The Art of Letter Writing (Jane Austen’s Version)
My dearest children,
Before the joyous days of your births, you were all just figments of my imagination, whispers in my heart, the subjects of countless verses penned in the solitude of my mind’s chambers. In those tender lines I poured all the hopes and dreams a parent could hold for their unborn progenies. Yet, upon your arrivals, my sweet babes, you eclipsed every expectation, every fantastical notion that had taken root in my mind.Reality, it seems has far surpassed any artistry I could ever muster. You are symphonies where I merely composed simple melodies, masterpieces where I merely sketched fleeting portraits. Your laughter is the sweetest music to my ears, your smiles the most radient light of my days. All moments with you are a treasure, gifts I cherish with every fiber of my being.
Never could I have envisioned such boundless love, such pure delight. You have woven yourselves into the tapestry of my being and existence, enriching me and my life beyond measure. Though my words may fall short, know you are adored, treasured, and cherished beyond all expression.
With unwavering affection,
Your devoted mother.
After watching Pride and Prejudice, I won’t apologize for the person I become. I know I’m not the only one that at times feels like they were born in the wrong era. The thing with FEELING that way is that when we feel that way and dream about the era we wish we would have been born in we dream of the time minus all the bad things. It’s a dream after all. So when I say I dream of living in the 19th century of London my ethnicity would be no issue. I want the romanticism of it all, and often the poetry and letters I pen in my notebooks reflect that era. However I can’t talk like that, I’d be committed. I could continue but to make a long story short, after watching or reading Pride and Prejudice I always feel inspired, so I decided to do some small acts of joyous kindness by composing a series of letters for family and friends in my favorite style, Jane Austen. If you would like to join me in this venture, continue reading so that I may teach you the art of letter writing (Jane Austen’s Version).
The art of letter writing is to start with a greeting. In modern day, well not that many letters are written in modern day, but a letter would begin with: Dear "(Insert Subject)”. However, we want the romanticism of the 19th century so you want to begin the letter with extreme formality and politeness. Depending on who you are writing a letter to consider the following:
To an acquaintance or someone of higher social standing:
Dear Sir/Madam [Recipient’s Name/Last Name]
Honoured [Recipient’s Title]
Dear Mr./Mrs./Miss [Name]
To a close friend or family member:
My Dearest [Name]
My Beloved [Name]
You could also personalize the above. Example: My Dearest Friend Shelby; My Beloved Cousin Brenda.
For the body of your letter, think of poetry. Be rich in your descriptions, use lyrical vocabulary like metaphors, similes, figurative speech. Be sure to structure each sentence in a way that has rhythm and an elegant flow. Get rid of common words and replace them with elegant ones. For example, to express happiness in a letter don’t say “I’m happy”. Instead write “I’m delighted/elated/overjoyed”. Don’t use “I’m sad” to express sadness, be dramatic and romantic about it and write “I’m bereaved with melancholia.”, “It is with a heavy heart that I find myself longing for the days of simplicity." Use descriptive language in your letter(s). There is a way to say “The weather is nice.” in a romantic way. “The sun shines with radiant brilliance, enriching the flowers I have sowed in my garden beds willing them to bloom and bask in the glory of its warmth.” If you went to a party and it was fun you can express that in your letter as: “I went to a gathering with friends and it was a delightful whirl of laughter and riveting conversation.” METAPHORS: these are my favorite as it allows me to use my poetry skills, metaphors are my favorite! “I miss you!” Instead “I long for your company, I find myself thinking of your smile, the thoughts become a beacon of light in my darkest hours.” SIMILIES: “Your wit sparkles like champagne, your dazzling eyes put the stars to shame.” Hyperbole: (Bridgerton version) “I’m dying to hear the latest gossip. Basically think of how you’d write a simple modern letter and do it all figuratively. Use a mix of long and short sentences, and different types of sentences like simple, compound, and complex. You’ll also want to invert the typical subject-verb-object order for emphasis. What that means is that you’ll want to rearrange the standard word order in a sentence to highlight certain elements. By placing the object or subject at the beginning of the sentence followed by the verb, you draw attention to that part of the sentence, this emphasizes it’s importance or significances. In simple terms a way to understand that is:
Standard: She loves the book.
Inverted Order for emphasis: The book she loves.
The inverted sentence puts more emphasis on what she loves, which is the book.
More examples in context:
Original: “I was very happy to receive your letter”
Romanticized: “Your letter filled my heart with unbridled joy and dispelled the lingering shadows of melancholy.”
Original: “I miss you terribly.”
“The ache of your absence is a constant companion, a dull throb that permeates my very being.”
Remember the key with a Jane Austen-type letter is the emotional expression. Maintain your formality while also expressing your emotions with sincerity and candor. Use words that convey your joy, sorrow, affection, or disappointment in a way that is both elegant and heartfelt. When commenting about others/society/world affairs avoid being overly critical or malicious. Remember the key to the art of a Jane Austen letter is elegance, and in elegance, there is no room for scandalous salacious writing. This isn’t “The Art of Letter Writing: (Lady Whistledown’s Version)”, that blog post will come another time.
Lastly, be sure to write your letters by hand, and use elegant penmanship (this is my way of saying write in cursive if you can). Try and use quality stationery and consider sealing your letters with wax and an embossed seal for authenticity. Stationary can be hard to find, you can find some at Hallmark stores, or go to your local craft store and wander down the scrapbook paper aisles till you find something. You can also find wax and seals there as well.
As you embark on your journey of crafting letters in the elegant manner of Jane Austen, may your words dance with grace and your sentiments be as timeless as the classics themselves. Remember, in the art of letter writing, sincerity, and eloquence intertwine to create a tapestry of emotions that transcend time. So, pick up your quill/fountain pen, adorn your thoughts with richness of language, and let your heart guide your pen as you compose letters that shall linger in the hearts of your recipients. I hope this blog post aids the ink you put on parchment. Farewell, dear reader, and may your letters be a testament to the beauty of communication in its most refined form.
With unwavering love of the written word,
Vanessa