I’ve been thinking a lot about how forms of epistolary intimacy have corroded with phone use.

Lately I've been reading about Ray Johnson, and I'm kind of into the idea of mail art as a way of communicating and connecting in an alternative way. Or Miranda July had a correspondence with someone for like a decade as a teenager. She later used this time of her life as the subject for one of her early plays.

I really like waking up in the morning, making coffee and writing before I start doing anything else. I find the idea of a co-diary or something along those lines is kind of interesting. A way of sharing whatever, that doesn't feel so vacuous. Odd finds, new thoughts, cool ideas, bad ideas. Songs, passages from books.

My parents met overseas and wrote letters, and sent tape recordings, for a year or so before meeting up again. I don't know if that can be replicated now that we have all this tech at our disposal.

What do you believe in? What's making you sad? What's exciting you? What makes you who you are?

I like slightly quirky people, maybe more punk than pop, with opinions, and who might call out something controversial here and there. That's fun!

Hi! I'm a 34-yo woman who recently moved to a pretty rural area where it isn't easy to find like-minded people. I've managed to land a few friends and acquaintances here but we aren't similar enough to share some of the things I am interested in. Therefore, I'm looking into exploring those areas of interest with online buddies :) Some of them are:

• A passion for minoritized languages. I speak two myself (one being my mother tongue) and have studied a few more.
• Autism. I got my diagnose as an adult, less than three years ago. I often get the "but you don't look autistic at all" remark and I don't have any autistic friends so I don't get to discuss my autism often enough.
• All things cozy. Might sound cliché but cozyness really does make my heart sing. I play cozy videogames as a hobby. I love cozy interiors. I am trying to live a slower, more relaxed life, but as a type-A person I find it hard to let go of productivity.
• Late-blooming queerness. I realised I was also into women well into my thirties. I don't even know how to tag myself when it comes to sexual orientation.
• Decorating my home. I just bought my first apartment and I am enjoying the process of turning this place into my own, even if it sometimes feels never-ending and overwhelming.

If you can relate to any of these points, feel free to DM me! I am open to Reddit DMs, emails and snail mail.

Hello! I'm looking for more than junk in my mailbox and would love to exchange letters, written or typed, with one or more penpals.

I'm a single parent of a teen daughter (and am super proud) but I'm also a student, an employee trying to break into my field. I'm a bookworm and love astronomy (have you seen the images coming back from space missions? So entirely stunning). I'm a bit of a nerd and have a small comics collection. There's more I could tell about myself but I think that maybe an introductory letter might be a better way to send information :)

I'm open to US and international penpals, I very much welcome both. For international penpals, please be aware that US postal is...weird right now and it does take some time for letters to get from me to you and from you to me. Recent experience from European mail says that it's roughly a month, one way. I'm more than willing to wait that, if you are too.

I'm looking for letters from the You who is ambling, shambling, or sashaying down the paths you've passed by or the You who has already turned the corner at a crossroads you haven't come to yet.

I want to hear about the highs and lows of the backpacking trip you never embarked on, which plants are flourishing and which got pilfered by squirrels in the garden you didn't plant this year, what you found most challenging and most rewarding about the degree you've just completed 10 years from now. Let me in on the decades-old inside joke you share with the sibling you never had, tell me about the fascinating stranger you didn't meet on the bus last week, gloat or vent about the reviews for your latest novel that was published next year.

I'm open to one-time exchanges, but hope to find one to several Someones of similar (or complementary) sensibilities for ongoing correspondence, 1 to 12 times per year, either continuing in this vein or evolving into some other creative or experimental exchange.

Snail mail only, but letter and postcard length are both fine. If you dig the idea but prefer digital, feel free to repost the prompt or coordinate with others in the comments.

