How to Write A Love Letter

Love letters are a massive beacon of romance culture and have been since seemingly the dawn of language. From Ernest Hemingway to Vita Sackville-West, many writers have executed pristine expressions of romantic yearning throughout history. There’s plenty of different approaches, and at the end of the day you should follow your heart. However, there’s definitely some basic pillars that you should abide by when trying to execute the perfect love letter.

THE YEARNING

One of the most important aspects of what makes a love letter so delicious is in fact the pain point of it all. If you do not yearn for someone so much that your heart quivers at the thought of distance, it’ll be challenging to even evoke the emotion necessary. Perhaps if you’re struggling to truly capture the feeling of yearning for your object of affection, spend some time away from them. Imagine that you’ll be away for months, what will you miss? What is the feature of theirs that you can pull to the front of your mind with just the thought? Finding these pieces of yearning will give your love letter the foundation of emotion that it needs to truly express human love. Now, who and what you yearn for are your business. Just make sure you’re yearning.

THE LANGUAGE

Deciding what tone you’re going to use is a crucial guideline. It can of course be a collection of many languages, but make that decision with a strong hand. Perhaps sections of the letter can be different than others in tone and word usage. Opening with a poetic stanza confessing true feelings and ending with a stream of consciousness could be a fantastic read for your lover. Above all else, make sure that you sound like you. In an eloquent circumstance, take how you feel and refine it. Above all else, however, understand which you’re/your and their/there/they’re you’re using. 

THE STRUCTURE

Figuring out what you want to say and how you want to say it is one thing. Now, think about the journey you are taken on when reading the entire letter. Are you opening with a heart on your sleeve confession, reciting your favorite poem, and then placing a delicate kiss at the end of the page? Great! As long as you organize the page(s) in a way that you find interesting, romantic, and true to how you feel! If you’re particularly crafty or artistic, throwing in drawings or crafted notes/decorations could be a nice touch. 

THE PAPER

Choosing your materials can make or break your love letter’s presentation. The contents can be beautiful, but if it doesn’t quite pair with the material used, you’ll feel it. Fancier papers can be used to express a rarity and committment to your feelings. The back of a napkin can suggest spontaneous feelings. Whatever you’re using, make sure it resonates with the content, and you’ll be golden. It should be noted that practically anything, and I mean anything, can be made into a romantic sentiment. It all depends on how well you know your lover and their tastes!

THE DETAILS

Little things will count big in this category. The smallest details can enhance the experience of your love letter tenfold. Perhaps you spray the paper with your signature perfume. Maybe you include a pressed flower from your garden. Whatever the small detail is, make it personal and make it thoughtful. Hey, include a lock of your hair if that’s your thing! At the end of the day, your love letter should be a sacred piece of personal exchange between you and your person. That’s what matters most.

Hopefully this will get you started and comfortable in your love letter process. While I have you, I thought I’d offer a beautiful example of one of my favorite love letters by Zelda Fitzgerald to F Scott Fitzgerald…. 

‘’Darling – I love these velvet nights. I’ve never been able to decide … whether I love you most in the eternal classic half-lights where it blends with day or in the full religious fan-fare of mid-night or perhaps in the lux of noon. Anyway, I love you most and you ’phoned me just because you phoned me tonight – I walked on those telephone wires for two hours after holding your love like a parasol to balance me.’’