An Appeal for Snail Mail

[Race]

I was reading a article from a Sunday magazine (on a Monday) and saw an article about the "lost art of letter writing". It featured letters from a national archive. It also said that in today's world, we send emails trying to say things in the shortest way possible, while writing a letter takes time to think of what you want to say and write in the correct tone and so on.

It made me nostalgic for when I was about ten or eleven. I was determined to have a penpal, and somehow got ahold of those friendship books that everyone signs. And I just kept writing to people. It was awesome cause writing is such a personal experience. I miss that, even though it wasn't even that long ago.

So I am appealing for snail mail; pen pals, zine trades and so on. Anything, as long as it isn't too innappropriate. Inbox me for details. I wanna help bring back the art of letter writing :)

[W. Alan Fare]

Oddly enough, I was writing a series of letters earlier today to send out with my latest zine. In one of the letters I included a story of how most of the younger generation doesn't even know how to write postal letters anymore. My problem is finding time to write hundreds of letters a month and keep my day job!

I guess after over 30 years of writing to pen pals, and nearly as long publishing zines, I'll just have to spend the rest of my life catching up on all the mail I need to respond to. It's one challenge I don't mind taking on!

W. Alan Fare
P.O. Box 501113
Tulsa, OK. 74150-1113

[Race]

And I'm not on alt.zines. It doesn't seem to load on my computer or something :(

[Race]

Oh, I do see your perespective James. I am just mildly concerned I might get innappropriate mail or something if I just put my address out there. When I get some money, I'll invest in a PO box or something.
I will send you my zine soon, for sure :) It's okay if you can't write often. Just recieving some non-spam mail is a gift in itself.

[James N. Dawson]

Race,

Didn't we connect on Alt.Zines?

Like you, I'm always looking for "pen pals", but there's an element of compulsion-obsession in it, since I have plenty of unanswered letters that I really need to get to. Maybe it's the "grass is always greener..." syndrome.

The problem isn't just pen pals, zines and snail mail per se, but all these written by kindred spirits. I do have a handful of people I can relate to and share interests and passions with, most coming from zine readers & traders. Do I really need any more? Don't I have enough on my plate already? Maybe your situation is different. Just some thoughts.

If I wanted pen pals, I'd put my POB out front and center. I *suspect* the type of person who also wants to trade and write the most, is the person who's uninclined to want to "arrange things first by e-mail". It takes the spontaneity out of it. (Of course I could be wrong.)

I can't promise to correspond much, but If you send me your zine, I'll send you mine:

James N. Dawson
P.O. Box 292
Malden, WA 99149