Write a Perfect Love Letter

Looking for a lovely way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day? You don’t need to break the bank – try an old fashioned art instead. Valentine’s Day is a holiday where sentiment trumps all. So the best thing you can do is to put your emotions on paper for your special someone to savor – in the moment and for years to come.

A well-written love note touches the person who receives it and has no expiration date. It’s a gift that keeps on giving! And “well-written” doesn’t mean ready for print. It just means sincere and from the bottom of your heart. While the thought of putting pen to paper may seem intimidating, it doesn’t need to be. Plus, it’s the least expensive, most expressive way to share your love.

Use these four tips to write the perfect letter:

1. Be yourself
While you may have it in your head that flowery, Shakespeare like language is required when writing your amour, nothing could be further from the truth. An effective love letter will be written in your voice. In other words, write how you talk. If you have little names for each other, use them. If there are phrases you both understand to have a special meaning, don’t shy away. That said, there has to be a reason you’re writing it down, you don’t want your letter to be comprised totally of things you say every day.

So go ahead, take a leap. Tell your beloved how grateful you are for the fact that they make you delicious meals, wake up naked in your arms and flash you a smile that lights up your world at the end of every day. Whatever it is that you haven’t mentioned, mention it now and see what happens!

2. Longer is not better
The Notebook may have worked in the movies, but for your average love-letter writer, a treatise is not required. In fact, it may get boring, especially if this is someone you see every day (long distance lovers, or those temporarily separated are the exception to this rule). A few sentences in a card (or even e-card) if they’re done right, will do the trick. And they don’t have to be serious. Tell your guy he makes you feel like a kid again (so he’ll have to understand the next time you throw a fit) and you’ll make him smile… and feel special at the same time… and that’s the point, after all, isn’t it?

3. Sexy, not sleazy
Unless especially dirty talk is your thing, you’ll get a lot more mileage out of innuendo or coyly sexy comments than full on verbal-porn. Be suggestive without crossing the line and your more apt to turn your partner on… go overboard and you might embarrass them – or even worse, for the sensitive types, gross them out!

4. Check yourself
Spell correctly. Sounds silly, but if there’s anything the internet age has taught us, it’s the importance of a spell check. Granted, you may not be typing your love letter (hand written is probably more romantic, it’s true), but be aware your spelling and grammar. Women, especially, care about these things. However, bad spellers take heed: the thought is far more important… so if it’s a choice between spontaneous truth and rehearsed good spelling, go with the heart… it trumps the brain every time. At least on Valentine’s Day, anyway!