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Published 23:18, February the 8th, 2010
Let me count the ways ...
‘Tis the season for writing love letters. But that can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn’t sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It’s kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43: “How do you love your partner? Count the ways!” Here’s how to do it without rhyming or pulling out a thesaurus:
Be specific
When compiling your list, you can certainly include some big, general reasons (“because you are the most forgiving person I’ve ever met”), but it’s almost always better to get specific (“because you show me the error of my ways without ever making me feel like a jerk”). It’s the little details that will show how well you know your partner while making him or her feel unique.
Mix and match
Juxtapose serious reasons (“because you’re a person of principle”) with more lighthearted ones (“because you’ve got the cutest tush I’ve ever seen”).
Run on
It’s best to include at least 10 items on your list, but no need to number it like a Top 10 list, a la David Letterman. Instead, we’d recommend filling up at least one side of an unlined piece of nice stationery paper with one reason right after another. For example: “because I’m at my funniest when I’m around you. Because you make a killer pot of chili. Because we have the same tastes in movies. Because when I smell your shampoo, I still swoon. Because if cuddling were an Olympic sport, we’d be on a Wheaties box ...” with no line breaks until you sign it at the end with something like, “With all my love.”
Make it look nice
You don’t have to get all Martha Stewart, but please use a good pen and your neatest handwriting (typing it up and printing it out is probably a bit too impersonal for this purpose, unless you can do something a little arty with the font, or your handwriting is chicken scratch).
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