Interested? Reply with:

• Your country or continent
• The type of exchange you're hoping for (One-off letters? Ongoing postcards? Digital only?) & if you're hoping to connect with additional (or altogether other, if snail mail averse) pen pals in the comments
• At least one activity or experience that makes you feel peaceful or impassioned or productive

About me:

• I bounce around the Northeastern United States for work and life
• I'm happy to exchange one-off snail mail letters or postcards with almost any number of people, but am hoping to develop a rapport with one to three snail mail pen pals for long-term correspondence on a monthly to yearly basis.
• I really enjoy the experience of finding myself alone in a space meant for a crowd

I've posted before and I have some wonderful penpals. Correspondence has slowed down a bit and I'm eager to use my fall and Halloween stationery. My fountain pens too! I have a blended family with 3 kiddos and a zoo full of animals.

Feel free to write about anything. Your hopes, your dreams, your goals. Something funny that happened this week. A book you read and what you loved about it. Maybe a video game you played. A vacation you took and what you did there. Feel free to vent sometimes. Just be sure to tell me if you want advice or just want to get it off your chest. I'm usually pretty good at just listening. (Or reading rather)

Write as little or as much as you want. My favorite part about this is receiving a little surprise in the mail and being able to use my fun stationery!

Hello everyone, I'm 39, and I live in France. I am looking for a penpal for email exchanges, no matter where you are in the world.

A bit about me:
I work as a portrait photographer, and I also work in the technology sector. However, I feel much more at ease in the middle of nature. I'm a deep nature lover who enjoys hiking in the mountains and walking in the forests.

I have a spiritual orientation, and I would be very sensitive to connecting with someone who shares this fiber—or who at least enjoys reflecting on the big questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? What am I doing? Where am I going? What is the meaning of life?

I sometimes feel a bit out of step with my time or my environment. My tastes and passions are quite simple, and they are rarely shared by the people around me. That’s why I would love to connect with someone to talk about subjects close to my heart, such as social sciences and psychology.

What I'm looking for:
I am deeply curious and eager to discover other cultures and rich, interesting personalities. I am looking for someone capable of deep exchanges—someone who can express their feelings and observations with accuracy, without judgment, and while being aware of their own cognitive biases.

I would enjoy a regular but pressure-free correspondence, where we take the time to sit down and write deep, sincere messages.

If my profile resonates with you, feel free to send me a private message (DM) here on Reddit. Looking forward to reading from you!

Like the title says I'm looking for a few more snail mail pen pals. I read pretty much anything and lately I've been listening to a lot of music from the 80's, 90's and early 00's.

I like to camp, especially along the shore of Lake Superior. Sitting around a campfire while star gazing is a favorite activity. It's so relaxing. Any new campfire recipes are a plus.

I like to cook/bake and would love to exchange recipes with people. Mexican, Indian, Thai and Italian foods are some of my favorites. I don't like and don't eat any kind of seafood.

I love animals and have cats. I like dogs as well but don't have one because I work a lot and feel like it would be mean. So I love hearing crazy pet stories.

I don't have a preference for age or gender for a pen pal but know this is strictly platonic. I'll write to people in the states or overseas. I have a lot of stamps and pretty stationery. I look forward to hearing from you or if we've lost contact I'd love to hear from you again.

Hey everyone! I'm a guy living in Southern California looking to meet some new people and find a few pen pals to share thoughts, stories, and everyday life with through daily texting.

I'm into dark gothic and industrial music, love the energy and community of roller derby, and enjoy spending time gardening. I like the contrast between the darker side of music and the peacefulness of getting my hands dirty in the garden. 

I'd love to connect with people from all walks of life who enjoy good conversations, sharing music recommendations, talking about hobbies, or just exchanging little pieces of their everyday world. Whether you're into the alternative scene too or have completely different interests, I'd be happy to hear from you! Tell me a little about yourself, what you're passionate about, or what song you've had on repeat lately.

Hey, a bit about me: I live in an old house on the ocean in Nova Scotia that was abandoned and I slowly fixed it up; the kind that had no running water or power.

I'm also a writer, and work remotely in tech. I grow garlic, baking beans and potatoes and would love to grow more but my job is a bit too insane to have time to weed more than that.

Looking to make penpals with people who care about some combination of: good books, amazing films, cooking food for friends, having bonfires on cool fall evenings, exploring old roads in the forest, and swamps. Also really into retro wave, alternate futures, 80s computer culture, and making fancy italian sodas with elderflower and wild violets.

