’d had over her decision to not invite me to her small wedding. It gave her a chance to let go of that burden — and gave me the chance to write back, reassure her there were no hard feelings, and tell her I’m excited to celebrate together at my wedding this September.” —Devyn G., millennial, Hudson, Ohio

“In my line of business, I received numerous invitations to various events. … It was a handwritten letter/invitation that got to me. The organizer told me why she wanted me included, what it would mean to her personally and why. It was a small, 8-person dinner that I moved an international trip for, all because of the handwritten letter.” — Emmeline F., boomer, Atlanta

“When the task fell to me to handle correspondence and merchandise orders for my ’80s punk metal band One Bad Pig, I took it seriously. We got snail mail from countries all over the world. … We received a fair amount of fan mail, and the merch orders usually had a letter, or at least a note enclosed. I personally answered each and every one, answering specific questions, and letting them know how happy it made us to know they enjoyed our music.” — Daniel T., boomer, Austin, Texas

“My mother, Mary, wrote letters every day, until two days before the sweet chariot carried her home. Her daily routine in her last years: rise ‘n’ shine, cup of tea, write letters and postcards, bite to eat, get the mail, read the paper, read letters received, line’m up for answering. Rinse, repeat the next morning. … Her six sons inherited the practice.” —Ash C., boomer, Weybridge, Vt.

“When I was in fundraising at a nonprofit hospice, I started writing handwritten notes to donors. As our momentum grew, I enlisted a volunteer to help me. I learned the donor recipients held onto those notes for years because they never received a handwritten note from anyone.” — Bill A., boomer, Orlando, Fla.

“About 6 months ago, my husband and I began leaving notes for each other when we leave the house for work. It’s an almost daily occurrence, no more than 2 sentences, but it’s something we both look forward to receiving. If one of us is traveling for a few days, we find ways to sneak the note into backpacks. A simple ‘looking forward to seeing you this evening’ puts a smile on my face every time.” —Crystal W., millennial, Germantown, Tenn.

About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.

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