A simple first-letter structure
- Start with why you wanted to write.
- Share three ordinary details about your life, not your entire life story.
- Add one small scene: your desk, your neighborhood walk, your favorite corner.
- Ask two easy questions.
- Close with a low-pressure invitation to reply.
Good first questions
- What is something small you are looking forward to this month?
- What is your favorite kind of mail to receive?
- What book, song, recipe, or place would you recommend right now?
- What does a normal weekend look like for you?
What to leave out
Do not include sensitive personal information, private addresses beyond what is needed for the exchange, financial details, family conflict, or anything you would regret being copied. Warmth does not require oversharing.
Short example
"I wanted to write because I miss the slower pace of real letters. This week has been full of small routines: coffee before work, a short walk after dinner, and a book I keep carrying around but barely reading. What is one ordinary thing you have been enjoying lately?"