Snail Mail is a slang term for correspondence or packages sent via conventional postal delivery. Basically, sending physical letters through the postal service. It really takes on the term “snail” since it takes longer to receive/send letters compared to sending a quick email. But the wait is part of the fun! Good things come to those who wait. ☺ Checking your mailbox and seeing a fun letter rather than bills and unwanted ads is always a treat and makes life more whimsical!
How to find a Pen-pal?
It can be tough trying to find someone to write to that will put in the same effort and not turn out to be a scary stranger, with that said, it is not impossible! When looking for a potential pen-pal make sure to keep these in mind:
- That they are who they say they are
- Don’t give out your address willy nilly, if you can opt for a P.O. Box
- If you can keep up with responding (no one likes to be ghosted)
Places you can try to find a pen-pal on (#penpalswanted is a good starting point on social media sites):
- Tiktok
- Reddit Snail Mail community
- Tumblr
What next?
Once you find one and you’re ready to write a letter, gather your materials and write an introduction.
Materials:
- Paper
- Pen/Pencil
- Envelope
- Proper Postage (usually 1 Forever Stamp is all you need for within the US)
Optional (to decorate or include as a goodie):
- Stickers
- Ephemera
- Tea Bags
- Candies
- Photos
- Cute/Aesthetic Stationery
It’s up to you how much you want to write and what you choose to include. A page usually suffices. Just go with the flow and have fun!
