George Bernard Shaw once said, "The perfect love affair is one which is conducted entirely by post."
Cynicism aside, this does raise a point about the love letter. When they're good, they work. So how in this time of relationships being forged over the Internet, do we write email that has just as much impact, insight, even romance as those love letters of yesteryear?
Here are some pointers to whip your emailing into shape.
1. Play with your greeting, using it as a barometer of affections. When you first meet someone, your email might start with, "Hi so-and-so." But when you get to know them better, it wouldn't hurt to be creative. "To my sweet shnookums" or "To my rock star hunk of a guy". Set the tone and show you've been thinking about the object of your affections all day — not just as soon as you sat down in front of your computer. By the way, if the love of your life is still asking you to refer to them as "To Whom It May Concern," the lifetime of the relationship may not be as long as you're anticipating.
2. Don't think of the blank "page" as an opportunity to unload all the details of your life on an undeserving recipient. Everybody loves to talk about himself or herself, but the listeners get the big bonus points. Ask insightful and thought-provoking questions about who they are, rather than detailing your seven-step laundry strategy.
3. Once that's done, there is an amazing little device on your tool bar. It's called spell check. Nothing reeks of lack of effort more than spelling mistakes.
4. Okay, so you did your spell check, but did you reread your message for grammatical errors and the potentially devastating effect of the mistakes the spell check didn't pick up? For instance, "L" and "M" are close together on the keyboard. If you wanted to say "I love you" but hit the "M" instead, you'd end up with "I move you." A nice sentiment perhaps, but you also might find yourself renting a truck on the weekend.
5. Last, but definitely not least — the sign-off. This is your last chance to hook 'em. Make it personal by making it your own. It's easy. Just add "ly" to almost any word and you get a salutation like "kissingly, Susan" or &happily, Bobby Joe." Stay away from, "Depressingly, Stan" or "Desperately, Mary." And forget business salutations. "For further information please contact" never sounds right — unless, of course, you're breaking up. But even then you can be creative, "No longer reachably, Margaret."
6. When you've surpassed the getting to know each other phase, get your flame's physical address and send them a real letter — on fancy paper, maybe even lightly scented. It's romantic, it's personal, it's thoughtful, and best of all, it's a keepsake that never has to be deleted from a too-full electronic mailbox.
Slinky Dating Australia
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