A letter to a pen pal, from your corner of the world
Written by hand · Sealed with wax · Sent as one link
A first letter to a pen pal is hard because you are writing to someone who has never seen your street, your kitchen or your weather. That is also what makes it interesting: the small ordinary details of your day are exactly what they want to read. A good letter introduces you in a few plain facts and ends with a question that makes replying easy.
Free · No sign-up needed · Sent as a link
Ways to begin
“Hello, my name is Daniel, and I live in a small town in Ohio where it has rained for four days straight. I thought I would tell you about my week and hear about yours.”
“Thank you for your last letter. I read it twice on the bus, and I looked up the festival you mentioned because I had never heard of it.”
“I am writing in English, which is not my first language, so please forgive any mistakes. I would rather write imperfectly than not write at all.”
What to write
1. Describe one ordinary day in detail: what you ate, how you got to work or school, what you saw out the window. Everyday things feel foreign to someone far away.
2. End with one or two specific questions, such as what they usually eat for breakfast or what the weather is like today. Avoid vague ones like "tell me about yourself."
3. Write in simple, short sentences and skip slang or idioms that may not translate. If you are using a second language, say so; it takes the pressure off both of you.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What should I write in my first letter to a pen pal?
Give your name, where you live, and a little about your family, work or studies. Then add one detail about your daily life, like your morning routine, and finish with a question or two about theirs. Keep it to a page or so; you can share more in later letters.
Q. My pen pal lives in another country. Can they open the letter without installing anything?
Yes. The letter is sent as one link through any messenger, text or email, and they open it in a browser with no app and no sign-up. Writing, sealing and sending are free. You can also set an opening date, and the letter unlocks at 00:00 that day.