Some would say that writing a love letter is a dead form of communication, a relic from olden days that's irrelevant in the era of instant gratification where we find ourselves today.

At a time when we are separated by visible and invisible barriers, forced apart by social distancing, and almost completely reliant on more impersonal forms of communication like email, social media, and video chatting, a love letter is a particularly meaningful and romantic gesture because it's slow, intentional, and deeply personal.

Writing a love letter to a long-term partner such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse can be a great way to affirm or even rekindle your love for each other.

Mental health counselor Chaute Thomson, LMHC, points out that couples can often forget to keep connecting with each other as they get swept up in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

So, a love letter can be a moment to step back, get in touch with your emotions, and show some serious affection to your partner—particularly if it's not something you often do with each other.

"Allow yourself to be vulnerable and share your heart," she recommends. "Many times, we are scared to truly share ourselves out of fear of rejection or misunderstanding, but writing a love letter creates a genuine opportunity to connect with one another."

The greeting is important because it will set the tone for your entire letter, so you want to make sure you start off with something that will catch their attention and keep them reading.

Don't just start with "Dear [name]"—instead, greet them with something more romantic or personalized. Pet names and inside jokes work great.

Is it an anniversary or another special occasion? Did your partner come through for you in a big way and you want to show appreciation? Have you just been feeling a lot of love for your partner and wanting to show your affection?

The body of the letter is where you will really pour out your heart.

For a longtime love, you want to talk about memories, overcoming obstacles together, what made you fall in love initially, why you still love them today, and what you see in the future.

Recall a romantic memory—the first date, the first time you saw them, your wedding day, an anniversary, a special vacation, the first time you laughed together or cried together, etc. The point is to make it meaningful.

Closing or wrapping up the letter is important because it is where you sum up all the things you have just laid out in your letter. This section shouldn't be that long since you've put the meat of the letter into the body.

Writing a letter for a crush is a lot different from writing a love letter to a partner.

For starters, writing for a crush can be really scary because there is a risk in putting yourself out there if you have no clue if the feelings are mutual.

However, there is no way to know how they will respond if you don't open yourself up.

Many of the tips given in the previous section of writing a letter for a longtime love or partner apply to writing a letter to crush, though obviously the difference is you don't know them as well. 

Love letters can be a really romantic way to let someone know you like them, but they can also come off strong and can veer into "creepy" territory if you're not careful.

Before writing a full-throttle love letter to a crush, you should have some sense of where they stand—some inclination that they might feel the same way about you.

If you know that you're both crushing on each other, a love letter can be a great gesture. Alternatively, you can write someone a love letter simply with the intention of making them feel loved, without making it about trying to start a relationship with them.

Sending an extremely affectionate love letter to someone who has no clue that you like them or who doesn't view your relationship romantically might be overwhelming and can make some people uncomfortable.

Many people love receiving compliments that make them feel good about themselves; if nothing else, most people are interested in hearing how other people see them.

Don't be too general in your letter. Don't just say that you like them or that they caught your interest. Tell them why you like them and how they make you feel.

Make sure they know why you're writing this letter. Are you just wanting to make them feel good? Are you telling them how you feel because you're hoping they might feel the same way?

If you and the recipient are already in a process of courtship (i.e., you both already know you like each other), it can be really romantic to daydream about the future.

Before you even put pen to pad, you need to get yourself in a letter-writing state of mind. According to Laura Louis, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist at Atlanta Couple Therapy, your "state of mind is so important when preparing yourself to write a love letter.

To get yourself into a mindset of creativity and inspiration, you need to manage your environment."

Tapping into your five senses can help you get into the right head space.

You don't need to be an expert writer to get your point across, but you should take the time to think about what you want to say before you start writing.

It's OK if you have to write and rewrite the letter a few times before you get to a version that you are ready to send.

Practice makes perfect. If you don't like what you've written, don't settle. Keep at it until you end up with something you love, which will ensure your recipient loves it too.

A good love letter will make the recipient feel loved, cherished, accepted, desired, special, and important. As you're writing, think about not just what you want to say but also how you want the person to feel as they read your words.

Thompson suggests thinking about the five love languages as you write—aka touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, and quality time.

The way you deliver your letter is almost as exciting as the letter itself. This is where you can get really creative and have some fun with it.

We live in a "microwave society" where people want things "quick, fast, and in a hurry," Louis says. But that's what makes letter writing so special.

It takes time to put together and is a permanent testament to your love that doesn't disappear in a long thread of text messages.

Lover letters are one of the greatest exemplars of true romance. The letter isn't even the romantic part but rather the idea that your lover is thinking of you even when they are not physically in your presence.

Writing a love letter lets them know their importance in your life, captures what makes your relationship special, and demonstrates what makes the person you are with amazing to you.