Pen Pals 101: How to Get a Good Pen Pal
So, the word on the street is that we’ve started up a new Pen Pal scheme…and that word is 100% completely correct! In order to participate in this exciting new scheme and find some new pals that you can send and receive postal correspondance with, all you need to do is read our guidelines about getting involved and fill out our form to find a friend who suits your vibe.
But how do you make sure that you get a pen pal who you’ll want to keep in touch with? Well, we have a few tips to help for you to make that happen…
Be completely honest about who you are & what you enjoy
Let it be known that Comics Youth is a proud swarm of unapologetic geekery and we don’t care who knows it! Which is to say, we want you to let your geek flag fly at all times - and especially so when looking for a pen pal. Now is not the time to put down those books, films or bands that you think are super cool but that you aren’t really that into (hey, it’s happened to the best of us!).
Instead, put down the things that you’re genuinely nuts about no matter how nerdy or uncool you might think they are (we’d put good money on the fact we probably love those things too!). Because, you know what? There’ll be someone else out there with the exact same interests and you totally deserve to nerd out and buddy up with them.
Be specific about your absolute faves (but vague about everything else)
Which brings us to our next point. You might be tempted to list every last bit of media that has obsessed you since you were 5 (same) but you’re likely to find a better match in a pen pal if you try and really narrow down the things that are most important to you. Try and keep your fave movies, music, books, games and shows to your top five - and after that, try to list the main genres or types of media that you’re most interested in.
Do mention if there’s something you’d like to get more into
The best friendships aren’t just the ones where we bond over common ground. They’re also the ones where we meet someone who broadens our horizons and gets us into something new. Maybe you want to get into anime but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re a huge music fan who has recently dipped their toe into the heavier side of things and would like a seasoned metalhead to help guide them in finding new bands to buzz off? Whatever those things may be, it’s worth jotting them down so that we can try and help pair with someone who might be able to help out.
Share hobbies that you’d quite like to do or share with a new friend
Things won’t remain locked down forever. At some point, we’ll all be able to reconnect face-to-face and do the things that we talked about in our letters. When listing your favourite hobbies be sure to include the things that you’re doing now and that you could share with another - maybe Animal Crossing is your thing and you want a new pal for fun island visits, or maybe you love sewing and want someone to swap patterns and patches with? - but also be sure to list things that you might be able to share with this person when lockdown is over.
If you love going to see live music, for instance, don’t let the lockdown put you off listing it. Or if you used to love going to watch or play roller derby, be sure to put it down still! Having things to look forward to when lockdown is finally lifted is an important part of maintaining your positivity and wellbeing during this difficult moment. So don’t just list hobbies for now - list them for all time.
Stay Safe!
We hope all of you manage to find the pen pals of your dreams! And please remember to use your common sense when talking with your new friend(s) and to maintain your safety at all times.
Lots of love from your pals at Comics Youth xoxo