It is written!

Quill feathers and perfumed postcards may've made way for computer qwerties and colourful phone screens, but the written word still stands supreme when it comes to love

This is what distinguishes roadside Romeos from diehard romantics, wild, wicked women from lovely ladies and frivolous flirts from fine lovers. A heartfelt note can make or break any affair, and if you thought the age of SMS has wiped the good ol' prem patra from the face of modern day love, we take the liberty of setting your beliefs right.u00a0u00a0

Kabootar to Kindle

Shakespeare-style 'thou' and 'thy' have surrendered to text-friendly 'hw' and 'y', but that is not to say that the life of the written word of love, too, has been cut short. Seven out of every 10 SMSes sent by an average person every day has something to do with love, and one in every five emails is a message of fondness.
u00a0
The 'Love Letters' group on Facebook has only 1,871 members, but that is because the art of worded professing has donned a new, digitally evolved form, and refuses to be known by its old name. Think Amazon's e-reader Kindle instead of papyrus and desi acronyms in place of quixotic phrases, and you know where we're headed.u00a0u00a0

Write fright

The worst thing about this wonder wooer is that most of us dread it. The moment you look at a blank page, you feel the same way inside. The solution is simple. Write when you're full of feelings, instead of emotion-hunting when everything seems empty. Don't waste your time over Nobel prize winning intros, a simple 'Hi' with a hint of hesitation or uncertainty in the first few lines will work just as well.

Be as expressive and honest as you can treat it like a conversation, and preempt his/her reaction to every sentence you pen. Follow it up with a suitable thing to say, as if an answer to a question. This will automatically maintain a flow, and you won't have to think about what to bring up next. Guys must pay attention to detailing, while girls should pay attention to clarity men are bad with indirect messages.

'Prose' and cons

A good love note doesn't have to be long, flowery or over animated. Keep it simple, because pretension and wannabe wordage is an instant put off. Exaggeration, too, leads to unrealistic expectations. Say it as it is even two loving lines can make a person's day. Don't send more than 150 words at one go when you're using your cellphone; and a nice e-note is not more than a single mouse-scroll long. Avoid using social networking websites for such special times it only shows you aren't serious enough.u00a0u00a0

Never too late

If you've never written a love letter in your entire life, this is the month to get going. Warm verses or original love-lines can be beautiful things to remember your love by, if not great ways to explain, apologise or clear out misunderstandings. Since this form of communication follows a one-at-a-time rule, there is more time for deliberation, comprehension and understanding. It also shows commitment. Our tip ditch the PC; drop a handwritten one in his/her bag. Old-world charm always scores higher.