More from InCoWriMo

The letter writing goodness keeps spreading as I received this gem in this week's mail as part of International Correspondence Writers' Month (InCoWriMo). I'm inspired by the envelope and in love with the handmade paper she used as stationery. You too? Who can blame you?

I plan to unplug for the majority of the upcoming week and dedicate myself to analog communication: letter writing, journaling, idea generation, diving deeper into existing ideas to see how I can best execute them, planning, dreaming, capturing my dreams on paper. All this with a pen and notebook (Maybe a few postcards and note cards too. A few colored pens and pencils. Maybe some whimsical rubber stamps. And fun postage stamps too.)

And what will you be doing this week?

InCoWriMo Update

I received my first letter from the InCoWriMo website where I had entered my name and address in their international Address Book.  Isn't that some lovely writing and mail art? I just love a decorated envelope (and, really, any mail that's personal is appreciated!).

Interestingly, the author chose to select someone who has the same name as her. I love that idea! I've been doing random searches by scrolling and then stopping and selecting one of the names that are presented in that screenshot. Sometimes I choose one from outside the US, but mostly I've selected names from the US.

How about you? Are you participating in #InCoWriMo this year?

Types of Mail to Send for InCoWriMo

In my last post I listed suggestions of who to send mail to for the 2018 InCoWriMo challenge. In this post I will list types of mail you can send if you need some more inspiration.

1. Postcard of your city or state
2. Postcard of a place you've been
3. Sympathy Card - If you don't know someone who lost someone or a pet recently, then possibly find someone in news whose story touched you.
4. Birthday Card
5. Handmade Card

6. Copy/paste some humorous cartoons or sayings into a WORD document and print them and mail them to someone who A) Doesn't do social media or B) Would appreciate them.
7. Thinking of You Card
8. Get Well Card
9. Send a letter on your prettiest stationery
10. Create your own Q&A to share with a friend or penpal
11. Mail a secret on a postcard to PostSecret.com (keep anonymous)
12. Thank you card
13. Valentine card (better yet, buy a pack of six)
14. Purple (or the color of your choice) Letter (ink, paper, stickers or washi)
15. Congratulate someone (new job, baby, move,blog)
16. Ephemera - gather some mismatched paper pieces and send to someone who appreciates
17. Recipes - send a copy of your favorite recipe (include a photo if you'd like)
18. Send a picture of someone that you have to them - maybe one they've never seen. What a delight!
19. Weather updates - track weather patterns for a day or two and send a report to one of your mail recipients. Extra: Include a photo.
20. Send a letter to yourself. When you receive it, leave it unopened for a set amount of time (five years, one year, six months, whatever you decide) Current challenges, future dreams, list of gratitude.

21. Send a Postcrossing.com postcard. Most of these are international ($1.15 postage) and the site requires you to have an account. In exchange, when your postcard is received/registered, then you will be sent a postcard from somewhere in the world.
22. Go to Goodwill or some other store where you can buy used goods. Purchase postcards, cards or stationery there and then use one of them to send a piece of mail.
23. Say your sorry. It's never too late to make amends.
24. Send some color to a friend. A scrap of paper, a square of cloth, a ribbon.
25. Send a bookmark to your favorite bibliophile.

26. A calendar page with a date circled/highlighted for you and the recipient to do something fun.
27. A piece of fan mail to someone whose profession rarely receives such a thing (undertaker, custodian, nurse, policeman, etc)
28. Send a letter to yourself. Use your favorite stationery and best stamp(s)!