Man Writing a Letter, painting by Dutch artist Gabriel Metsu, 1662-1665, seen on a 2003 Irish stamp.
Getting Started
If you're new to letter writing and not quite sure how to start, these tips gleaned from the 30 years' experience of thousands of Lexers might help:
- —Be both expectant and cautious. Remember that your correspondents will start out as complete strangers. You can use the free forwarding service for as long as you feel more comfortable doing so.
- —Be patient. Some Lexers receive dozens of responses to a single listing.
- —Short or long, frequent or occasional, chatty or academic? Lexers approach letters from different angles; be yourself and you'll soon find similar writers.
- —Don't be surprised if some attempts at sustained correspondence don't work out. Just try again.
- —Keep your correspondent in mind as you write. This is by far the most common tip recommended by experienced Lexers.
Find a snail mail penpal by putting a listing in The Letter Exchange.
Step 1: Subscribe.
Only subscribers may place listings in The Letter Exchange. If you live in the U.S., the subscription price is $23 for a 3-issue subscription; Canadian subscriptions are $24.00; International is $26.50. It's easy to subscribe using the online order form - print it out and send it in with your check or money order, or click a Buy Now button to pay with PayPal. When you subscribe, we'll assign you a LEX Number - listings are printed by LEX Number so your name and address remain confidential.Step 2: Create a listing.
Listings can be any length, and you can submit as many as you want. The first 20 words per issue are free. You can use your 20 free words in a single listing or several smaller listings (for example, a 5-word listing and a 15-word listing). No need to limit yourself to 20 words - additional words are only 50¢ each. Browse the sample listings to stimulate your thinking, and be sure to choose a category for each listing. LEX is intended only for the exchange of correspondence, and not for any other personal contact. Our subscribers want to meet only on paper, not in person. We do not accept singles ads.Step 3: Submit your listings by the deadline.
You can submit listings using the listing form or your own stationery -- please be legible! Mail your listings to The Letter Exchange, 855 Village Center Drive #324, North Oaks, MN 55127-3016 USA. You can also submit listings using our contact form. The Letter Exchange is published 3 times a year, and listings are due two months in advance: Winter ~ listing deadline: December 15; issue mailed: February 15 Summer ~ listing deadline: April 15; issue mailed: June 15 Autumn ~ listing deadline: August 15; issue mailed: October 15Find a snail mail penpal by replying to a listing in The Letter Exchange.
Step 1: Get a copy of The Letter Exchange.
You can use our free forwarding service to reply to listings whether you are a subscriber or not; all you need is a copy of The Letter Exchange (listings are not online). You can subscribe, buy a single issue, or share a copy with a friend.Step 2: Browse the listings.
To find a correspondent, browse the listings in The Letter Exchange in categories from Art to Work. Note the LEX Number at the beginning of each listing—you'll need it to use the free forwarding system. You can also write to Lexers who intrigue you with Sketch Listings or Letters to LEX—just look for the LEX Number.Step 3: Write your letter.
If you are new to letter writing, check out the Getting Started tips in the left-hand column.Step 4: Send your letter to us for fowarding.
Seal your letter in an envelope. Add your return address* and a stamp. Print the LEX Number of the person you’re writing to in the lower left corner. Leave the usual address spot blank; we’ll add the forwarding label that sends your letter on its way. (We do not knowingly forward letters to or from prisoners.)Put your sealed, stamped envelopes in a larger envelope (don’t fold them or the USPS machinery may mangle them later). Mail the large envelope to The Letter Exchange, 855 Village Center Drive #324, North Oaks, MN 55127-3016 USA.
Be sure to use the correct postage for listings placed by International subscribers: their listings will include the necessary postage (for example, "[98¢ stamp]").
To reply from outside the U.S.—if you can get U.S. stamps, put them on your letters for forwarding (try eBay.com Old stamps work as well as new ones). Otherwise, buy an International Reply Coupon at your Post Office for every two letters and include it in the larger envelope along with your sealed letters.
*If you're a subscriber you may choose to use your LEX Number as your return address; your new correspondent can write back to you using our forwarding service as long as you want.
When the spirits sink too low, the best cordial is to read over all the letters of one's friends. — William Shenstone