I♥Mail
I've fallen in love with snail mail. Receiving a heartfelt hello amidst silly ads and useless coupons makes a huge difference in my daily life, and knowing I can send the same thing out and touch a stranger in such a tender way is reward in itself. I have been posting for several years, mostly under the name Caramel Porcupine.
It's nice to meet you!
The Art of the Letter Is Not Dead.
In this digital age of tweets, texts, and FaceSpace, we can forget how nice it is to have personal correspondence. A carefully crafted, hand-written letter means that you put time and effort in your communication, and that makes all the difference. Writing requires pausing, thinking, planning, writing, and then pausing again. A simple note becomes a work of art, and the more you put into it, the more they will get out of it. Take the time to develop your voice, and you will find writing your letters to be a time of meditation, creativity, or just another way to sharpen that brain!
I Want To Join The Club!
The best part is, everybody is welcome to play! The only requirements are pen, paper, and stamp--pretty cheap admission to making new friends in far-away lands! First, decide what you would like to do.
Are you looking for a pen-pal? Would you like to make cards, artistamps, or other mail art items? Do you want to fill your mailbox with loads of letters and postcards? There are many different sites that cater to different interests, and with a little searching, you will find your niche, too.
But Is It Safe?
Well.. that one is up to you. Of course, nothing can replace your common sense, and if you feel uncomfortable, do something about it! Use a nom de plume, limit your personal info on your profiles, and always report suspicious activity to the webmaster of those sites.
Most importantly: if you don't like the idea of giving the internet your address, don't. Buy a post office box for a couple of bucks a month--your peace of mind is easily worth the price.
If you are under the age of 18, it is also a good idea to talk to your parents about posting before you start. They may want you to use a special address, hide your age or not use your real name. You may not like it, but this is a pretty big decision and their permission is important. If they have questions about how posting works, show them around and ask that they try with you. There are usually veteran posters that are more than willing to talk to you as well, if you have questions.
Don't be afraid to ask questions--we are all in this together!
Alright Already, I Want to Start!
Awesome! Let's get to it!
Here are a couple of reliable sites to get you started with posting. If you have a site you'd like added to the list, contact me and let me know!
Postcrossing.com
Postcrossing works on a very simple premise: “send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world!” There are over 200,000 members from all over the world, and you can even modify your settings to receive cards from different countries if you would like to collect cards and stamps. The website allows you to set up your profile, . You can also browse the postcard gallery, favorite cards that you like or privately message other users. If you are a fan of postcards, this one is for you!
SendSomething.com
SendSomething is a
Swapbot.com
If you like making your own cards, stamps, or swapping your arts/crafts, check out Swapbot!
International
More! More! Show Me More!
If you don't want to stop there, check out these other great sites. The web is your oyster; cast your net and set what you catch!
Postsecret
Postsecret started in...
Letters of Note
If you want to fall in love with letters, you definitely want to check out this blog. Letters of Note features notes scrawled by famous pens, some formal, some personal. You can easily see the beauty of hand-written correspondence. Who knows--maybe your letters will be featured some day!
Etsy: Papergoods
Check out the awesome goods in this category; you will find all kinds of handmade and vintage postal goodness. Support artists and send an original work to your pen-pals!
Good luck, and
Happy Posting!
