How to write a love letter

  If you haven't yet surmised from my previous posts that I am a hopeless romantic, I think this short piece will convince you. Recently, one of my close friends helped me discover the lovely art of letter-writing. And I must say that I'm obsessed! In an age of technology where any message can be sent in a split second or less, it's so refreshing and special to take the time to hand-write and mail a letter to someone you care about. Nothing says "I love you" quite like a tangible manifestation of the words in your heart arriving via snail mail at the home of your beloved. And you're pretty much guaranteed that it won't accidentally be delivered to your junk mail box or be cut short because it exceeds 140 characters. Now I know that most people are not exactly as eloquent or as gifted with words as, say, John Adams. But the point of a love letter is to express your deepest and most intimate feelings of affection for your significant other. So just in case you're romantically challenged, I've come up with a few tips to help you in your letter-writing endeavors:
 
  1) Buy pretty stationery. Pay close attention to the presentation of your letter. Remember that this is something your beloved may keep for quite a long time (if not forever.) So it's important to make it look as lovely as possible. I do have one warning, though: ladies who love pink and glitter and all things pretty, refrain from using overly cutesey and girly decorations. They can distract from the heartfelt nature of the letter.

  2) Write out your thoughts on scrap paper (or in a Word document) first. Keep in mind that hand-written letters are more personal, so it's a good idea to make sure your penmanship is spot-on and there are no scratch-outs throughout the letter. Also, it's best to organize your words and thoughts first so that you say exactly what you mean and don't hop around from one idea to a completely unrelated thought in the next sentence.

  3) Find the perfect balance between lovey dovey and direct. Yes, love letters are famous for being superfluous and almost too sugary sweet. That's all well and good. But what's the use in sending a letter that really has no substance to it? No one wants to read marshmallow fluff. So while you shouldn't completely neglect the traditional overflow of affection in your love letter, remember to make your point. Share how you feel and tell your beloved why you love him/her.

  4)  Be honest and genuine. Don't promise your beloved the rest of your life if you don't even have plans for next week. Most importantly, be yourself. A lot of people get caught up in what they think is romantic and try to write about and copy what they've seen in movies or read in books. Here's something you should know: you and your significant other are NOT Romeo and Juliet, nor should you want to be. You have a unique love story that's all your own. So write the words in your heart, not the ones you think would be deemed appropriately romantic. Be YOU because that's who your beloved has fallen in love with.

  5) Add personal touches to your love letter. Spritz the note with your favorite perfume or leave a lipstick kiss mark on the bottom of the page. My trademark is that I always seal my envelopes with pretty stickers (mainly because they look nice but also because I can't stand licking the envelope flap.) A love letter should be very personalized and special. It should make your beloved instantly think of you when he/she opens it. If you adorn your letter with elements of you and your love story, your significant other is bound to love it.
 
  So there you have it. I really hope this has helped you create the perfect love letter. If you follow these tips, you'll turn into an instant John Keats (well, not really, but you get the idea) and your beloved will treasure your letter forever (or until you break up, but hey let's not be negative.) (Just kidding about that last part.)

Peace,
KT :)
(image from weheartit.com)