💌 a beginner's PEN PAL GUIDE 💌 how to find a pen pal, what to include - everything you need to know!

I often get asked questions about my pen pals - how did I find them, what do I include, etc, so here's a pen pal guide for you!

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Hello! I am Chantel, a wife and biological, adoptive and foster mom living in the Canadian prairies. Here you'll find all things adoption, foster care, online income and whatever else I feel like God is leading me to share!

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[pens_n_pals]

Great advice for everyone with regard to penpalling. I have written to penpals for many years. I think that one of the biggest things to remember is that penpals were always created for the focus to be on writing letters. These days for many its become all about the decorative envelopes, selection of postage stamps, decorating the letter, adding extras with the letter etc... These are all added extras that aren't a requirement of wanting to write to a penpal. I see so many people become intimidated with wanting to write to a penpal because they are concerned that they might be judged as they don't have any fancy stationery to write on or any extras to add with their letter. I often find that those that focus on the creative side of decorating tend to not write very much with regards to the content of the actual letter. An important thing to remember when wanting to start writing to penpals is to know that you have the time to be able to dedicate to the hobby. It's fun to receive mail but one must also have the time to spend responding to the letters. Penpals tend to get very discouraged when they make the time and effort to write a chatty letter and they get a very brief less than an A5 sheet of paper response that sounds quite generic and does not respond to any questions or anything that the penpals may have written in their letter. How can one expect to get to know one another and create a long lasting friendship if you aren't able to create a two way conversation. Writing a letter should be able to be just like sitting down with a coffee with a friend and chatting together. Many penpals do love receiving a letter and enjoy taking the time to sit down with a hot drink as they read their penpal letter. One does have to be aware that there are penpal collectors that love to receive mail but not the best at actually responding. People can be all excited about having penpals and can start requesting and writing to multiple people but when they start getting replies and they mount up and sit awaiting a response it becomes overwhelming for them and feels like too much of a chore so they lose all enjoyment of the hobby and stop penpalling. As you say Chantel I think that a weeks turn around for a letter is a great goal to have for responding to a letter. International mail can take its time these days. Depending on where one lives and where one is sending to you may have to allow a month or more for a letter to be in transit and then you have to add extra time for the penpal to respond to your letter. February is InCoWriMo which is International Correspondence Writing Month and can be an ideal way to find a new penpal to write to. You can either create a post of your own where people can choose to write to you or you can randomly select people you would like to surprise with a letter. Long may the love of letter writing continue. 📝✉️📮

[perlamedrano]

10:25
This is a cute Idea but make sure beforehand that whomever you are writing to is okay with this sort of thing.

Not everyone is okay with religion and that is okay and normal. It is something I would suggest talking about first before sending anything like that.
Me personally I have received a couple of letters like that and I've immediately thrown out because that is a boundary FOR ME.
Nice alternatives would be inspirational quotes, lists of songs you're currently listening to, list of books you're currently reading, or even shows you're watching!

[paperbacksandponytails]

I really do love pen pals, my longest pan pal we have been friends for over 10 years. We haven't snail mailed in forever but we exchange Christmas and birthday gifts every year. She is a Christian as well, and we are the same age and only 2 days apart in age. I hope to go to Cali and visit her someday.

[acholadaphyne]

I miss having a pen pal. I last had one way back in high school and when i changed school we lost contacts. It's so beautiful to have a pen pal where you share alot of unique things....

And currently my daughter needs a pen pal she is 8years

[lindseyscotlandobsessed]

I use International Pen Friends. I have just started so I haven't received any letters yet, but I have sent out some postcards. I'm excited to see where this journey takes me!!!

[lindamaynard]

What a wonderful project. Thank you for being willing to spearhead a partnership effort. We moved to the Upper Peninsula of MI a year ago and left family back in the LP. This would be awesome for me since I’ve felt a little disconnected. Living in the UP is really like living in a set apart place. I absolutely adore it though. I am so in love with my small community and town. I’m going to fill out the form right now 🤗

[torriemorales]

Could you also make a separate video about your all the stationary you use?!
I did fill out the form, I don’t have Instagram but fb I had a pen pal in school as a kid looking forward to being matched! 😊

[babyalive]

I personally love my pen pal! I get awesome letters that are beautiful, and I have made a great friend! If only it didn’t take a month back and forth every time because of the distance! This was a great idea for a video! ❤️❤️

[amyofhearthridge]

Penpals have been such a wonderful part of my life. This is such a fun video! I love the idea of putting the date when you received on it! I send tea and bookmarks through the mail, too. ♥️😍 I found them being friends online ~ mainly IG.

[jenniferallison]

I just found your channel and absolutely LOVE your content! I have only watched a couple videos and can’t wait to “get to know my new friend”! Fellow introvert right here 😂 I may have filled out the form and cleared it before filling it out again and submitting it! Here’s to starting something new!

[lovelydaywithholly]

Too funny that we post kind-of similar ideas on the same day!

[darlenenisley-vvjr]

I enjoy pen palling but am older now. Would love to pen pal with someone my age again as i have time. In my mid 60. How do i find someone that wants to pen pal at my sge, ? 😊

[AshleasBookshelf]

I miss having a pen pal. I missed your previous pen pal sign up because I don't have Instagram.

[vikthork_]

So good video! Living in Sweden, I am Looking for a pen pal to learn Hebrew and to meet more people across the EU.

[artsymom]

Hey there Chantel! I am just now discovering your channel. Can you recommend a penpal organization/signup? Thanks! :)

[tagamsiram]

I like pen friends both from the abroad and india plse give me details