A Few Changes for the Winter 2019 Pen Friend Exchange

 Thank You For Your Patience!

Hello fellow Austenites!  Are you ready to chase the winter blues away with a new Pen Friend?  One who "gets you"?  And one who,...randomly quotes Jane Austen...who routinely has Jane Austen movie marathons...who has that wistful look on her face when finishing the book Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time?  Well then, lets do this! Thank you for your patience as I have been "getting my life in order" over the last year.

I must ask a huge favor of you.  If you have sent me an email  since the last pen friend exchange--last January-- I really need you to resubmit a NEW Pen Friend Application.  I have recently updated the form to include a place for  prior JALWS members to list previous pen friends.  This will help me tremendously  in updating my records and so you will not be matched with a previous member.  If you have sent me an email over the last year, I will do  my best to reply to you and direct you to the new form.

Applications accepted:  Now (12/28) through  (1/11/2019)

Pen Friend match ups should be completed approximately :  01/19/19  Emails will start going out to participants by that date.

Basic Requirements:  

1. Basic command of the English language.

2. You must have read at least one of Jane Austen's novels.  This is a Literary Society and a Letter Writing Society.

3. You must be at least 18 years of age.  

• Important:  if you have been a member of the Society in the past, you must still sign up each exchange you want to be a participant.  

Directions:  1. Fill out  the application form (at the top of the page, menu bar) by cutting and pasting it into an email, 2.Send the completed email form to :  JALWSociety@gmail.com  The deadline for applications are:  Friday, 01/11/19.

I will be checking my email box: JALWsociety@gmail.com  and begin processing your applications.    You might not get a response from me immediately, but you will be notified of your pen friend  by email after the deadline, sometime around Friday, 01/19/19.  It usually takes me about 4-5  days to get it all worked out.  :-)

I would ask that you only join the pen friend exchange if you truly will follow through on your commitment .  This means that you will write your pen friend, and usually this involves several letters over the course of  2-3 months.  Try to aim for at least one letter every 4 weeks.

One final note.  I want you to know that the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society's mission is to promote thoughtful, meaningful communication through the handwritten letter .  Although I enjoy and admire the elegant aspect of letter writing,it is never my intention to discourage people who do not have access to stationery or other writing implements.  The emphasis should always be on the content of the letter.  So, if you possess the ability to write a good letter, you are more than welcome!  And if you feel like you are a bit rusty with your letter writing skills, by all means consider joining the society to help improve your skills!

Any questions?  Please leave your comments below or email me directly at JALWSociety@gmail.com.

I look forward to a new Pen Friend Exchange!

Write Letters,

Write Often!

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen Letter Writing Society Kit

Winter/Spring 2018 Pen Friend Exchange: 

Applications accepted:  Now (1/11/18) through Thursday, 1/25/18.  

Pen Friend match ups should be completed:1/31 or 2/1/18  Emails will start going out to participants by that date.

Basic Requirements:  

1. Basic command of the English language.

2. You must have read at least one of Jane Austen's novels.  This is a Literary Society and a Letter Writing Society.

3. You must be at least 18 years of age.  Contact me per email for exceptions to this rule.

• Important:  if you have been a member of the Society in the past, you must still sign up each exchange you want to be a participant.  

It is time for a new Winter/Spring Pen Friend Exchange.  This is where I personally select a pen friend for you based on your completed application.  The application (see the menu bar at the top of this page to access the form) allows me to  match you  according to your preferences.  This is not a perfect system, but I do try my best.

Directions:  1. Fill out application form (at the top of the page, menu bar) by cutting  and pasting  it into an email, 2. and then sent to me at :  JALWSociety@gmail.com  The deadline for applications is:  Thursday, 01/25/18.

I will be monitoring my email box :  JALWsociety@gmail.com  and begin processing the applications.    You might not get a response from me immediately, but I hope to start working on them this weekend.   If you have sent in an application since the last exchange, I will be notifying you  and double checking that you still want to participate. Also, due to my late husband's illness, all those that were on the waiting list after the fall/Winter exchange, you will also be notified, as I just never got to that list.   You will be notified of your pen friend  by email after the deadline, sometime around 02/01/18. It usally takes me about 2-3 days to get it all worked out.  :-)

I would ask that you only join the pen friend exchange if you truly will follow through on your commitment .  This means that you will write your pen friend, and usually this involves several letters over the course of  2-3 months.  To avoid "flakers", yes, JALWS is not immune to this,  I have had to start invoking a 4 letter minimum over the 4 month exchange time.  I believe this is reasonable and amounts to 1 letter a month.   It is very disappointing to those fulfilling their commitments  when their partner does not respond in kind.  

One final note.  I want you to know that the Jane Austen Letter Writing Society's mission is to promote thoughtful, meaningful communication through the handwritten letter .  Although I promote the elegant aspect of letter writing (I love vintage items connected to letter writing) , it is to by no means eliminate people who do not have access to stationery or other writing implements.  The emphasis should always be on the content of the letter.  So, if you possess the ability to write a good letter, you are more than welcome!  And if you feel like you are a bit rusty with your letter writing skills, then still consider  joining the society, to help improve your skills!

Any questions?  Please leave your comments below or email me directly at JALWSociety@gmail.com.

I look forward to a new Pen Friend Exchange!

Write Letters,

Write Often!

Lady Pamela

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