How to Write a Love Letter to Your Sweetheart This Valentine's Day
Since time immemorial, lovers have stoked the flames of passion with the written word. According to Guinness World Records, the oldest surviving love poem—jotted down in the symbolic language Cuneiform, on a clay tablet—dates all the back to 2031 B.C. More recent examples of pulse-raising proclamations include everything from composer Beethoven’s gorgeous missives to his “Immortal Beloved,” to Frida Kahlo’s incendiary correspondence with fellow artist Diego Rivera. But you don’t have to be an ancient Sumerian, or even a legendary creative, to pen a powerful love letter. You just have to write it from the heart. But if you've never done so before, how do you write a love letter?
Of course, you don’t want to dash off anything ill-considered or trite. Whether or not you’re wooing the object of your affection or have long ago won them, the point of a love letter is to let the recipient know the depth of your devotion to them. You want to make them feel it the way you feel it. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s no better time to do just that—especially with the aid of the following step-by-step guide that’ll show you how to write a love letter that'll make your sweetheart swoon. (And if you need to get inspired first, check out our Valentine's Day quotes, love quotes for him, and romantic song lyrics.)
Put an Actual Pen to Actual Paper
In these days of instant communication, it might seem hopelessly antiquated, if not downright silly, to handwrite a letter to your loved one. But that’s part of what makes them such a pleasure to receive. Pen-on-paper love notes, whether a paragraph long or a page, show that you care enough to take the time and energy to put your thoughts down in longhand. There’s also an intimacy to handwriting, even if it’s chicken scratch, that a digital screen can't match. Plus, you can’t spritz a text, email, or DM with perfume, which you just know screen siren Elizabeth Taylor did in her legendary love letters to on-again, off-again husband Richard Burton. For added oomph, you can also use special stationery, whether you opt for a heavy, soft kind, or a personalized note.
So, How Do You Start a Love Letter?
If you’re at a bit of a loss about what to write in your love letter, think about following a tried-and-true structure, which begins with a greeting of endearment. Instead of opening with “Dear (name)," use your pet name for them, or a more dramatic, “To the love of my life,” or “To my one true love.” A love letter is not the place to rein it in, or worry about overstating your feelings. Just go for it, the way Orson Welles did when he dubbed Rita Hayworth “Dearest Angel Girl” in a famous love letter to her.
Next, let your beloved know why you’re writing the letter. Is it a Valentine’s Day message? Celebrating an anniversary? Or just because you're overwhelmed by your feelings for them? Go ahead and tell them, even if it’s something as simple as “It’s our ninth Valentine’s Day together, and I couldn’t be more in love with you…”
Get to the Good Stuff
After that, it’s all about how and why you love your sweetheart. You might want to detail a cherished memory, like the moment that you realized you were in love, or maybe a quiet, romantic night the two of you spent cuddled on the couch. Then, move on to some of the reasons you fell hard for your partner. It doesn’t have to be fancy poetry, just pure and authentic prose, like Johnny Cash’s 1994 note to wife June Carter Cash, voted by Daily Mail readers in the U.K. as the greatest love letter of all time.
Speaking of influencing, consider touching on the ways their love has changed you for the better. Has it made you kinder or more patient? Encouraged you to stop and smell the roses, or reach higher and harder? If your relationship brings you great joy, tell your beloved with a short acknowledgement, such as, “You make me happier than I’ve ever been before.”
You can always spice up your epistle a bit too, as painter Georgia O'Keeffe did in some of the thousands of letters she sent to photographer Alfred Stieglitz over their three-decade-long relationship. After all, a little heat never hurt. It’s good to keep that passion burning bright, as O’Keefe clearly knew.
End on a High Note
Just be sure when you tie things up that you not only reiterate your commitment, but also touch on the future. Humans need to feel safe and secure, especially in matters of the heart, and communicating your vision for the coming years—whether it’s buying a house, having kids, or enjoying retirement together—is one way to do it. By the time you sign off, which should be with the kind of endearment you used in your salutation, your partner should know you’ll be there through thick and thin.
For a special flourish, seal the envelope with a lipstick kiss. Tuck it somewhere it will surprise your partner, like in the front seat of the car, or stick a stamp on it and mail it to them at work. A little effort will go a long way in making this Valentine’s Day card one to remember.
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