Q: What is the suitable length of a letter?
A: The first letter should be kept short and concise. For subsequent letters,
there are no specific conditions regarding the length. This is up to individual to
decide how much is considered too much and how little is considered too little. Do not
write a letter as if you're writing a thesis. Your penpal would feel so bored, he or
she may not want to reply your letter anymore. Normally, a letter of 2 A4 size papers
would be considered more than enough. But again, some people would not mind 3 or more pages
too. Do ask your pal if he or she is a long letter writer so that you will not write in vain.

Q: What is the maximum period of time to reply a letter?
A: This is subjective because every pal has different standards when it comes to
timeliness. Some hopes to receive a letter once a week. Some don't mind a letter in
every 3 months. If you are late, explain to your pal the reasons why you couldn't reply
immediately. Nevertheless, if you have work or family commitments and you can't put too
much time on letter writing, let your pal know too so that he or she will understand and
is willing to wait just in case your letters/emails come really late in future.

Q: My penpal asked me to return the stamp on his or her envelope. Why?
A: When your penpal asks you to return him/her the stamp on his/her envelope,
it may be because he/she collects stamps and he/she doesn't have that particular stamp
found on the envelope. If the stamp is being dabbed with glue or paste, your penpal may
want it back so that he/she can reuse the stamp (by washing away the glue or paste, the
postmark can be removed). This is an illegal way to save postage though and if you are caught,
the post office may take action against you so it is not advisable to try this method.
Nevertheless, what are a few pieces of stamps compared to your friendship with your penpal?
If he or she wants the stamps back, just return to them!

Q: My penpal has not replied my letter for a long time. What should I do?
A: Don't worry and scare yourself by imagining the worst. Write or email your
penpal and ask what has happened. If he/she replies you, then you'll know the reason. If
he/she doesn't, just leave him/her alone and look for another new pal! If he/she doesn't
care about writing to you anymore, why should you bother so much over such an insincere pal?
If one day, he/she finally writes to you and explains to you why he/she couldn't get back to
you for so long, then you can carry on with the correspondence if you think he/she still
deserves your friendship.

Q: I do not wish to continue correspondence with a particular penpal.
How do I let him or her know?
A: No special solutions for this one. Just be honest. Be polite though and
don't go pointing out people's bad points and flaws and pushing the blame to them for being
unable to carry on with the correspondence and so on. Everyone has his or her own strengths
and weaknesses and we must understand that no two persons can get along at all occasions. So
if he or she isn't the right penpal you are looking for, just apologise to him or her and
wish that he or she will be able to find a better new pal.

Q: I have decided to give up penpalling. How do I let all my penpals know?
A: Just be honest too. Explain yourself and make sure you really give up this
hobby. It's not very nice to be telling someone you've given up penpalling when you're secretly
corresponding with another person. Who knows two of them know each other and are pals too? And
if you decided to take up this hobby again in future, contact your old pals and ask them how they
are doing! They will definitely be very happy that you still remember them after so long.