Getting romance down on paper
How to craft a love letter when an emoji just won’t do
“Dear …” No. “My dearest …” Ugh. No. “Darling …” Oh heck, no. Writers from John Keats to Oscar Wilde have crafted beautiful love letters, but in this era of Tinder swipes and pink-heart emojis, does the love letter even stand a chance?
Elizabeth White-Olsen, who teaches at Rice University and founded the Writespace writing center, thinks so. She offers pointers for writing a decent lover letter, and local stationery-store owner Larry Dromgoole shares a few thoughts about supplies. First, the basics.
1. It’s writing, not typing
“It’s important to write, not text,” White-Olsen says. So spell out the words. “It makes a difference when you receive a hand-written letter versus email,” says Dromgoole, who sells fountain pens and stationery at Dromgoole’s in Rice Village. “Wouldn’t you rather receive a Christmas card than an email that says Merry
Christmas?” he asks. The same thing goes for love letters, times 10.
2. Put pen to paper
The right pen can help you find the right words. Though Dromgoole himself swears by an $800 S.T. Dupont fountain pen with a satisfying heft, that’s not practical for us common folk. He also sells a Pilot Plumix refillable fountain pen for less than $8. The calligra- phy nib will add dramatic flair to your penmanship.
3. About that paper …
If you’re a commitment-phobe about buying writing paper — and writing paper isn’t easy to find — Bering’s hardware and gift stores sell nice individual sheets of 8½-by-11-inch paper for 50 cents. Envelopes, too. Keep it simple and elegant: no teddy bears.
4. The writing: Cut the clichés
No less than Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson got in deep trouble on Twitter recently for apparently using terms to describe his girlfriend, Ciara, that came from Googling “describe a beautiful woman.” Don’t be Russell Wilson. “Use unique language,” White-Olsen says.
5. Get specific
“Say something that pertains only to your beloved and to no one else in the universe,” White-Olsen says. “The way he or she makes coffee, the way you two text during the day.” Focus on the other person, and use strong nouns and verbs.
6. Gratitude is good
“A large part of it is saying thank you,” White-Olsen says. “Humor can definitely play a role.” Whatever you do, don’t be selfpitying or accusatory, and even if your last name is Trump, don’t brag. 7. It will be good for you, too
“Love can last a very long time if you set aside grievances and learn to forgive. If you’re reminded what you love about people, that love grows,” White-Olsen says. “It’s like a garden. Keep the weeds from taking over.”
8. Watch those metaphors
Don’t compare your beloved to a cellphone, for example, White-Olsen says, because that’s weird. If you’re going overboard, take it down a notch.
9. And sometimes, throw out the rules
One time, WhiteOlsen and her husband were driving on a beach in Florida. Her husband stopped the car and jumped out. When she looked, she saw he had written on a dune, in huge letters, “I love you.”