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Ultimate Guide to Writing A Love Letter
Thanks to Studiesoflove.com for letting us use this article!
How To Write a Love Letter
(c) Gloria Liven, used with written permission

1. Choose a unique paper

The first part to writing a good love letter is by choosing a good paper! Just any old piece of lined paper won't do. You might consider:

• Parchment paper
• Colored paper
• Handmade paper
• Paper with torn edges (tear the paper before you write the letter, you might need to practice)
• Paper cut into a heart or other shape
• Paper with burnt edges
• "Aged" paper (you get this look by crumpling up a plain piece of paper, uncrumpling it, and repeating until it becomes soft and antique looking)
• Fancy stationary
• Brown paper from a paper bag
• Something that isn't paper! Canvas, leather, cardboard, posterboard, wood, etc.

Whatever you choose, make sure you choose something that is unique and you like the style of. Maybe it's just a nice, thick parchment paper that you can buy from a store. Or a piece of colorful paper or stationary that has a unique look; you can get parchment paper at Staples and other stores. You want something that is quality and thick, so it will last a long time!

Want to make a plain piece of paper unique? Then consider tearing the edges; Cutting it with scissors; Burning the edges; or "aging" it (see right). You can fold the paper back and forth where you want a tear and tear it along a straight edge; Or slowly hand-tear it for a more jagged look. You can carefully burn around the outside edges for a cool effect. Or, you can make the paper look old and soft by crumpling it and uncrumpling it several times (you may need to crumple or knead it 6+ times to make it really soft).

You could buy some handmade paper for a natural unique look; some papers even have visible flower petals in them!

Or if you can find a non-paper item to use-- maybe a flap of leather, a piece of cardboard or posterboard, wood, etc-- then go ahead and use it! Your are limited only by your imagination. And if it's something solid that will last, your love can even frame it or keep it as keepsake for years!

Now that you've chosen or prepared your paper, it is time to find a writing utensil that goes with it:

2. Choose a unique way to write

You want to use something that goes well with your paper, and also something that is good for the message you're trying to get across. Want it to look super romantic? You might choose a calligraphy pen. Want it to be sweet or cute or fun? Maybe crayon is better.

Here are some ideas for writing:

• Colored ink pen
• Calligraphy Pen
• Pencil
• Crayon
• Markers
• Paint
• Lipstick
• Sharpie

What you use depends on what kind of paper you chose. Pencil is good for writing drafts. A nice quality ink pen in black, brown, or maybe a deep red is good too. It will depend on the color of your paper (if your paper is black, a silver pen would work well). You might want paint-- maybe paint a background onto a piece of watercolor paper; Or use a sharpie on a piece of wood. Crayon can be fun for a cute letter. If the paper is unlined, you might want to use a ruler to help you line up your handwriting; or leave it natural, however you prefer.

3. What to say in a love letter

What you want to write in a love letter is very personal and up to you. However, you should decide what you want your love letter to cover; should it be an expression of your love? How you miss them? A little note to thank them for being wonderful? Something silly and fun to make them smile?

Make sure it is appropriate for your relationship. You wouldn't express your undying love for someone you just met; but a cute or silly note would be perfect. The more serious the relationship is, the more formal and serious you can make the letter. A cute, sweet letter is great for any relationship, though!

But first of all, make sure you:

• Make a draft! Write it once; reread it; spell check it; make any changes you want; then leave it alone, and come back later. Don't do your final draft on your chosen paper until you know what you will say.

There are some things to think about or write about:

• Why you fell in love with them
• How they make you feel
• How knowing them has made you change for the better
• Your wishes and hopes for the future
• Little things that you really appreciate about them
• The best times you've spent together, something really fun you've done
• What's surprised you the most about them
• How you miss them; what you'd be doing if you were both together on the trip
• Things you have in common
• Things you hope never change about them
• Something that made you think about them
• Thanking them for something they did that made you smile
• Something funny they'd appreciate
• Things you can make fun of them about

How, some things you also might want to include or think about in a love letter are:

• The date - they may keep the letter for years as a keepsake; putting a date on it will let them know exactly when it was written.
• A good greeting; Use their name. You may want to start with the reason you are writing "My Love-- I would be asleep, but the night is cold and I can't keep the thoughts of you from my mind. I will not sleep well until I return..."
• A unique ending- You could just end with "Love, ___" but you might want to end with something more unique and related to what your letter was about; "I sit watching the ocean in the moonlight, filled with thoughts of you," etc.
• Use metaphores that are unique
• Try writing a love letter without saying "I love you", "I miss you", etc.-- describe why you love them or why you miss them without using any common words, "I am like a shoot without the sun; I worry that I may shrivel without your presence"... etc.
• Avoid cliche or common phrases; Don't quote anything without credit!
• Avoid saying things just to impress them; love letters should be honest
• If you use a quote or poem, make sure you credit the author, and include why you feel that author's quote/poem says what you want to say

4. Dress It Up

Now that you know what you want to say and you have a draft, consider dressing the paper up a little. Some ideas:

• Add perfume
• Draw or doodle on the letter, or around the edges
• Glue in a photo
• Add a pressed flower
• Paint a background for your letter
• Paint or use colored ink around the edge of the letter
• Add a famous love quote or poem (credit the author and tell him/her why that makes you think of them)
• Fold it nicely
• Wrap it in ribbon
  

  5. The Envelope

You must choose an envelope for your love letter that will match it nicely. You may even want to put the letter in an envelope, and put that in another envelope for mailing if it's special or decorated.

Here are some ideas you might want to use with your love letter's envelope:

• Purchase a special stamp; one that relates to love or reminds you of them
• Fill the envelope with dried rose petals, or dried flowers
• Add small candies or chocolate into the envelope, or a tea bag, etc.
• Include a small gift
• Add a token, a keepsake... for example if you're away and near a beach, maybe add a shell; maybe give them a bookmark; something small for them to remind them of you
• Add stickers or other embellishments
• Wrap the letter or envelope in a lovely ribbon
• Draw, doodle, paint, or write on the outside of the envelop (or kiss it with lipstick if you're a girl)
• Seal it beautifully; You can seal it with wax, or draw a heart on the seal, or decorate it with ribbon or glue embellishments on
• Put it in a small box instead of an envelope
  

Source: StuidesOfLove.com , used with permission

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