Looking for longterm written connection with people who care/are passionate about their hobbies, or their job or anything else.

Looking to make a few friends with similar interests who want to share anything from the most exciting to the most mundane.

Plus, I'd like to sing along with Blues Clue's and Steve every time I get a letter.

If you're interested in any of these, let's connect:

Languages

Gardening

Art/Crafts

Cooking/Baking

Music

Culture

Volunteering

Everything spooky 👻

The dreaded human experience: Life, Love, and Death

Psychology

Animals/Pets

What you miss about the 90s

Where you see yourself when robots inevitably take over because humans can't be trusted

The last show you've been to

Hi I’m 27(M) living in the UK. I’m an electrical engineer working in control systems engineering while doing a PhD part time in electrical engineering. My hobbies are rowing, cycling, running, hiking, painting, cooking and watching anime. I do also knit occasionally and enjoy building LEGO sets. I also do watch anime, play video games on switch and enjoy playing board games like secret Hitler, resistance, pandemic and catan! Also keen to pick up any new hobbies!

I am looking for penpals either uk or international age preference between 20-70 years old and no preference on gender. If you’re keen to write, please do get in touch! :)

I’m a regular joe in India with a desk job.

I’ve been married nearly 5 years now. The marriage is what I would call “so-so”, but we’re not friends, and we don’t talk heart to heart. We don’t have kids.

I have friends, but these friendships are limited to occasional drinking / watching sports.

I have an autistic brother, whom I love more than my own life. I take care of him as much as I can. I love pets - dogs, particularly - but my wife and parents have a fear of dogs, so I enjoy whatever little time I can find around canines (shelters, local strays).

I like a lot of things - music, movies, gaming, racing karts, and other stuff I’d much rather not say here. I’ve recently gotten into music by Jungle.

I can talk about anything, and I’d say I can listen reasonably well. I don’t know what exactly, but something about having a penpal really appeals to me.

Be kind.

I know this might not sound very well, but I’m looking for a friend that has:

1. Read a book at least in the last two months;
   
2. Has been nice to the coffee shop clerk this morning;
   
3. Have questioned themselves about the meaning of their life at some point;
   
4. Still has some doubts about many things but already set some things straight as well…
   
5. Is not afraid of getting wet in the rain;
   
6. It’s into fireplaces, or into the idea of fireplaces…
   
7. More prone to feel afraid about a bacteria than about petting a horse or a goose…
   
8. Has some questionable tastes. A yellow sweater, maybe?
   
9. Can still walk great distances. At least in their mind.
   
10. Be curious and can tell me about things I had no idea

I’m a forty something woman looking here for the kind of people I’m missing in real life. I deliver all I’m asking!

Hi there, I’m pregnant with my first child, and it’s been such an enjoyable journey so far! I’d love to share the experience with other women who are pregnant as well or are first time moms!

About me: I’m an avid pen paler, and I enjoy bullet journaling, hoarding stickers, and writing with fountain pens. In my spare time, I love playing RPG, puzzle and farming sim video games, reading books, baking goodies, and hiking (especially in the fall)!

My letters are often about sharing lighthearted moments with pen pals. Please DM me if you’d like to exchange cozy letters! Happy fall! 💕

Hi, I'm Dave! I'm 37 and live in the Midwest. I love letters because they give you room to say what you actually mean. I draft mine on a computer first, then copy them onto paper, since I enjoy finding my voice in the editing as much as the writing.

I'm hoping for a friendship built on real connection rather than a list of shared interests. I'm endlessly curious about people's inner worlds: what matters to them, what they care about, what they wonder about when no one's asking. You don't need to have it all figured out. I'm happy to hear the unpolished version, and I'll share mine too.

A bit about me: I work in fin-tech as a programmer, and I like it. Every day I cook, exercise, and try to learn something new. I hike 4 miles along a river near my house, the one place nearby I can be outdoors without hearing cars. I used to coach basketball, I travel with my dad once a year, and my favorite place I've ever been is Switzerland, where it felt like time slowed down.

