Grab the Lapels

Sunday Lowdown #295

It is a gloriously soggy, grey day here at Grab the Lapels. The only issue is I need to get groceries in this rain, but pros and cons, right? I come to you with a brief post regarding something I’ve been thinking about lately. Some context, first: the only thing I pay a subscription for (yes, this includes all forms of media: TV, music, books, etc.) is called The Final Girl Snail Mail Gang. Blogger and podcaster Stacie Ponder (the eponymous Final Girl) sends out a monthly letter that includes a letter she handwrote (and then made copies, of course, for all the subscribers), drawings, photos, and odd bits and bobs. You may be thinking, “Why mail a letter when I can subscribe to a blog?”

Photo by Tolga deniz Aran on Pexels.com

Firstly, there was much joy at my house when I got the letter. I read it aloud to the spouse. We giggled and examined the pictures and drawings. We got something in our mailbox that wasn’t an advertisement for a weed dispensary, new siding, replacing our windows, or the forthcoming fiber internet (okay, I’m actually excited about that one). It just felt like something wonderful in a society that sucks right now. I can’t even pretend that being in the U.S. is what blows because the country in which I live is affecting everyone right now.

Anyway, I was considering starting my own snail mail gang. I’m happy to mail internationally, and I want to be reasonable about costs. I’m not looking to make money. I’m looking to share gladness in your mailbox. I’m looking to share who I am more openly without fears of me being on the internet fooor-eeeev-eeer. We have to be careful about what we share online, right?

It seems the easiest way to do a monthly letter/subscription would be via Patreon, but I don’t want to deep dive into the process if there is no interest. The cost would be $3 per month, cancel at any time.

What are your thoughts? I know I have many readers who lurk and may be interested in a monthly letter, so be sure to leave your comments and weigh in.

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Published by Grab the Lapels

I'm a graduate of the MFA fiction writing program at the University of Notre Dame, which inspired me to follow along with trends in teaching, publishing, and reviewing. I also have an MA and BS from Central Michigan University. I used to teach composition, creative writing, and literature in higher education, then did a brief stint at a civic theater, followed by two years at a references desk at a public library. I'm now working toward my ASL Interpreter license.

15 comments

  1. I have trouble keeping up with mail; often it piles up on a table and I have to go through it six months to a year after it arrives (we put the bills in a desk drawer). I wish I liked mail more, because I really used to like sending and receiving postcards, but it’s one of the many things (as you observe) that just feels like too much right now.

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  3. This sounds like a lovely idea and I’m sure it would brighten a lot of people’s day. I’m not sure how costly it would be to try and do internationally though. When I was tempted by a US based box book the shipping costs were the same as the box itself. That was a few years back though so maybe things have changed 🤔 and letter costs are different from parcel ones anyway.

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  4. I already have a number of pen pals and we send postcards and short letters on the regular. I am not up for a subscription but if you would like to be pen pals I would enjoy making your mailbox happy 🙂

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  5. I would love to receive your writings in the mail. I don’t get much mail, and something joyful each month would certainly be worth looking forward to. 🥰

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  7. This is a cool idea but I am WAY over committed on subscription things in all forms of media. I’m amazed that you only have one subscription!! 🤯 but if you want to send the odd postcard or notecard now and then id enjoy doing that!

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