A7 Letter writing is delving into self, emotions & depth while texting has an urgency of don't leave me hanging—an increased vulnerability for a response & acceptance even over substance, or just a difference between succinct & sharp versus discovery, regret, remorse, reaching out... #TWSOchat

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Big love to the writers participating in today's #TWSOchat on Letter Writing: @cmchristieauthor.bsky.social @robmclennan.bsky.social @emath.bsky.social @jessicaleemcmillan.com @shanmonster.bsky.social @candietanaka.bsky.social

A7 There's more room for sharp dramatic interchanges & humour in texts but more room for what Elephant Mastodon said about self-exploration & discovery in letters. Letters are more literary, which I like. Red, White & Royal Blue has sweet love letters through email interspersed throughout. #TWSOchat

Thanks writing friends for joining in on another interesting discussion. As always, thank you for sharing! At TWS we love to hear how your writing is going and what you are finding interesting in the literary world. #TWSOchat #writers #writingcommunity

Please follow the #writers participating in #TWSOchat, this community grows by sharing info + resources. Today we discussed “Letter Writing" ~ I will tweet the writers' handles asap! ^ct #writing #writerschat

Well, thank you. I do have a couple of essays that are being published soon in anthologies about a few people that passed away recently and friendships that were composed/edited in the evening ^ct #TWSOchat

Oh, that makes sense! It's nice to see that publication it looks like it has many things to keep one busy for awhile and to do some creative thinking. #TWSOchat

Q9. What about the voyeuristic habit of reading other people's letters, why does it fascinate us so much. Is that part of what makes epistolary writing so intriguing at times to read? #TWSOchat

For sure, some of the things I found in letters that I wrote when I was younger are for sure cringeworthy but at the same time I'm happy to see them as I was back then in a weird way. They give me a good laugh and headshake. ^ct #TWSOchat

Very interesting about "difficult things" and night writing... I'm really looking forward to reading some of that material you compose in that way... #TWSOchat

I think that's interesting about them being identical. I find that my content varies as I take longer writing a physical letter and maybe more care. Digital communication has been bothering me recently, so I'm spending less time with it and maybe now need to use pen + paper again more. ^ct #TWSOchat

Me too and my characters and I are more idealistic in letters in general for better or worse. I was so hopeful in my young twenties in midnight letters I'm often thankful I didn't send lol. There's a freedom & loneliness all in one when all our other responsibilities have melted away. #TWSOchat

A7. Emails where time and distance separates the writers and there is no communication outside the written word (eg. video chat) can take the form of letters as they are less conversational. My emails to family and friends abroad are identical to letters, although not physical. #TWSOchat

Q8. What do you think that letter writing can reveal about a character and it is a good option for sensitive or discrete topics as a device? Have you ever used it in a poem or other genre? #TWSOchat

I'm also a night writer if you are saying you are as well. That might change at some point but I feel I have the most energy late at night for writing difficult things. ^ct #TWSOchat

Are you an U of A alumni too? Cool, I will have to give it a read! ^ct #TWSOchat

Q7. Email or text messages are used in some novel writing as well but in what ways do you think they differ from letter writing? In good ways and in ways that might not be as effective? There is more of a sense of immediacy in expecting a reply back but does it affect the characters? #TWSOchat

Letters are so full of creative potential for stories, a great springboard of ideas. I can definitely see that happening there. #TWSOchat

uninhibited emotions I meant to say...they can most be themselves at night, alone, heartbroken, speaking all the feelings they were too shy to say in the light of day when jobs & schedules & fear of rejection are more rampant. Social constructions are less constraining at midnight #TWSOchat