This annual swap requires time and commitment to prepare, but the reward is a full year of encouragement, inspiration and surprises. This is the sixth year we will have done it and I can’t say enough about how motivational it is to have a packet to open each and every month.

The idea is to give your partner, in advance, a year's worth of inspiration in one package. PLEASE resist the urge to open everything all at once. Anticipation and the encouragement you'll get during the year is truly rewarding. The package will contain an introductory letter from you, a dozen encouraging letters with a surprise, a writing mascot for the year, a wrapped birthday present with a card, and a minimum of three wrapped pick-me-up surprises.

NEW THIS YEAR: Two months of Sender's Choice suggested topics and a minimum rating to join of 4.95.

With an eye toward postage costs, this is a U.S. only version. Canadian swappers with U.S. addresses can join. We have officers in Canada and New Zealand/Australia who can post identical swaps for those regions. Let me know and I'll link to them.

Other international members, post below if you would like a version.

U.S. swappers: the flat-rate boxes from the post office are a mailing option, as is Parcel Post/Standard Mail. Depending on the size/weight of your package, you may find that other shippers (i.e. FedEx Ground or UPS) might be cheaper than the post office.

Please read through the entire swap description because there are several components.

The package you prepare for your partner should include the following:

• A letter or note introducing yourself

Tell your partner who you are, what you do, the type of writing you enjoy and anything else you'd like to share.

• 12 letters with a surprise

Each should be in a sealed and separate packet, package or envelope and labeled with the month. Each letter should be at least one page and encourage your partner toward his or her writing goals (see below for suggested themes to follow) and contain a surprise (examples include, but aren’t limited to, a bookmark, magnet, pen, profile surprise, gift card, writing supplies, etc.)

To assist you in what to write about for each month's letter, here are some themes you can follow. You can approach these from any direction. (And yes, they are different from the ones used last year.) And note that the themes are suggestions. You can write about anything as long as there is encouragement in your letter.

Suggested themes --

January: A New Year/A New Opportunity

February: Sender's Choice

March: Prompts

April: Writer Angst

May: My Favorite Writer

June: Finding the Muse

July: A Room of One's Own

August: A Moveable Feast

September: Sender's Choice

October: Triggers

November: Poetry and Prose

December: Wrapping Up the Year

If you write your letters longhand, PLEASE make sure your handwriting is legible. Typing/computer generated preferred, but not required.

The monthly surprises don't have to be expensive or even store-bought. You can take advantage of sales to find great items. Use your creativity, your partner's profile and even the monthly themes to assist in coming up with appropriate surprises.

If you join now (swap posted Oct. 6, 2015) and start drafting your letters, you will have more than two months to get your letters written. If you wait until the sign-up close date, you'll have just six weeks to get everything together.

TIP: Do not wait until the last minute to draft your letters. This is the time-consuming part of this swap.

• A writing mascot for the year

This is something that your partner can place on her/his desk or computer, carry with a laptop or otherwise keep close for use and/or inspiration throughout 2016. Some examples of what you could send: a small stuffed animal, a mug, a plaque or wall hanging, a small piece of art, a pin, a pen, etc. These are just examples, use your partner's profile and/or your creativity to come up with an appropriate 2016 Writers' Mascot.

• A wrapped birthday present and birthday card

This will be for your partner to open on his or her birthday. Be sure to include a card.

• Pick-me-up surprises

We all face difficult moments or days throughout the year. Include for your partner a minimum of three pick-me-up surprises that are labeled as such. You can send more if you'd like. Please include a card or note (or letter if you so desire) of encouragement. These will be opened whenever needed during the year. Be sure to label the envelope, package or wrapped item as a pick-me-up surprise. These can be profile surprises or something your partner will appreciate. It doesn't have to be writing related, but should be something to brighten her day.

Optional: If you would like to include any additional envelopes, packages or materials for your partner, feel free to do so.

Recap

As you see, this is a time-intensive swap. You don't need to wait for partners to be assigned to start gathering items and writing your encouraging letters. After partners are assigned you can look for or create the surprises, mascot and birthday present using your partner’s profile as a guide.

How much is all of this going to cost? That will depend entirely on you. If you are a bargain hunter and/or good crafter, it could be done for less than $25 (plus postage). If you're aiming to splurge for your partner, it can cost as much as your budget allows. The primary cost is in the time it will take to prepare and write the monthly missives.

Deadlines

Sign-up by: Saturday, Oct. 31

Mail by: Saturday, Dec. 19

A note about the Watchlist:

A lot of swappers like to put swaps on the watchlist and then forget about them completely. You have to actually watch your watchlist because you won’t receive automatic reminders from Swap-bot. Committing to the swap now and getting started on your letters will mean you won't be rushed as the send-by date nears.

Thank you @angel1985 for inspiring this swap.

U.S. (Canadian swappers with U.S. mail addresses are permitted to join, but you must have a U.S. address). Snail mail. Group membership.