Living50+ Blog

New Pen Pal? Here's How To Make the Most of Your Next Letter

Written by Living50+ | Nov 29, 2022

One of the best things about our lives is the fact that we get to make many connections. Friendships help us survive and add meaning to our lives in a way that material things don't. They provide emotional support and companionship, and life becomes much easier when you have the right friends.

If you want to create a meaningful connection and write to a pen pal, you are in the right place. Here are some tips that will help you write a great letter and make the most of your relationship.

7 Pen Pal Writing Tips

1. Respond Promptly

The top tip we have to offer is to respond promptly to your pen pal. It is crucial that you respond as soon as you see the letter because it takes time to reach them. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to establish a connection with them.

Of course, this doesn't mean that you respond as soon as possible without thinking. Instead, write the letter like you would talk to a friend, but ensure that you respond within an appropriate time frame.

2. Be Patient While Waiting For The Response

We understand that you can feel a little bit of anxiety when your pen pal doesn't respond as soon as possible. However, it is important to understand that everyone has a different pace of writing and responding. Because of this, you should remain patient and let your pen pal take their time.

On the other hand, if you prefer to wait less, you can establish connections with more than one pen pal. Doing this will help you create meaningful friendships with a few people, and you will have letters coming in from time to time.

3. Relate to What Your Pen Pal Wrote

All of us are unique in our own ways, but many of us also have common ground that helps us relate to each other. Unfortunately, life can get lonely as we grow old, and we often feel like we can't relate to others. Because of this, it is important that you relate to what your pen pal has written and respond accordingly.

For example, you can ask them about their stories and interests so that they can begin sharing. Once they do, you can also relate to their stories and share how you can relate to them. In the long run, this will help you enrich your friendship even further.

4. Ask Questions

Whenever you want to create a bond with someone, you need to ask them questions so they can share their lives. You can ask them about their interests, hobbies, routines, and much more so that they know you are interested in getting to know them. These questions will give your pen pal a lot of material to respond to.

Besides that, the pen pal will also understand that you are interested in getting to know them. Keep the questions personalized so that you can establish a great bond with them. Once you do, you will have a lot to talk about in your letters.

5. Don't Overshare

Sometimes we get swept away and open up too much to people that we don't know as much. While it is great to open up to people, it is still important that you don't share anything that would harm your safety. For example, we recommend that you don't share passwords, banking information, personal numbers, etc.

All of this information is sensitive and should only remain with you. You should also avoid telling your pen pal when you will be out of town or anything information that could open you up to safety risks. Keep it simple, and be mindful of the information you share with your new buddy.

6. Make Each Letter Unique

Life can get monotonous as we grow older, so it is important to do small things to break the monotony. One way you can break the monotony for your pen pal is by making each letter unique. You can talk about different things in each letter so they can also be excited to open your letter each time.

It will keep the excitement going, and you will have a lot to talk about as you keep writing to them. There are endless ways you can make each letter unique. So, keep your creativity going and keep finding new ways to make your friendship exciting.

7. Include a Small Gift If You Like

One of the best ways to show your appreciation for anyone is to give them a small gift. As a pen pal, you don't want to send formal gifts, but you can always make small gestures to show that friendship is important to you. For example, you can send small goodies such as pictures, friendship bracelets, or anything else you can fit into the envelope.

You can also write a poem showing them you care and other such things to deepen your bond with your pen pal. Anything is fair game here, and even small items go a long way in enriching your bond with someone. So, think of what you can include in the envelope, and be sure to send a small token of appreciation to your pen pal for their friendship.


Life is much better when you have the right people and friends around you, which is why it is important to know how to navigate these friendships. Once you follow these tips, you will boost your bond with your pen pal. 

Let us know in the comments below - how do you make your connection with your pen pal special? 

Read next - 11 Benefits of Pen Pals for Older Adultѕ!