Perhaps you are familiar with the great author CS Lewis. An atheist scholar, Lewis became a Christian - and ultimately one of the greatest apologists (defenders) for Christian faith and belief of the 20th Century. His Christian writings would become the means for bringing many back to their Christian faith. However, Lewis wrote in a wide variety of genres and therefore appeals to many people. His work ranges from poetry, science fiction, fantasy, academic essays, Christian apologetics, and correspondence. Everything Lewis wrote for publication remains in print to this day.

So you ask, what does all this have to do with postal letter writing?? Well… Lewis was a writer and aren’t we writers? On June 26, 1956, C.S. Lewis answered a child’s letter asking about how to write. He said to this child, "In writing, don't use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the things you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us the thing is 'terrible,' describe it so that we'll be terrified. Don't say it was 'delightful'; make us say 'delightful' when we've read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers, 'Please, will you do my job for me' ?”

Even though CS Lewis was probably referring to fiction writing, his thoughts definently apply to the postal letter writer! We should try to make our letters as descriptive as possible. Remember how you felt when you first stepped into the world of Narnia?? (Narnia was such a vivid and real world to me as a child...) Write your postal letters so that your pen friends will feel like they have been transported into your world!Instead of saying, “My vacation was fun.” – describe some of the fun things that you did….So that your pen pal will finish reading your letter and think, “Wow – she had fun on her vacation!”

Instead of saying, “The scenery was pretty” – describe it in more detail. What made it pretty? Make your pen friend feel like she was right there with you enjoying the scenery!And, hey, we share the good and the bad with our pen friends. Instead of saying, “I’ve been stressed out” – share some of the stressful details with your pen pal! So that she will “feel your pain” right along with you! (Haha…)

Why not make it your goal to be a more creative and descriptive letter writer? May your pen friends step through the wardrobe and become a part of your world.