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Post by Mia on Mar 7, 2016 22:51:02 GMT
The first week of March is very nearly over and I am a little late writing this. I had hoped to get this written in the first few days of the month but I have been inundated by the letters from the February postal projects: LetterMo and InCoWriMo. As I compose this, I have over 20 letters to reply to.
So, now February is over and the mad rush to get letters out has passed, March and onwards is a time to discover if these correspondences could be carried on all year round. It doesn't have to be with everyone and you may want to concentrate on a few good penpals. I do wish I had have written my 5 Questions in my InCoWriMo thread on the fountain pen geek forum, just to give those who are relatively new to letter writing to have something to answer. I still enjoyed their letters and will be replying to them.
A big welcome to all the new members. Communication is an important part of this forum, whether it is in the discussions or the other sections. Please introduce yourself, if you haven't already, and also welcome at least some of the other members.
There are some great questions asked this month in the Five Questions Five Letters challenge. Don't worry if you cannot answer 5 people's questions, letter writing is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. If you can write 5, that is great. If you can write more than 5, that is also great. If you can only write one, take enjoyment in making one person's day.
I am asking for nominations of great questions asked in September through to February. I still haven't decided on prizes, but will be something sent through the post.
If you have any ideas and suggestions to improve this site, please feel free to message me on this forum or even via snail mail.
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PurpleFP08
Crayons
Engaged
Posts: 36
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: Uk
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Post by PurpleFP08 on Mar 8, 2016 7:52:19 GMT
I'm so pleased I found this site and thank you for such a lovely forum I've been telling everyone about the site as I think it's amazing I kno its cheesy but .... hehe I am on fountain pen geek as well these 2 sites are so friendly
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gordyt
Crayons
Posts: 30
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
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Post by gordyt on Mar 8, 2016 14:53:44 GMT
Mia a quick "protocol" question. I read in another thread on the forums that we should acknowledge receipt of letters. In the past, I have always done so via a reply letter or postcard (usually letter).
Is that what is normally done or does one usually write a PM to the sender?
Thanks!
--gordon
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Post by Mia on Mar 8, 2016 19:14:32 GMT
I personally try to reply by mail but even a PM is better than no message/snailmail at all (some people also feel that way when it comes to ending correspondence). On Instagram, some people will share pictures of incoming and outgoing mail (I do this a few times a week making sure the address is covered other than perhaps the country, as do some other members here) and some will actually name the other correspondent.
I am on Facebook and one of my penfriends has a secret group to sometimes let her penpals know when she has received or sent letters to them. Sometimes this spoils the surprise but also, can set your mind at rest wondering if your letter has got lost.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2016 8:30:52 GMT
Mia a quick "protocol" question. I read in another thread on the forums that we should acknowledge receipt of letters. In the past, I have always done so via a reply letter or postcard (usually letter). Is that what is normally done or does one usually write a PM to the sender? You're speaking of 5 Letters 5 Questions, don't you? The response to my very first 5L5Q letter was very frustrating, since there was no reaction at all. I understand, if others don't like my style of writing or don't want to write back / start a correspondence for another reason, but I would have appreciated a one-sentence-thank-you-PM via the forum.
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gordyt
Crayons
Posts: 30
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
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Post by gordyt on Mar 9, 2016 13:13:05 GMT
Mia a quick "protocol" question. I read in another thread on the forums that we should acknowledge receipt of letters. In the past, I have always done so via a reply letter or postcard (usually letter). Is that what is normally done or does one usually write a PM to the sender? You're speaking of 5 Letters 5 Questions, don't you? The response to my very first 5L5Q letter was very frustrating, since there was no reaction at all. I understand, if others don't like my style of writing or don't want to write back / start a correspondence for another reason, but I would have appreciated a one-sentence-thank-you-PM via the forum. Yes 5Q5L or any other letters really. My question was in regards to providing some addition feedback in addition to a written response. I have always just made a written response--that is the point after all--and was wondering if PMs or something else also should be done. I completely agree that there should be some kind of response (like a PM) at a minimum. How else would the sender know that perhaps their letter was never received at all? I have sent letters that were never received. I once received a letter that had been mailed almost two years earlier (postmark still visible) and had gotten mired in the system! It looked rough.
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Post by chojo on Mar 9, 2016 15:59:52 GMT
I always give a written response to all received mail even if I don't feel i would get along with the sender.However if people haven't received a reply from me within a month then it's more likely their letter has has been lost in transit. I will PM people though if I'm expecting something and it hasn't arrived.
