3 Tips for Actually Keeping up With Your Pen Pals

Before we had email, social media, and video calls, the world relied on letter writing to keep in touch. While it takes longer than instant online communication, writing letters to distant family or old friends is a great way to build and strengthen relationships. The only problem is that life gets busy, and it’s easy to fall out of the habit of writing to your pen pals.

How do you keep up with your letters, even if you have to wait weeks between writing them? The key is to make sure both you and your pen pal are enjoying the experience. Build a long-distance friendship that can stand the test of time with these tips for actually keeping up with your pen pals. 

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Write To Make Conversation

It’s easy to write your letters as if they were diary entries, but sending letters is a two-way street. Talk about yourself, your interests, and things that are happening in your life so that your pen pal can get to know you better. At the same time, make sure you put questions and prompts in your letter so that you give the other person a chance to talk about himself, too.

If you want a pro tip, remember to take a picture of your letter before you send it. That way, you’ll be able to see what you wrote and what your pen pal is responding to when they eventually write you back.

Set Expectations Early

Everyone writes at different paces. You might enjoy long letters every couple of months, while your pen pal expects shorter, more frequent correspondence.

As you start sending mail back and forth, talk about what each of you wants out of this pen-pal relationship. Find a writing goal that you can both sustain. This way, no one feels disappointed or overwhelmed with the letters down the road, which gives you both a better chance of keeping up with it.

Make Letter Writing Fun

One of the best tips for actually keeping up with your pen pals is to find ways to motivate yourself to sit down and write. Life gets busy, and it can be easy to lose your most recent letter to the clutter in your home before you get the chance to respond. Luckily, there are numerous ways to spruce up the act of letter writing.

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Use fun stationery and envelopes to make each letter unique. You can also add gorgeous little touches like wax stamps and seals. Not only will you enjoy the experience more, but your pen pal will also love receiving these beautiful, more personal letters in the mail.