Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is this again?
A: The Christmas Letter Swap is a creative writing project and opportunity to receive weird, fun mail. Participants pen a holiday newsletter from a fictional family of their creation and mail five copies to addresses provided. In return, they will receive letters from five other "families" in the project. A drawing will be held to award one participant a $50 prize for honoring the commitment.
Q: Where can I sign up for this?
A: Right here.
Q: Wait. Is this only for people who celebrate Christmas?
A: Absolutely not! "Christmas letter swap" was just an easy catch all. Your letter can be themed on any Decemberish holiday, or none at all. Be you Christian, Buddhist, Wiccan, Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, or anything else, we love and respect you, and would be thrilled for you to join this fun project.
Q: How does it work again?
A: You will sign up before midnight on Monday, December 5th, but can start creating your own fictional family Christmas letter right away. After registration closes, you will be emailed 5 anonymous street addresses. By the end of Wednesday, December 14th, you will send one copy of your letter to each of the five addresses. You will also email to the organizer a clear scan, file, or photo of your letter and a "proof" photo of your addressed, stamped envelopes by this date. Over the next week or two, you will receive 5 unique Christmas letters from other participants who were given your address. After the sending deadline, one name will be drawn from the participant pool for a $50 cash prize.
Q: Is this Covid safe?
A: We believe so. There is no evidence of the virus being transmitted via mailed packages, and the risk is deemed incredibly low by scientists. Coronavirus only lives on paper for a few hours, and even if it were active on your envelope at the time of delivery, it is estimated that there is around a 1% chance of transmission from the paper to your fingers.
Q: Can I really win some prize money?
A: Yes! This year, we are again hoping to encourage full participation by awarding one participant a cash prize. However, it's not a contest based on quality of your letter! If you follow instructions, you will be entered into a random drawing for $50. We will hold the drawing after the deadline passes and get one lucky winner some dough before Christmas. Prize money will be awarded via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or check, depending on preference of winner.
Q: What info of mine will be shared with the other participants?
A: We will only share the actual street addresses, and will not reveal the names of anyone who lives there. You will not be required to include a return address on the envelopes you send.
Q: Does it cost anything to take part in the swap?
A: No, but you will need to supply your own stamps (55 cents x 5 = $2.75) and envelopes ($1 a box at any dollar store).
Q: Can I include family pictures?
A: That would be phenomenal, especially if they include pets, sweaters, or pets in sweaters.
Q: What else can I put in my letter?
A: Anything goes! We just want you to be creative and have a good time. As long as it takes the general shape of a family Christmas letter, you are doing it right. You are encouraged to create a fictional family, but are welcome to use your own if you'd like. Participants are allowed to use graphics, design, or photos, but they are not required. Tone is completely up to you: funny, weird, somber, unhinged, satirical, etc. For more ideas, see Past Entries or the Inspiration Page.
Q: Is there anything I should not put in my letter?
A: The content is up to you, so adult themes and language are your call. We ask that hate speech, bigotry, sexism, etc. find no place in your letter. It should also go without saying that mailing food, fluids, weapons, or illegal substances of any kind is a horrible idea.
Q: Will the letters I receive be family friendly?
A: We cannot guarantee this, as the content of each letter is up to the writer, and there is no censorship or supervision on our part. Humor is subjective, and what might crack one of us up could make another upset. If you find yourself offended, disturbed, or otherwise bothered by anything you receive, you are welcome to put it in the trash and never look at it again.
Q: What happens if I sign up, but never get around to sending my letters, scan, photo, etc.?
A: Besides the awful self-loathing you will feel due to selfishly taking and not giving, you will be prominently listed on our Hall of Shame page once the project is over. You will also not be entered into the drawing for the cash prize.
Q: You said that you will display all of the letters on this site once the project ends. What if I don't want that?
A: All you have to do is let us know, and your letter will not be included in the post-project wrap up. You also have the option of letting us post it anonymously.
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: Because it is fun to get weird mail, and gives us an excuse to write and read some silly stuff. I make -50 dollars off of this project.
Q: Will this work?
A: It's up to you. We are relying on everyone to honor his or her commitment. This is an experiment. It is quite possible that it will fail, but we hope not.
Q: What if I have questions that are not answered on this site?
A: You can contact me at [email protected] for a speedy response.