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gordyt
Crayons
Posts: 30
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
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Post by gordyt on Mar 9, 2016 16:09:49 GMT
I always give a written response to all received mail even if I don't feel i would get along with the sender.However if people haven't received a reply from me within a month then it's more likely their letter has has been lost in transit. I will PM people though if I'm expecting something and it hasn't arrived. That seems like an excellent practice to follow!
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Post by radellaf on Mar 11, 2016 4:32:22 GMT
I usually intend a written response but if I want to write a real reply it sometimes takes more than a month. Some of this year's InCo letters were kind of replies to ones I got last year and intended to reply in March or April. Not a good protocol, I know, so for 5Q5L I'll use a PM if it's taking a while.
Not sure what you write if you don't want to or don't have time for a real reply. Just a very short letter saying "thanks for your letter"? Seems like it'd be a letdown to get that, though as a postcard it'd be fine. I always find postcards on vacations but not sure where to buy any in my home town. It's a state capitol city so I'm sure there are some. Museums maybe, or a really good convenience store. Or there's always services like postdroid or amazingmail.
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Post by distractedmom on Mar 11, 2016 5:43:45 GMT
I usually intend a written response but if I want to write a real reply it sometimes takes more than a month. Some of this year's InCo letters were kind of replies to ones I got last year and intended to reply in March or April. Not a good protocol, I know, so for 5Q5L I'll use a PM if it's taking a while. Not sure what you write if you don't want to or don't have time for a real reply. Just a very short letter saying "thanks for your letter"? Seems like it'd be a letdown to get that, though as a postcard it'd be fine. I always find postcards on vacations but not sure where to buy any in my home town. It's a state capitol city so I'm sure there are some. Museums maybe, or a really good convenience store. Or there's always services like postdroid or amazingmail. I bought some postcard stickers that I attach to my own photos. I love sending my own stuff.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2016 10:08:50 GMT
Not sure what you write if you don't want to or don't have time for a real reply. Just a very short letter saying "thanks for your letter"? Regardless how you reply (letter or PM), I think that there's always something nice that you can say, e. g. you liked the stationery, handwriting or handmade envelope. Or you enjoyed reading about a funny or particularly interesting detail / story.
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Post by DJW1066 on Mar 11, 2016 12:43:34 GMT
I usually intend a written response but if I want to write a real reply it sometimes takes more than a month. Some of this year's InCo letters were kind of replies to ones I got last year and intended to reply in March or April. Not a good protocol, I know, so for 5Q5L I'll use a PM if it's taking a while. Not sure what you write if you don't want to or don't have time for a real reply. Just a very short letter saying "thanks for your letter"? Seems like it'd be a letdown to get that, though as a postcard it'd be fine. I always find postcards on vacations but not sure where to buy any in my home town. It's a state capitol city so I'm sure there are some. Museums maybe, or a really good convenience store. Or there's always services like postdroid or amazingmail. I bought some postcard stickers that I attach to my own photos. I love sending my own stuff. When I used to do postcrossing, the dearth of postcards in my small town prompted me to make my own. They seemed to be well received.
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Post by DJW1066 on Mar 11, 2016 19:45:23 GMT
Not sure what you write if you don't want to or don't have time for a real reply. Just a very short letter saying "thanks for your letter"? Regardless how you reply (letter or PM), I think that there's always something nice that you can say, e. g. you liked the stationery, handwriting or handmade envelope. Or you enjoyed reading about a funny or particularly interesting detail / story. Hence the art of the simple "thank-you note" that merely expresses gratitude. Something like "This is just a short note to thank you for your letter; it's much appreciated". More often than naught a simple thank-you can go a long long way.
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apfelbaum
Crayons
Posts: 9
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
Country I live in is: Germany
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Post by apfelbaum on Mar 23, 2016 22:54:43 GMT
Maybe a "stupid" question, but I couldn't read something about it.
Do I have to wait with my letter to someone whose 5 questions I want to answer in a letter, till the march is over or can I start already?
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gordyt
Crayons
Posts: 30
Looking for Penpals?: Yes. Global penpals welcome
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Post by gordyt on Mar 23, 2016 23:21:57 GMT
Maybe a "stupid" question, but I couldn't read something about it. Do I have to wait with my letter to someone whose 5 questions I want to answer in a letter, till the march is over or can I start already? I'm pretty new too, so don't take this as gospel... I just starting writing letters to folks that have posted their five questions. It's been fun and I've already gotten some responses to my five questions. --gordon
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