In 2002 John Riddle launched “I Love To Write Day” as a grassroots campaign to have people of all ages spend time writing every November 15th. Below is an article about he Love To Write Day and how people can get involved.
Let’s help spread the word.
“When people become stronger writers, they become better communicators…and everyone wins!”
A Letter, a Poem, a First Chapter: I Love To Write Day Invites Everyone to Find Their Words
A blank page can become a family keepsake, the beginning of a novel or a letter someone has been waiting years to receive.
On Sunday, November 15, I Love To Write Day will encourage people across the country to discover what happens when they take a little time to write.
Founded in 2002 by Delaware freelance writer, author and ghostwriter John Riddle, the grassroots campaign brings together people of all ages and experience levels around a simple invitation: write something.
The 2026 celebration marks 24 years since Riddle launched the idea. Participation can be as simple as writing a thank-you note or recording a favorite childhood memory. Others might tackle a short story, experiment with poetry or finally begin a book they have been thinking about for years.
The campaign’s website describes the possibilities through examples from past celebrations. In South Carolina, students visited nursing homes and helped residents begin writing their life stories. A fifth-grade class in Wyoming participated in writing activities after learning about the day through a local reading council. In New Jersey, a library and bookstore joined forces for an event featuring speakers, exhibits and displays.
Those activities reflect the campaign’s flexibility. A celebration can fill a community gathering space or take place quietly at a kitchen table.
Families can exchange handwritten letters or preserve stories that younger generations have never heard. Libraries can offer writing prompts. Teachers can invite students to write about someone who has influenced their lives. Senior centers can encourage participants to record memories or write messages to their grandchildren.
With November 15 falling on a Sunday this year, churches also have an opportunity to bring writing into their fellowship activities. Schools can plan related activities for the Friday before or Monday afterward.
Over the years, the campaign has received recognition beyond classrooms and community gatherings. According to its website, governors of nine states have issued proclamations recognizing I Love To Write Day. The observance was also entered into the Congressional Record in 2008.
For Riddle, the lasting value of the campaign comes back to encouraging people to express themselves.
“When people become stronger writers, they become better communicators…and everyone wins!” he writes on the campaign’s website.
Participants do not need publishing credits or an ambitious project. A few meaningful sentences offer a place to begin.
Celebration ideas, examples from previous years and a form for sharing participation plans are available at ilovetowriteday.com.
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