Pen Pal Guide

This is a helpful pen pal guide for those new to the hobby of letter writing.. or for those who have been penpalling but need a reference source. Happy Writing To All!

If you are looking for new pen pal friends, you can place a quick ad right here! Click and tell us about you!

Postcards --- If you want to send a brief message that doesn't require privacy, save money with a postcard. If you are on vacation in some picturesque spot, or want to show your pen friend what your state or hometown looks like, send a picture postcard. Everyone loves to get picture postcards, and lots of penpallers collect them. Send them with your letter too as a tuck-in! Minimum size for a postcard is 3 1/2" by 5" - Maximum size is 4 1/4" by 6".

International Reply Coupons/IRC --- IRCs are coupons you can purchase at the Post Office. One IRC = the minimum postage for an airmail letter. They are exchangeable by the recipient only for stamps, not cash. For example, if you wanted to help a pen friend in Ukraine, for example, with the postage for a reply to you, you could enclose one or two IRCs in your letter.

Military Addresses and Abbreviations --- APO - Army Post Office; FPO - Fleet Post Office; AE - Armed Forces Europe, Middle East & Canada; AP - Armed Forces Pacific; AA - Armed Forces America, except Canada; Only a 37-cent stamp is needed for any APO or FPO address.

Stamps by Mail --- You can obtain forms from the Post Office to order stamps by mail, or call 1-800-STAMP-24. Call 1-800-ASK-USPS for any other information you want!

Addressing Your Letter --- Since correspondents usually copy your address from your own example, be sure your proper delivery address is shown on your letter or envelope return address. If you use return address labels, no problem. If you hand-write your address, don't scribble it! Take the time to write or print it clearly. There is nothing more frustrating for your new pen friend than trying to figure out a hastily scrawled address!

Pen friend ads --- When writing an ad, start with your name, address, age and sex (if it isn't obvious from your first name). You can supply either a postal address or an e-mail address, or both (if foreign Internet e-mail, state what country you live in, as the e-mail address does not always make this clear). Add a few words about yourself - your interests and hobbies, your job or family - whatever you want to tell people - and if you want to correspond with a particular group, for example, males or females in your age group from certain countries, or people with certain hobbies and interests, add this information too. Keep your ad reasonable in length - a one-liner like "I want pen pals from all over the world. Write to me" usually won't get many replies, but don't write a novel either. You can get into all the details when you start corresponding with a pen pal. Keep it brief but interesting!

Mail Art --- Make your mail fun! Instead of plain paper, why not buy some decorative stationery next time you go shopping for groceries � your local stores have a huge selection to choose from. Buy a sheet of stickers and stick some on your envelope. Use commemorative or special issue stamps instead of the regular ones. Buy some personalized return address labels - there's probably an offer in one of those coupon books you get with our "junk" mail! Buy an inexpensive rubber stamp set and stamp "Happy Birthday" or "Merry Christmas" on your letter or envelope. You can even make your own special envelope from a calendar page or other colorful paper. Look at an ordinary envelope - how the flaps are cut, folded and glued - and copy the unfolded shape on the back of your colored paper. Then cut it out, fold, glue the flaps and stick a white label on the front for the address. Have FUN with your letters and envelopes - and give your penpals a smile when they receive it!

Friendship Books, Slams, and Crams --- Friendship books (fb's for short) are small booklets that are mailed person to person, almost like a chain letter. They range from simple, stapled scrap paper booklets to more elaborate designs using fancy paper and decorated with stickers, rubber stamps, etc. You write your name and address in it, or use a stick-on label, and usually add other information, such as age, interests, hobbies, etc., the same way you would in a pen friend ad. Or you can simply pass on signing it, and mail it on to someone else. Some fb�ers are seeking pen friends, others are interested in trading or collecting. When the fb is full it is supposed to be mailed back to the person who created it. In some cases this can take years! But it is fascinating to see how far a full fb has been - often it has gone overseas and come home again. Slams work in a similar way to fb's. There is a 'sign-in page' with numbers, by which you write your name & address or stick your label. Inside, each page has a question, such as: "Are you a collector? If so, what?" or "Do you want new pen pals?" You then add your answer next to your number. Crams are basically miniature fb's. The idea is to cram as many addresses or address labels as possible on a small piece of paper, and there is no room for information on hobbies or interests, etc.

P.O.Boxes, Blind Ads --- If you have reservations about using your home address, or live in an apartment and don't want the hassle of changes of address if you move, maybe renting a Post Office Box is the answer for you. They are relatively inexpensive for a six-month or annual rental. Your local post office or mailbox shop will have all the details. Or you can request a blind ad to INKY TRAIL NEWS for $2 - that means we print our address, not yours, with your ad, and we forward all letters on to your home address.

Junk Mail --- If you wish to stop delivery of unsolicited or unwanted commercial advertising to your mailbox, write to: Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmington, NY 11735-9008, requesting that they put a block on junk mail to your address.

For Your Protection --- You should report any harassing mail to the Supervisor of your local Post Office, or call or write to the Postal Inspectors; or, in the case of e-mail, to your online service.

Happy Penpalling!