Texting and instant messaging are common ways of communicating with friends these days, but writing a letter is a traditional, effective way of bringing a smile to someone’s face. Whether you write a letter using email or mail it the old fashioned way, the form is the same: a friendly letter should include a salutation, inquiries about your friend, news about your life and an appropriate closing.

Steps Edit

Method One of Three:
Beginning the Letter Edit

Date the letter. If you’re taking the trouble to write a letter by hand, it’s nice to add a date on the top left corner of the paper. Many people save letters for years to come, and they like to be able to see what day and year it was written to reminisce about earlier times. Write out the date – for example, “May 7, 2013” – or abbreviate it using only numbers indicating the month, day and year.

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Write a salutation. The beginning of a letter, whether it’s handwritten or in the form of an email, is called a salutation. That’s where you address the person to whom you’re writing by name – for example, “Dear Emily” or “Hello, Skylar.” Think about the nature of your relationship with the letter recipient, as well as your own preferences and style, and choose your greeting accordingly.

• If you tend to like to write in a slightly formal style, using “Dear” in your salutation is a nice choice. It sounds typical, but think about it: calling someone “dear” is actually very sweet, and indicates that you care about him or her. However, you don’t have to read into it; “dear” is as appropriate for a letter to your best friend as it is for a letter to an acquaintance you just met.
• For a letter that is more casual in tone, consider beginning it with “Hi, [name]” or “Hello, [name].” This greeting is appropriate for a friend or relative, but don’t begin a business letter this way; it’s a bit too casual.
• Write a more personal greeting for someone with whom you are intimate, or want to be. For example, “Dearest [name],” “My [name]” or “Sweet [name].”
• Be sure to end your greeting with a comma. It is also formally correct to begin the body of the letter on the next line.

Method Two of Three:
Drafting the Body Edit

Begin with some pleasantries. The first paragraph of a friendly letter is usually warm and lighthearted. It’s a way to set the tone of the letter, letting the recipient know that what’s to follow will be more friendly than businesslike or serious. Use the first few lines to say an extended hello, tell a joke, or reference the season.

• “How are you doing?” or “How have you been?” are common ways to start a letter. Asking a question helps make the letter feel like part of a longer conversation. If you’d like a reply to your letter, feel free to pepper it with questions throughout.
• You can use the first paragraph to inquire more deeply about the recipient’s life. For example, “I hope little Julie has been enjoying kindergarten. I can’t believe she’s gotten so big!”
• Referencing the time of year is another common letter opening. Think of it as the equivalent to making small talk before you launch into a deeper conversation. For example, “I hope you’ve been having a wonderful fall. The trees in my neighborhood are more brilliant than they’ve ever been before. I think we’re in for a cold winter, though.”

Share news and personal details. Now it’s time to get to the meat of the letter, your purpose for writing it. Why are you opening this correspondence? Do you want to get back in touch with a long lost friend, express to someone that you are missing them, or thank them for helping you out in some way? Be forthright, open, and articulate to communicate your message effectively.

• Write about what’s happening in your life. No matter what it says, your letter will probably be appreciated, but the recipient will feel much closer to you (and therefore the letter will be more effective) if it’s revealing. Tell what events have occurred, what emotions you’ve felt, and what plans you have for the future.
• Don’t create an airbrushed picture of your life; that defeats the purpose of a friendly letter. Avoid a holiday newsletter-style update; your friend will start skimming to the bottom if you just list everything you’ve accomplished since your last letter. You don’t have to go too deep into your troubles, but try to portray your life realistically.

Reference topics that are relevant to your friend. What was your friend up to last time you talked? Was she on the verge of breaking up with her boyfriend? Was he in the middle of a difficult season on the soccer team? Follow up by making references and asking questions to show you’re interested in your friend’s life.

• You can also discuss topics of mutual interest. Write your thoughts on art, politics, current events, or any other subject that you’d discuss with your friend in person.
• Consider suggesting movies you’ve seen that you think your friend would like, or books you’ve read that you want to recommend. Sharing good information is always welcome in letters.