How does everyone introduce themselves to new pan pals? What kind of advice do you give to others? What has worked and what hasen't? What hasen't worked for me has been telling the truth. Kidding! But perhaps I have come on too strong at times. So far I'm only 1 for 4... its actually worse than dating! Serious.

I tell them I got their name from WAP, I share about myself, my family, what I seek and set some boundaries as to what I expect from them (honesty, only 1 inmate per instituion address). Many are looking for singles and I married an excon, so thye do not respond back. With WAP ads I get about 2 replies for 10 tries at least in the last 2 years. I wish you the fun of the adventure of writing!

I give out my name, age and sex (since my first name can be both female and male), then I'm saying that I'm looking for a penpal and it seems he's in the same situation.
Then I write about what I live (traveling, writing, etc) and ask him back the same questions, saying I hope we can become friends.

After reading many threads, I also ad that I don't want him to give my address to anyone else and that's okay if he has already enough penpals, but I ask him to let me know. That's pretty much it, also I make sure they write airmail on the envelop and France ;-)

I give out my name, age and sex (since my first name can be both female and male), then I'm saying that I'm looking for a penpal and it seems he's in the same situation.
Then I write about what I live (traveling, writing, etc) and ask him back the same questions, saying I hope we can become friends.

After reading many threads, I also ad that I don't want him to give my address to anyone else and that's okay if he has already enough penpals, but I ask him to let me know. That's pretty much it, also I make sure they write airmail on the envelop and France

Also, one bugging thing is the fill-out form : they ask for a "state" name but in France,we only put the city and the zip code so I have to write something (otherwise it won't allow me to submit my answer) and I have to ask the inmate NOT to mention that word

I try to be as honest as possible when I write someone knew. I have not been doing this for a long time so I do not know how well that is working out. I hate to say this but Merrill I am happy you are only getting two out of ten to reply. I was starting to think I was scaring them off.

I can get emotional and am easily aroused (that word has other meanings so get your head out of the gutter.) I reread a letter I sent to this one guy the other day and I must have seemed like a basket case. Guess I would rather someone know me and accept me right of the bat then build a shallow friendship that cannot stand the test of time.

i tell how i found him/her,why i chose them,my age ,that i'm married and only can offer friendship(i guess that's very important to say),my kids,the animals.
just be yourself and everything will work out fine!

hugs,whiterose.

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