Snail Mail Writing List

[pajaro]

I am a retired computer systems analyst working as a computer operator in Tecumseh, Michigan, a rural area (my mother would have called this "the armpit of creation") southwest of Ann Arbor. I occasionally get worked up over hobbies like pens, model trains and stamp collecting. Otherwise, just my wife and I watch the birds and animals in the back yard and the corn growing in the farmer's field. I have a number of different pens, and would like to do something more with them than filling out checklists at work and journal stuff.

[EMW]

I'm looking for someone (or a few people) that might be interested in receiving letters as part of a ONE WAY letter exchange. I don't keep a journal, so this would be ideas/thoughts/stream of conscious jotted down on paper and sent off to a complete stranger, in lieu of a journal.

 

I have two requests:

 

In keeping with the "stranger" theme, I prefer not to know anything about you - age, gender, hobbies or interests.

 

If at any point you would like to stop receiving letters, just send me a PM. Simple as that

 

Easily offended need not apply.

 

Edited August 10, 2011 by EMW

[fncll]

This kind of feels like writing a personal ad!

 

I write a lot of letters to friends, but like most people only a few have time to write back. So I'm always interested in correspondence.

 

Topics could include: pens and paper, of course-- I'm almost as into paper/stationery/notebooks as I am pens; books/reading-- to give you a sense of that I am currently reading through all of Shakespeare's histories and tragedies, Montaigne's essays, and a variety of classic sci-fi and mysteries both British and American; poetry, which I write and read; writing in general, which I do a lot of; origami, which I am a beginner at, but enthusiastic about; making handmade books and journals, a new interest for me; culture, technology, and education-- particularly the intersections thereof... if you've read Shirky, Lanier, Turkle, Carr, etc... then that could be fun... I am an educational technologist by trade; intellectual property, copyright, and creative freedom; television and movies... I am a casual fan of the latter, the former I watch only on DVD/NetFlix; cooking, particularly ethnic cuisine, and baking, particularly breads of all kinds; typography, letterpress, fine printing; coffee and tea; and language, grammar, and general word geekery.

 

I can also tell you all about Alaska if you can tell me something about someplace else!

 

Anyone? Is this thing on?

[Spitzner]

OK, enough lurking; time to get a pen pal or two. Or three. Or....?

 

I'm 62 and live in the Hyde Park area of Chicago (walking distance from President Obama's house). I work in entertainment labor.

 

In addition to fountain pens and ink, I also collect musical theatre cast recordings (on purpose) and yarn (not on purpose--it just keeps multiplying when I turn my back). My hobbies are music and needlework.

 

Anyone?

 

Pam

[Astonia]

I am up for snail mailing

Brief description of me:

I am a 25 year old male, I live in Australia and work in I.T. as a network Engineer, I am married for 1.5 years with no kids (yet)

I have just ordered my first fountain pens and ink, still waiting for them to arrive (should be next few days or so :clap1:

 

pm me for my SM address

[Luke Scicluna]

Luke Scicluna - I'm willing to participate in a letter exchange too!

 

What can I say? I'm a student, studying English, Philosophy, and Classical Studies, I live in Malta, and I have horrible handwriting! I like classical, elegant pen designs and I'm about to invest in a Visconti Rembrandt; I'm also awaiting delivery of a Noodler's piston filled pen, and I have a Parker Frontier (which writes way too dry)

 

Yours,

 

Luke

 

PS. Expect wax seals on my correspondence as soon as I get my J. Herbin Sealing Wax Bundle!

[The Good Captain]

I'm in as well. A little about me...

 

Dropped out of college in 79 to join the US Army. While in the military I traveled through almost half of the USA. Spent some time in Washington State, and a year and a half overseas in Okinawa Japan. While in Japan I became interested in amateur radio and was first licensed there. I also sailed a bit on my time off. Lots of fun sailing the South China Sea. On my return home, after knocking around a few jobs, I went to work for the local police department repairing radios and other electronics. I've since retired and "enjoy the good life."

 

The RavenLunatic

 

I haven't ignored your letter comment - just not got round to anything yet.

TGC

Edited August 16, 2011 by The Good Captain

[HeartMan]

Can we write a reply, scan it, and e-mail it as a pdf?

[RainbowBright]

Thought I'd drop by and express my interest.

 

A bit about me: 33, married. Journalist, but not currently working in the field; went back to school for a Lit degree. I love writing (bad poetry and my never-ending novel), reading, playing therapist to my suicidal flowers and cooking with unusual ingredients (a hobby my husband is not entirely happy about). I'm a "live and let live" atheist, libertarian, with unconventional views on both.

 

I love writing letters, and I thoroughly believe emails are the work of the devil. I'd love to correspond with just about anyone; I believe everyone has something interesting to say if we just pay a little attention.

 

Feel free to drop me a line! Postage is not an issue, so it doesn't matter where you're from.

 

PS: I can write in Portuguese as well, if anyone wants to practice that =D

[Ravenlunatic]

I'm in as well. A little about me...

 

Dropped out of college in 79 to join the US Army. While in the military I traveled through almost half of the USA. Spent some time in Washington State, and a year and a half overseas in Okinawa Japan. While in Japan I became interested in amateur radio and was first licensed there. I also sailed a bit on my time off. Lots of fun sailing the South China Sea. On my return home, after knocking around a few jobs, I went to work for the local police department repairing radios and other electronics. I've since retired and "enjoy the good life."

