Tired of reading? Listen instead!

by Merlyn Gabriel Miller

Writing a love letter is no easy feat.

Carefully crafting words of love and longing onto paper. Bleeding your innermost thoughts and emotions through the pen. Pouring every inch of your being into a message for your lover, praying it will be well received.

Being that naked and vulnerable takes a lot of courage.

It’s a lot easier texting someone while drunk, and saying “Sorry, wrong number” if they do not return your feelings.

So, writing a love letter may not be your first choice for testing the waters. However, it could add an extra dimension to a relationship and deepen the connection that is already there.

If you don’t know how to write a love letter, here are 4 tips to help you get started.

#1 Learn From The Masters

If you get stuck, staring at a blank piece of paper, not knowing what to write – learn from the masters.

Personal letters from Johnny Cash, Elizabeth Taylor, Frida Kahlo, Beethoven and other great talents can be found online. These are a treasure trove of inspiration for anyone wanting to express their love in writing.

#2 Let The Pen Speak For You

If there is a golden rule to the art of love letter writing, it is this:

Where you keep silent – let the pen speak. Share on X

You know all the things you are afraid to say, that you think would sound silly if you said them out loud?

These are the words that would be perfect if you put them in a love letter.

#3 Use Poetry And Quotes Carefully

Of course you could add a love quote to your letter, but even better is to use it as inspiration. The same goes for poetry, unless you have written it yourself.

The idea behind a love letter, is that you tell your lover how you feel about them. It is deeply personal, and not meant to be a collection of other people’s thoughts.

One exception, is if a particular quote or poem reminds you of your sweetheart. Then by all means, include these in your letter and and explain why it makes you think of them.

Be a bit careful with your selection though.

If a children’s rhyme about a duck makes you think about the way their backside waddles as they walk, you might want to skip that one (unless they have a wicked sense of humour).

As a general rule, a love letter should be romantic. However, if a lot of the romance between you is based upon humour and fun, there is nothing wrong with including that in a letter as well.

#4 Add Extra Touches

Adding a personal gift, a lock of hair, a picture or drawing, sealing the envelope with a kiss or a touch of perfume, may add a special quality to a love letter. Share on X

Anything that in one way or another says “I love you”, or that helps them remember you and feel closer to you, can be worth including.

If you are in a long distance relationship, you put flowers, pebbles or sea shells from the local area inside the envelope. Add a picture of where the object was found, tell them what you were doing there and that you were thinking of them.

Final Thoughts

There is something special about love letters.

Created by hand, they are personal and intimate, in a way that an e-mail or a text message could never be. It’s a way of touching someone from afar.

Reading “ILY, babe” on a screen is not the same as holding a scented, hand-written letter, sealed with a kiss. Share on X

But in the fast paced world of instant messages, the love letter is a dying art form.

Maybe it’s one we should be bringing back to life.