Postcrossing Blog

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

How much do you know about the history of your own country? There are things that every schoolchild seems to be taught, for every country: in the UK, I think everyone is taught that 1066 was the year of the Battle of Hastings, for instance. But we don’t always learn the little things, the quirky facts, the odd corners of a country’s history. So this month’s writing prompt is a chance to share what you know!

In Wales, between 1839 and 1843, there was a series of protests collectively referred to as the “Rebecca Riots”, which resonated throughout Britain (the illustration I found and included here is apparently from the Illustrated London News, as late as 1855!). The protests were directed at toll-gates, during a time of low prices for farming products coming right after a famine. To pass the toll-gates to take goods to market to sell, the farmers had to pay high fees, which weren’t adjusted according to the hardship people were experiencing.

In response, farmers dressed as women, calling themselves “Rebecca’s daughters”, and marched to the toll-gates. At the gate, one of the group would act as “Rebecca” and lead a sort of mini-play ending with the “daughters” forcing the gate open to let Rebecca pass (and usually trying to destroy it so it couldn’t be immediately closed again).

The Rebecca riots occurred in a really serious context, of course… but it’s still rather cool to picture these burly farmers dressing up in women’s clothing as a way to protest and destroy the toll-gates. In writing this post, I learned that it was likely linked to methods of community justice called Ceffyl Pren; apparently getting dressed up in women’s clothing in order to hide their identities was a key part of how communities regulated themselves and called out bad behaviour. I don’t know how much it would’ve really helped to hide people though. I feel like I’d still know my neighbour even if he wore a dress!

Is there anything quirky you know about your own history? Some little-known fact, or something everyone in your country learns about in school? Let us know! You can write about it in the comments here, as always, or use it as a prompt for something to write on your postcards this month!

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

February already! I hope 2026 has been treating people well, and that you have all been getting some really fun mail. Not many postcards so far for me, but plenty of books, so I’m happy…

Anyway, looking at my calendar, it turns out that Pancake Day (as we call it in the UK—also known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, etc) is in February, and that brought this prompt to mind for reasons that will become clear fairly quickly: what dishes are you great at cooking?!

Okay. Confession time it is: I can’t really cook. When fending for myself, I usually put pre-made things in the oven, like a pie or pizza or something. However, the one thing I taught myself from a student cookbook has fairly reliably been a hit, when I actually achieve it: pancakes! Specifically the thin type, as in this photo I found (not my pancakes, alas), which can be rolled up and eaten with a filling. (Nutella, how I love you! Though I also like maple syrup or lemon and sugar with them.)

I don’t have a special recipe or anything like that, so I have to conclude that part of the great reception is actually surprise that I’ve actually bestirred myself and made something from scratch… and the pancakes my dad and my wife make are both better, in my humble opinion. Still, it’s proof that possibly with the guidance of a cookbook and a quiet kitchen, maybe I’m not unteachable!

Alright, now it’s your turn! What are your go-to meals, your signature dishes? Feel free to share the recipes and make us all feel hungry. You can let us know in the comments here, and use this as a prompt when writing postcards this month!

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to visit another planet? Aficionados of sci-fi and fantasy have probably thought about this already, and probably everyone who ever dreamed of being an astronaut… so we thought it’d be interesting to ask about the planets that everyone would love to visit!

Those who’ve been reading my writing prompt posts for a while probably already know that I’m a huge fan of the massive multiplayer online roleplaying game Final Fantasy XIV (don’t worry, I won’t launch into the full joke/meme about the extended free trial, etc). It’s a world “I” spend a fair amount of time in as my avatar, the Warrior of Light, getting up to all kinds of adventures—learning a dozen different fighting styles from mage to monk, becoming a master crafter, catching all the “Big Fish” the game has to offer, etc, etc. (I’m a terrible monk, though.) So I think it’ll have to be my choice now!

There’s so much variety in the world of Final Fantasy XIV, after all, starting with Eorzea (where the story begins) and spreading across the world to Tural, the home of the most recent expansion. There’s something for everyone, and while I don’t possess the skills of a Warrior of Light, I’m pretty sure no one could object to me slipping into the huge library in Old Sharlayan and finding myself a book (or two, or three). And surely I couldn’t get into too much trouble if I took ship for Tuliyollal, to indulge in what look from the cutscenes like truly awesome tacos.

Of course, there are so many other worlds I’m a fan of from fiction, from various fairylands to utopian societies on planets orbiting stars we can see in our night sky. But I’m a humble and unadventurous soul, really, so curious as I am, I’d have to leave the heroics to someone else… but what about you? Is there a planet you’d love to see, and would it be full of adventures?

You can share in the comments here, if you like, and use this as a prompt when you’re not sure what to write on your postcards this month!

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

November was long, and it’s been getting cold here, so I’m thinking cosy thoughts here and planning on snuggling up. Of course, I’d usually choose a book… but even I have some favourite movies that I like to watch over again, at least once a year. So that’s our writing prompt for this month!

When I mentioned I was picking this prompt, I immediately said that I’d have to flip a coin and choose between Howl’s Moving Castle and Apollo 13, two movies that have almost nothing in common except that I’ve watched both at least a dozen times. Miyazaki’s animation is gorgeous, and I love Calcifer (“here’s another curse for you: may all your bacon burn!”)… but then, you know, Apollo 13. Even though they get safely back to Earth, I still choke up every time.

Of course, there are many other movies I could give an honourable mention. The more I think about it, the more they crowd my mind! Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, of course, and the extended cuts of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, and—on a completely different note again—Amélie.

How about you? Is it an easy choice? Do you have a long list of favourites to share? We’d love to hear in the comments, and don’t forget: you can write about this on your postcards this month if you’re stumped for what to write!

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

The monthly writing prompts we suggest are often just really fun, like sharing awesome local stuff and imagining what kind of superpowers we’d like… but this month I thought we’d go in a different direction, and share some sage advice!

Advice can be so tricky and situational: I think one of the most life-changing bits of advice I got was from a teacher when it came to picking which university to go to. He told me to visit the campuses, and decide if I felt comfortable there. I refused to even apply to Cambridge on that basis (and admit it, I don’t think I’d have got in anyway), and ended up staking all my hopes on Cardiff University, even deferring entry for a year so I could attend Cardiff specifically. I was very happy and loved my university… and I do tend to use that experience more generally as proof that going with my gut can be a very powerful way to make a tough decision!

For more general advice, my grandma always had some pithy sayings, some of which were more intelligible than others. My favourite to share is this: “You can’t educate pork.” She was never that willing to explain (we’re still not certain about “If you don’t want to fight, wear a really big hat”, though there are theories) but the family have always taken this to be a caution about taking part in arguments that you’ll never win because the other person isn’t listening. I use it to remind myself not to reply to random people on social media…

And finally, I’ll leave you with the advice my dad gave me in a letter, back when I was deciding on which modules to take in my second year of university. He declined to comment on what might be useful to study, and instead told me that if I was ever trapped in a basement or something with only a jar of pickled gherkin, a battery and jump leads, I could put a current through a gherkin to achieve an eerie green light… and hot food.

Make of that what you will, and we’d be excited to learn what great pieces of advice you’ve received, both serious and silly! You can write about it on your postcards this month, and share in the comments as well if you like.