What is Pen Owlies?
Pen Owlies is an anonymous correspondence experience created by Story Owl.
During a 3-month season, participants (“Powlies”) exchange physical letters through pseudonyms, without ever directly revealing their identity or address to one another.
Story Owl acts as the intermediary for all correspondence, ensuring privacy while forwarding each letter to its correct recipient.
How does it work?
- You sign up online (buy buying this product) or at Story Owl.
- You receive a welcome email with a mandatory form.
- You fill in your details and answer a few matching questions.
- Story Owl manually matches you with another Powlie.
- You receive your Pen Owlies kit.
- You begin exchanging letters.
What does the kit include?
Contents may vary from season to season, but typically include:
- Pen Owlies envelopes
- Letter paper
- Season collectibles
- Small curated extras and gifts from Story Owl
Can I collect the kit at Story Owl?
Yes. You may choose between:
- Free in-store pickup
- Home delivery (+5€)
How does the anonymity system work?
All letters are first sent to Story Owl.
On the envelope:
- you write only your alias as the sender
- you write only your Powlie’s alias as the recipient
When the letter arrives at Story Owl:
- the letter is not opened
- Story Owl adds the real destination address
- the letter is forwarded to the recipient
This means participants never need to share their personal address directly with one another.
Does Story Owl read the letters?
No. Story Owl never opens or reads the contents of the correspondence.
We only handle the logistical forwarding of the letters.
How long does a season last?
Each Pen Owlies season lasts 3 months.
At the end of each season, Story Owl may host an optional gathering for Powlies who wish to meet in person.
Revealing your identity is entirely optional.
How many letters can I send?
There is no strict minimum or maximum number of letters.
However, Pen Owlies is designed around active participation and ongoing correspondence throughout the season.
Do I need to reply immediately?
No. Pen Owlies is intentionally slow and asynchronous. Replies may take days or even weeks.
Silence and waiting are natural parts of the experience.
What if my Powlie stops replying?
Story Owl discreetly monitors the general flow of the correspondence experience.
If you feel that communication has stopped entirely or something feels wrong, you may contact us at powlie@storyowl.pt and we will do our best to help.
Can I request a different Powlie?
Yes, in specific situations.
If the exchange genuinely does not feel right, you may contact Story Owl at powlie@storyowl.pt and we will assess the situation.
Powlie changes are not automatic and depend on availability and season balance.
Can I have more than one Powlie?
Yes. You may participate in multiple correspondence exchanges by purchasing additional kits.
How are matches made?
All matches are done manually by Story Owl based on:
- your form responses
- interests
- communication style
- overall personality and atmosphere
The goal is not to create identical pairs, but interesting and compatible exchanges.
Who sends the first letter?
Story Owl decides who begins each correspondence exchange.
Can I choose my Powlie?
No. The matching process is part of the experience itself.
If you were to chose your own Powlie that would render the matchmaking and anonimity experiences useless.
What happens if a letter gets lost?
Although rare, postal delays and losses may occasionally happen.
Story Owl cannot guarantee the performance of external postal services, but we will always try to help if a prolonged issue arises.
Can I include objects inside the envelopes?
Small flat items such as drawings, photographs, pressed flowers or bookmarks are generally acceptable.
However, please avoid:
- bulky objects
- liquids
- fragile items
- perishable materials
Story Owl reserves the right to refuse inappropriate correspondence.
Are there behavioural rules?
Yes. Pen Owlies is intended to be a safe, respectful and comfortable experience for everyone involved.
The following are not permitted:
- harassment
- abusive language
- invasive requests for personal information
- discriminatory content
- inappropriate material
Story Owl reserves the right to remove participants from the experience if necessary.
Can I reveal my identity to my Powlie?
Only if both participants wish to do so.
Anonymity is part of the experience, but the final decision belongs entirely to the participants.
Are there deadlines?
Yes. Each season includes:
- a registration deadline
- a form submission deadline
- a kit shipping/pickup period
All relevant dates will be communicated before the beginning of each season.
What happens if I sign up but do not complete the form?
Without the completed form, Story Owl cannot create your match and you will not be able to participate in the season.
Can I participate from outside Portugal?
For now, Pen Owlies is primarily designed for Portugal.
International participation may depend on logistics and additional shipping costs.
Please write to us telling us at powlie@storyowl.pt. Tell us that you really want to participate and where you’re from and we’ll try to make a spot for you in the future.
Does Owlie actually exist?
That depends on how many letters you have written after midnight.
