Remember when letters arrived via snail mail or were handed to you in person? On social media, you’re writing messages that are instantly delivered to multiple followers—and hoping you’ll go viral and reach people you’ve never met. In this article Writer’s Relief found on LitHub.com, writer Nikki Erlick talks about how, unlike social media correspondence, a letter is written one-to-one and is more private and personal. And unlike a social media post, a letter can be saved and reread weeks, months, or years after you’ve received it.

You can read more here about how letters can help maintain a private, personal connection in an increasingly public world.