You want to tell your partner how you feel about them but you end up staring at a blank screen for so long you give up. Or you try a few lines only to delete them all and start over. Again. Why is it so hard to tell the loved one in our life exactly what they mean to us? Do you struggle to find the words to properly convey how you feel? Or is it that you just can’t explain it? Don’t let words get in the way of telling your loved one how much they mean to you.

Everyone wants to be loved. When you are busy living life, there never seems time to slow down and really savour that central relationship that makes it all worthwhile. Oftentimes we think that those closest to us know exactly how we feel about them and how important they are to us. But the sad reality is that often they don’t.

So how can you write a love letter that you will feel proud to give and one that your loved one will cherish for all time? Where do you start? Follow these easy tips below and you’ll be on your way in no time.

1.First write down 5 things that you love about your partner and be as specific as possible. Rather than writing that they are kind, instead be detailed about how they are kind. Perhaps they always smile at waiters in restaurants or they are great at making people feel included, especially at parties.

2.Write down 5 things that they have done that confirms how much you love them and again, give examples. Perhaps they enveloped you in a hug last night when you were feeling frustrated about your family. Or maybe they knew how disappointed you were when you missed out on that promotion and they cooked a special meal to cheer you up.

3.Pick the best three examples from each of the above categories and weave them into your letter. You could start by saying ‘I love how you…’ and then include the three examples from the first point. Then you could say something like ‘I loved the way you…’ and then mention the other examples. Make sure you emphasise how their actions made you feel, how loved you felt and how grateful you are to have them in your life.

4.It is best to write up a draft first and then go over it to see if you can improve it. Sometimes it helps to write up what you want to say, edit it until it flows well and then leave it for a day or two before going back for a final edit and polish.

5.Buy some special paper and write out your letter. Don’t worry if your handwriting isn’t perfect – it’s distinctly yours and your loved one will appreciate the time and effort you put into the letter. If you feel your writing is so bad it will be difficult to read or if your illegible handwriting is something you’ve argued about before then pay to get it hand written by a professional. At a stretch you could use a more romantic font on your computer, say Garamond in italic, but you should really only do that as a last resort. The more personal you can make your letter the more your loved one will treasure it.

6.Think about how you plan on delivering this letter to them. Will you slip it in their briefcase? Mail it? Leave it under the pillow? Do you want to be there when they open it? If you want to see their reaction, then it is best to hand it to them. You could team the letter up with a small gift like flowers or chocolate but make sure the gift doesn’t diminish the letter as you want that to be the main focus.

If a birthday or anniversary or other special occasion is involved you’ll want to include mention of that too.

Writing a love letter to boyfriends can be a great way to strengthen your relationship through the expression of your love and affection. But, when it comes to putting pen to paper, most of us get immediate writer’s block. After all, it’s not easy to express your deepest feelings on paper to the one you care about most!

The biggest source of love letter writer’s block is, of course, deciding what exactly you will write about. To help ease your frustration and catapult you right past your writer’s block, I have put together 5 sure-fire themes to use as the basis for your love letter to him. So, choose one of these themes, spend a bit of time putting your thoughts down on paper, and you can’t go wrong: he will be putty in your hands.

Here are the 5 themes to choose from for your love letter:

1. I can’t live without you

The “I can’t live without you” letter needs to be approached in a subtle and sophisticated way. After all, you definitely want to avoid coming across as being too clingy or needy - for this is an immediate turn-off for 99% of men. However, I have never met a man that didn’t like to feel that he was needed - even very-much needed.

To write a letter with this theme, you may not ever end up writing the words “I can’t live without you.” Rather, the message will come across more subtly by the way you write the letter. Focus your message on all of the ways you mean something to him and how important a part of your life he has become. Tell him that you don’t know what you would do if he were ever to be out of your life. Hint: throw in a dash of independent-sounding phrases now and again, just to avoid the needy-clingy vibe.

2. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me

This is similar to the above theme, but with more of a focus on him than you. All men (all people, for that matter) love to hear how wonderful they are. Your man is no exception. So, start by thinking of the 2 or 3 most appealing and admirable (or attractive) things about your boyfriend. Then, write about those qualities, commenting on how lucky you feel to have found those qualities in him. A letter written with this theme is sure to strike a positive chord in his heartstrings.

3. I find you extremely attractive

For this theme to work, your comments need to remain genuine. So, for example, if your boyfriend is only mildly handsome or even rather plain-looking, then focus your attention on the attractiveness of one of his other features - like his powerful arms or his strong hands. Keep your compliments honest and they will resonate all the more with him.

4. You have changed my life for the better

This theme plays on the part of your boyfriend that wants to have a positive effect on your life. He wants to matter to you, so let him know how he has influenced your life in positive ways. For example, maybe you admire his love of reading, or the way he stands up to injustices. Whatever it is - think of those traits that you admire in your boyfriend and that you have therefore tried to emulate out of that admiration. Show him how knowing him has changed your life for the better. He will be flattered and end up feeling closer to you.

5. You get me excited

This theme is always a winner. While you should avoid coming on too strong in your letter in a sexual manner, let him know how much just being around him turns you on. Focus on the feelings of physical attraction you harbor for your boyfriend and on how excited you get when the two of you are together. No man will tire of hearing these words.

Choose one of these 5 themes for your love letter to your boyfriend. Your letter is sure to speak to him in a way that will win over his heart.