 

The RavenLunatic

 

I haven't ignored your letter comment - just not got round to anything yet.

TGC

 

Very well, Captain. At your convenience, as always. Good to meet you, as well as all of my new FPN friends.

 

The RavenLunatic.

[The Good Captain]

Can we write a reply, scan it, and e-mail it as a pdf?

Might just as well use one of the free handwriting fonts on here and save getting out your pen altogether.

[Bill Broome]

I took two names about 18 months ago, and have developed two happy correspondence relationships; you might even say friendships.

 

Wonder if anyone else has continued for so long...or longer?

 

Bill in Fla.

[USMCMom]

Can we write a reply, scan it, and e-mail it as a pdf?

 

No ... these are "real" letters written and sent via a postal service ... on paper with stamps and everything!

[pajaro]

You know, I haven't actually written a real letter on paper in almost forty years. I started writing a letter to one of the other members, and must have started it four or five times, and it's still in progress.

 

I found I couldn't get a full line written without some sort of boo-boo.

 

My brother-in-law had wanted to start up a correspondence about eight years ago, but I couldn't get off square one.

 

I am persevering with this, though, and it's making me actually observe things so I can describe them. It's definitely worth doing.

[Jane-K]

Can we write a reply, scan it, and e-mail it as a pdf?

 

This method may work for some people, if they wish. I did the write/scan/email pdf with some of my pen friends during the Canada Post strike and our move this summer, as a way to keep in touch. It worked very well, although we chose to return to the postal snail mail method after I got my address arranged.

 

Jane

[box_camera]

You know, I haven't actually written a real letter on paper in almost forty years. I started writing a letter to one of the other members, and must have started it four or five times, and it's still in progress.

 

I found I couldn't get a full line written without some sort of boo-boo.

 

My brother-in-law had wanted to start up a correspondence about eight years ago, but I couldn't get off square one.

 

I am persevering with this, though, and it's making me actually observe things so I can describe them. It's definitely worth doing.

 

I always compose my letters on the computer before I write them on paper. I'm kind of a perfectionist.

[fncll]

I write letters directly without drafting, but even then I'm pretty slow getting them out. However, long ago I made a pact with myself that I would never hold a letter back no matter what I might have written, something I've stuck to for years... even when it's made things a bit uncomfortable

[rbadger332]

I'd like to jump in. My name is Ryan and I live in VA, USA. I am likely to talk about technology, computing, and whatever might be going on in my life. I haven't written a letter in years, and I'm also lefthanded. LOL. I look forward to some mail (if allowed!) and replying to some as well.

[MrClegg]

You know, I haven't actually written a real letter on paper in almost forty years. I started writing a letter to one of the other members, and must have started it four or five times, and it's still in progress.

 

I found I couldn't get a full line written without some sort of boo-boo.

 

My brother-in-law had wanted to start up a correspondence about eight years ago, but I couldn't get off square one.

 

I am persevering with this, though, and it's making me actually observe things so I can describe them. It's definitely worth doing.

 

All my letters go out "warts and all", those warts might be spelling mistakes, crossing out, blood, sweat or tears. I work to the principle that people would rather receive a letter from me with mistakes than not receive a letter at all. Likewise I would rather receive something with mistakes than have an empty mailbox so I ignore any mistakes therein. These are after all personal missives that are only likely to be seen by the person to whom you are sending the letter not the world in general.

 

As for what you put in a letter, the more you write the easier it is to write, perhaps starting off with about a page of what you've been up to since you last spoke is a good start and then let yourself drift off on tangents, then there's family news, local news that might be interesting, world news worthy of comment, and if all else fails scandal and gossip!

 

Craig

[LexieS]

I have been a member of FPN for a little while now, and I have read the snail mail forum oodles of times. I guess it is about time that I throw my hat in the ring. I am willing to write to two to three people to start off with, and see where things go from there.

 

I am a 24 year old high school psychology and world geography teacher. This is my first year teaching psychology, and I am re-learning a lot of it as I go. Other than teaching, my fiance and my cats consume my life. I love video games, reading, knitting, crocheting and writing in my journal. As far as books go, I will read just about anything that is put in front of me.

 

As far as politics go I have no idea where I fall on the spectrum, I just know what I believe and I respect others' beliefs as well. I guess you can say I'm not too into politics, but I do listen to the occasional rant from the man of the house and have been known to share my opinion in return. I am not afraid to admit that my views might be flawed, and adapt them as I see fit. Nobody's perfect, after all.

 

I have not had a pen pal since I was very young. My dry-humored uncle was my pen pal for a few years when I was a child, but my handwriting was so atrocious then I used my "super-cool" typewriter my parents bought me one Christmas. My handwriting has improved a lot over the years, but I am still not the best of writers, I tend to ramble a bit without realizing it. I am a jump in and write kind of gal, and I do not do any type of draft of a letter, I just start writing and hope for the best.

 

As long as you are not expecting a formal letter, and don't mind an occasional scratch-out, I would love to write you a letter.

 

Lexie S.