This picture encapsulates everything we are about at the Letter Writers Alliance. It's a scene from the recent birthday party of our member, pen pal, and friend Kimberly. She held a letter writing party as part of her birthday celebration. She's got an excellent run down of everything she did, from decorations to invitations, on her blog. Her gathering was an intimate one, but the process is essentially the same if you want to host a public party.
If you're still looking for tips, we keep a post linked on the sidebar about how we go about hosting a social. To those with even greater goals of starting their own letter writing club, our friends at the LA Pen Pal Club have recently added a lovely "How To" in journalistic form to their FAQ:
What? • Consider the format for your pen pal club. Will meetings include an agenda, theme, or activity, or will it be freeform? Will you provide stationery and supplies or instruct attendees to bring their own? Will you offer to match pen pals? Will you require a membership? Will there be snacks?
Where? • Find a space for your gatherings. You may host at a home (depending on space and privacy) or a studio/event space. It may be possible to gather the pen pal club at the local library or café, a community center, or even at a boutique that hosts regular community events. Ask around!
When? • Decide on a day and time, how frequent, and how long the meetings should be. LA Pen Pal Club, for example, meets for two hours on a monthly basis, typically on weeknights (sometimes weekend afternoons). Be open to adjusting the schedule according to your availability to host or feedback from attendees.
Who? • Reach out to your community—in person, via flyers, or through social media—with a call for all letter-writers, writers-to-be, and paper-and-pen enthusiasts. Share details about the club and plans for any upcoming meetings.
How? • Remember to create a way for interested letter writers to find your pen pal club and stay updated about meetings. This may include a website, social media, and an email newsletter. Alternatively (and more simply), you may use a service such as Eventbrite to publish details about your event and help you track the number of attendees. Try to contact your local paper about publishing your upcoming meeting to their event calendar as well. Get creative!
We love all the pen pal clubs and letter writing events out there. What can we do for you? We want to help you all write more letters!
Recent Comments