A: The Christmas Letter Swap is a creative writing project and opportunity to receive weird, fun mail. Participants pen a holiday newsletter from a fictional family of their creation and mail five copies to addresses provided. In return, they will receive letters from five other "families" in the project. A drawing will be held to award one participant a $50 prize for honoring the commitment.
Q: Where can I sign up for this?
A: Right here.
Q: Wait. Is this only for people who celebrate Christmas?
A: Absolutely not! "Christmas letter swap" was just an easy catch all. Your letter can be themed on any Decemberish holiday, or none at all. Be you Christian, Buddhist, Wiccan, Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, or anything else, we love and respect you, and would be thrilled for you to join this fun project.
Q: How does it work again?
A: You will sign up before midnight on Monday, December 5th, but can start creating your own fictional family Christmas letter right away. After registration closes, you will be emailed 5 anonymous street addresses. By the end of Wednesday, December 14th, you will send one copy of your letter to each of the five addresses. You will also email to the organizer a clear scan, file, or photo of your letter and a "proof" photo of your addressed, stamped envelopes by this date. Over the next week or two, you will receive 5 unique Christmas letters from other participants who were given your address. After the sending deadline, one name will be drawn from the participant pool for a $50 cash prize.
Q: Is this Covid safe?
A: We believe so. There is no evidence of the virus being transmitted via mailed packages, and the risk is deemed incredibly low by scientists. Coronavirus only lives on paper for a few hours, and even if it were active on your envelope at the time of delivery, it is estimated that there is around a 1% chance of transmission from the paper to your fingers.
Q: Can I really win some prize money?
A: Yes! This year, we are again hoping to encourage full participation by awarding one participant a cash prize. However, it's not a contest based on quality of your letter! If you follow instructions, you will be entered into a random drawing for $50. We will hold the drawing after the deadline passes and get one lucky winner some dough before Christmas. Prize money will be awarded via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or check, depending on preference of winner.
Q: What info of mine will be shared with the other participants?
A: We will only share the actual street addresses, and will not reveal the names of anyone who lives there. You will not be required to include a return address on the envelopes you send.
Q: Does it cost anything to take part in the swap?
A: No, but you will need to supply your own stamps (55 cents x 5 = $2.75) and envelopes ($1 a box at any dollar store).
Q: Can I include family pictures?
A: That would be phenomenal, especially if they include pets, sweaters, or pets in sweaters.
Q: What else can I put in my letter?
A: Anything goes! We just want you to be creative and have a good time. As long as it takes the general shape of a family Christmas letter, you are doing it right. You are encouraged to create a fictional family, but are welcome to use your own if you'd like. Participants are allowed to use graphics, design, or photos, but they are not required. Tone is completely up to you: funny, weird, somber, unhinged, satirical, etc. For more ideas, see Past Entries or the Inspiration Page.
Q: Is there anything I should not put in my letter?
A: The content is up to you, so adult themes and language are your call. We ask that hate speech, bigotry, sexism, etc. find no place in your letter. It should also go without saying that mailing food, fluids, weapons, or illegal substances of any kind is a horrible idea.
Q: Will the letters I receive be family friendly?
A: We cannot guarantee this, as the content of each letter is up to the writer, and there is no censorship or supervision on our part. Humor is subjective, and what might crack one of us up could make another upset. If you find yourself offended, disturbed, or otherwise bothered by anything you receive, you are welcome to put it in the trash and never look at it again.
Q: What happens if I sign up, but never get around to sending my letters, scan, photo, etc.?
A: Besides the awful self-loathing you will feel due to selfishly taking and not giving, you will be prominently listed on our Hall of Shame page once the project is over. You will also not be entered into the drawing for the cash prize.
Q: You said that you will display all of the letters on this site once the project ends. What if I don't want that?
A: All you have to do is let us know, and your letter will not be included in the post-project wrap up. You also have the option of letting us post it anonymously.
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: Because it is fun to get weird mail, and gives us an excuse to write and read some silly stuff. I make -50 dollars off of this project.
Q: Will this work?
A: It's up to you. We are relying on everyone to honor his or her commitment. This is an experiment. It is quite possible that it will fail, but we hope not.
Q: What if I have questions that are not answered on this site?
A: You can contact me at [email protected] for a speedy response.