Write a love letter

Despite his looks, Cyrano de Bergerac won Roxanne’s heart with his passionate love letters. She would wait for them longingly and she would faint in ecstasy when reading them.

Does the above scene sound familiar to you? Maybe only in remembering the Cyrano de Bergerac film or book, however if you are under 30 years old, the chances are high that you have never received or written a love letter. For others, perhaps you might have been lucky enough to be someone’s muse or you may have expressed your feelings to a loved one through a letter.

Very few people realize the bewitching power that a love letter can have. A love letter is a demonstration of personal attachment. Unfortunately, most people are too self conscious to express their true feelings in writing, because writing is permanent. A love letter lasts forever. A letter written today will be read tomorrow, in a few months, in a few years and even decades.

I find it extremely romantic to receive a love letter. There is no more intimate or valuable present and it lasts a lifetime. I have been very fortunate to receive and write plenty of emotional letters. Not only from lovers but also from my grandmother, my mother, my children and even friends. I have a little box with my dearest love letters. Sometimes I open the box and re read them. Reading my letters reminds me of times of happiness, sadness, joy, and important events in my life. Reading a letter is like seeing yourself through the eyes of others. In a way I regret the use of the internet and the phone. Modern technologies are great for keeping people in touch, but they are so detached. An email does not convey all the feeling that you could put in a letter, never mind a mobile text message with its puzzling phrases; trying to cram as much detail in as few lines as possible. An sms transforms a love declaration into “I Luv u” and even though it is nice to receive such an message, I do prefer to have a hand written letter with nice calligraphy saying “I love you” instead.

Why write a love letter if I can send an email, a text message or phone instead?

Love letters are powerful, more than a phonecall email or sms. They express your feelings more accurately and permanently. Recently my 80 year old grandmother shared with me a love letter that a lover had sent her in her youth. She keeps the letter and the photo of her lover as one of her most precious treasures and her eyes still shine with love when she reads it. I hope one day I can share a similar letter with my own grand daughter.

To who can I write a love letter

A love letter can be written to anyone you love. A boyfriend, a husband or lover are the most usual recipients of love letters. But you can also write letters that express your love to your parents, children and friends. I wrote several letters to my unborn baby when I was pregnant; it was a way to relate to the little being growing inside me. One day, when my daughter is old enough I will give her these letters.

A love letter is just that; a letter that expresses your most intimate feelings, the only thing that varies is the tone used according to your relationship with the recipient of your letter.

If you are not used to writing letters, a love letter can be a bit daunting, but don’t worry, once you get started it just flows and takes life by itself.  The only proviso to write a love letter is that you must love the person you are writing to. The rest are just formalities. 

Writing a love letter is an art and as such it is better to do it by hand rather than using a computer. Use beautiful stationary according to your age. Use a good quality paper (cream is less harsh than white) not too thin, not too thick. Bear in mind that your letter is meant to last o it is essential to use a good thick paper and a black pen. Unless you are a teenager forget about pink paper, stickers, drawing hearts and cupids. A love letter is a serious business and it should be treated as such. You don’t want to distract your reader from the main point which is to show the intensity and seriousness of your feelings.

Date your letter; remember that your letter will become a keepsake for years and years to come.

Start your letter by greeting your recipient, so there is no doubt who the letter is mean to be for. An informal greeting is fine and you can use a pet name if you want. In the first few paragraphs you should write why you are writing a letter. Do not make any assumptions. Be as clear as possible. More than likely you will not be present when your letter is read so you will not have a chance to explain any misunderstandings. Use clear language: Do not assume that your reader knows something that isn’t obvious and do not pretend to know what your reader is thinking, which will only confuse things.

After you have finished your first draft, leave your letter for a few hours or days before you go back to revise. Check for grammar, spelling and use good calligraphy when writing your final letter.

• Recall your personal story, how did you meet, when did you fall in love.

• Recall times together.

• explain how your life has changed for the better

• describe how much you miss him/her when you're apart

• write how wonderful and complete he/she makes you feel

• list qualities that set him/her apart from everyone else

• quote poems or songs

• Thank him/her for always being there or for a special event.

• Tell him/her about things that he/she does on a regular basis that shows you he/she cares about you.