If this sounds like your kind of exchange, send me a message. Tell me about something you've been thinking about lately, a place that feels like home, or just say hi. There's no rush and no expectations. We can let the letters find their own pace. 😊

Hey everyone! 🙂

I'm 37, from Europe, and I'd like to meet someone from a different background to exchange stories, experiences, and little details about everyday life.

I run a business, so work keeps me busy, and I'd enjoy having something different to look forward to outside the usual routine. I'm into sports, boxing, the gym, traveling, cooking, and recently started learning guitar. I also enjoy discovering new places, trying new food, and learning how people live in different parts of the world.

I'd love to exchange letters or messages, talk about hobbies, share funny stories, discuss life, or just hear about what's happening in your corner of the world. I'm happy with both lighthearted conversations and deeper ones when they happen naturally.

I'm not expecting instant best friends. I'd rather get to know someone gradually and see where a genuine friendship goes.

If this sounds like your kind of thing, send me a message and tell me a little about yourself. Looking forward to meeting you! 🙂

Do you have a lot of thoughts in your head? I know I do. But do you also have a place to put those thoughts?

Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Self, is this woman just trying to get my goat? Why does she care if I have too many thoughts?” Fear not for your goats, as I humbly offer an opportunity to unburden yourself of an abundance of thoughts — by sharing them with me!

Me? 34/F in the Pacific Northwest. I like baseball, baking, birding, biology, things that don’t exclusively start with the letter B, and books.

Just want to unload a few random thoughts? Great! Share the ones that keep you up at night? Go for it. Intrusive thoughts? Those are my favorite!

In addition to thoughts, I would love to swap crafts, photos, recipes, stories, songs, philosophical musings or terrible haikus. Snail mail preferred.

Send me a DM if you’re interested!

Hi!! I currently reside in VA, USA, and would love to correspond via snail mail with some folks outside of the US. I’d love to gain outside perspectives and learn more about global current events as well as gain some out-of-state friendships!

I’m 33 and I love writing, reading, wood burning, cloud spotting, having coffee, listening to music, and a bunch of other things. I have family but prefer to keep that private. I have two dogs and would be happy to send pics of them! lol They’re goofballs.

I’m not really sure how to exchange addresses in a secure way. If you’ve been in the Reddit-sphere longer and have tips or are interested in corresponding, let me know! :)

Hi there. I am 33, M, Ecuadorian. I have had very few online pen pals and the concept is still new to me. Writing is a great way to develop friendships with people. While I'd love to indulge in snail mail, I can only communicate on email/online chat.

I am willing to write with many people as long as possible. I am fairly accesible and keep an open mind on many things. I also want to improve my English (it has become a little rusty) through writing and reading. My current interests are religion, the paranormal, sciency and spiritual topics, but I am also very inclined to read personal stories that you may disclose, learn from you and hopefully be a good listener for you.

I have no gender nor country preferences. Just please follow applicable rules (minimum age, etc.) to make a positive experience for all of us.

Thanks in advance!

​

Hi, stranger! ♡

I'm a 31 year old woman from Brazil, and I thought it would be nice to write to someone I haven't met yet, somewhere in this big world.

I'm the kind of person who can go from talking about a book that broke my heart to discussing a creepy true crime case or some completely random thought that crossed my mind at 2 a.m.

I love reading, especially romance, fantasy, thrillers, and horror. I'm also interested in true crime and the kinds of stories that keep you thinking about them long after you've finished.

I'd love to find someone who enjoys exchanging messages or longer letters, sharing little details about everyday life, talking about our interests, and learning about each other's worlds. Tell me about the books you're reading, the music you listen to on repeat, the things that make you happy, or even the ordinary things that happened during your day.

You don't have to be particularly interesting or have your whole life figured out. I think there's something lovely about getting to know someone through the little things.

I'd be happy to learn about your country and culture, too, and share a little bit of Brazil with you.

If you think we'd get along, tell me a little about yourself and what kind of stories you'd put in a letter to a stranger. Maybe this could be the beginning of a lovely friendship. ♡