I've never done the whole pen pal thing before, but I think this would be an interesting way to start.

A lot of people I know have been to jail or prison, one being one of my best friend. He was incarcerated because he wouldn't snitch on a "friend" of his. I use the term friend very loosely here because real friends don't let their best friend get sent away for something they know they did.

My friend hasn't really told me a lot about his time in jail, but that within a year a lot of people stopped caring, and his girlfriend on the outside ended up getting with another guy. I can't even begin to imagine how terrible that must feel, and that's why I wanna do it.

I found a prisoner who I think seems like he is pretty straight forward about who he is and is in prison for drugs not murder or anything, and I decided I really do want to try to write to him. However, I'm kind of perplexed as to what I should write him in my opening letter, so that I do not sound weird or anything.

Anyone with experience on the subject wanna give me some tips? I'd really appreciate it.

Hey, first off all welcome on WAP. Like your name btw!
I guess the first letter is always the hardest. In my first letter, i told about myself (age, work, hobby's, the city where i live, my pets, the music i like, etc.). I also told my pp why the ad had my attention, and what made me decide to write.
Beside telling about myself, i also had questions, so my pp had something to answer too.
Wish ya lots of happy writeing!

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~Live with no excuses, and love with no regrets~

first of all welcom here to wap.
do a little introducing about who you are,age,your hoby's,where you found his ad etc....

good luck from siska.

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be nice to the people on your way up,because you will meet them again on your way down

Here on Wap is also a tread about questions for pals Questions for pals.
I didn't use this for my first letter, but later we both had lots of fun with it!

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~Live with no excuses, and love with no regrets~

There is no wrong way to write a first letter. I find a good trick is to ask the inmate to discuss his or her self. Give them many opportunities to do this. Its a pretty universal trait that people enjoy talking about their lives or who they are. I dont mean the crime or what led up to their current situation, just about their life prior to coming to prison.

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"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."

Welcome to WAP! For me writing is like an adventure, never know what you are going to find. I tell them how I came across their name as I use other printed services as well as wap, about myself, our family, what I seek from a pen friend and rules for inmates (only 1 per institution, honesty, and date of my letters). I did not know there was a list of suggestions, I will have to check it out.

Thanks for the responses everyone it really helped me write my 1st letter last night ^_^

I was also wondering, how do you select you mood on here?

Did anyone else include a picture with your first letter? In the ad of the prisoner I wrote to, he requested one.

Yeah, in his ad., my inmate said pictures would be a plus. So, I'm going to include a little picture I took with my phone, nothing crazy.

not with my fist letter. I always waited to make sure we was going to continue writing first.

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this mod needs coffee