Is a character in your novel writing a letter? If the letter holds significance for either the writer or the recipient, this post will help. Scroll down to learn how to describe a letter in a story.
1. Anticipated
Definition
To imagine or expect something to happen.
Examples
“I eagerly awaited the anticipated letter, hoping it would bring news of my long-lost friend.”
“As the days passed, the anticipated letter from the university admissions office was yet to arrive through her front door, leaving her on tenterhooks about her future.”
How it Adds Description
Describing a letter as “anticipated” emphasizes the sense of expectation, excitement, or importance attached to it. It conveys that the letter is not just any ordinary piece of mail but is eagerly expected for a specific reason. This helps the reader to understand that it holds special meaning or importance to the character receiving it.
2. Bloodstained
Definition
- With marks of blood on it.
- Responsible for the death or injury of many.
Examples
“The detective carefully examined the bloodstained letter found at the crime scene, knowing that it might contain vital clues to unravel the mystery.”
“The bloodstained letter had led to the razing of entire villages, but little did the people know that the author had never meant for it to be sent.”
How it Adds Description
Using the word “bloodstained” for a letter can work in two different ways. It can be used in the literal sense, wherein it builds a sense of dread and tension in your story as your characters try to figure out what exactly happened for it to be covered in blood. Conversely, it can be used to signify that the contents of the letter itself have led to great bloodshed, highlighting the importance of the letter and its sender in your story.
3. Crumpled
Definition
Full of folds.
Examples
“Amid the clutter on the desk, I spotted a crumpled letter, its wrinkled surface hinting at the emotions it had once conveyed.”
“The crumpled letters sat in an untidy pile by the fireplace, whether they were unpaid bills or not, they made for excellent kindling.”
How it Adds Description
When you describe a letter as being “crumpled”, it can either signify a lot of emotion associated with the letter, or the exact opposite, that someone does not care about it at all. For example, if someone cares about a letter or feels a lot of emotion when reading it, they may either read it again and again, leading it to be “crumpled”, or hold it so tightly that it creases. On the other end of the scale, a character could “crumple” a letter because they don’t care about it and its contents, sending a message to your reader about their current frame of mind or their opinion of the sender.
4. Dreaded
Definition
Causing fear or worry.
Examples
“The dreaded letter, bearing the emblem of the hospital, arrived in the mail, bringing with it the unsettling news of her diagnosis.”
“He clutched the dreaded letter tightly in his trembling hand, almost as if he knew the contents before even opening the seal.”
How it Adds Description
Describing a letter as “dreaded” implies that the recipient is feeling extreme anxiety, fear, or apprehension about its contents. It’s a way to convey the emotional weight and anticipation associated with opening the letter. The word “dreaded” adds a sense of foreboding and emphasizes the emotional impact that the letter has on the person receiving it.
5. Fated
Definition
Not able to be avoided because it is set in place by a higher power that controls events.
Examples
“The fated letter arrived on the very day she had dreamt about, its contents carrying a prophecy that would forever alter the course of her life.”
“The fated letter, yellowed with age and sealed with an ornate wax emblem, was said to contain the final words of the legendary explorer, whose adventures had captivated generations.”
How it Adds Description
A “fated” letter is usually one that will turn a character’s life on its head. It suggests that the contents of the letter are predetermined or carry significant importance in the recipient’s life. This word choice adds a sense of destiny, inevitability, or profound significance to the letter’s contents, making it stand out as something extraordinary or pivotal in the recipient’s story or the broader context of a narrative.
6. Foreboding
Definition
Giving the feeling that something bad will happen soon.
Examples
“When the foreboding letter arrived, its ominous black envelope and cryptic handwriting instantly sent a chill down her spine, hinting at dark secrets yet to be unveiled.”
“He hesitated before opening the foreboding letter, fearing that its contents held the ominous news he had been dreading for months.”
How it Adds Description
If you need to add a layer of suspense with the delivery of a letter in your story, consider describing it as being “foreboding”. It suggests that the letter carries a tone or content that instills fear, apprehension, or unease, making it perfect for interrupting a period of calm within your story to offer up a new challenge for your characters, or a shocking plot twist for your reader.
7. Heartfelt
Definition
Strongly felt and sincere.
Examples
“She poured her emotions into the heartfelt letter, expressing her deepest gratitude and love for her lifelong friend who had stood by her through thick and thin.”
“Receiving the heartfelt letter from her grandmother, filled with cherished memories and words of wisdom, brought tears of nostalgia and warmth to her eyes.”
How it Adds Description
“Heartfelt” letters in a story never fail to give your reader a warm and fuzzy feeling. This is because these letters are sincere, genuine, and filled with deep emotion, often expressing affection, gratitude, love, or other profound feelings between characters. These letters are a great way to display the thoughts and feelings of certain characters who would never be able to say such things out loud.
8. Life-changing
Definition
Having a strong enough effect to change someone’s life.
Examples
“Not even the stormiest of clouds could stop the life-changing letter from making its way to her doorstep.”
“The life-changing letter arrived in the midst of a personal crisis, offering a glimmer of hope and a fresh start, promising a chance to rebuild and redefine the course of her life.”
How it Adds Description
Sometimes incredibly big things can come to us in the form of a letter. Using the term “life-changing” emphasizes the magnitude of the letter’s impact and underscores how it can bring about a significant shift or transformation in the recipient’s life journey. This is especially true when such a letter is completely unexpected for a character, giving them and the reader a welcome, or perhaps unwelcome, surprise.
9. Passionate
Definition
Having very strong feelings and emotions.
Examples
“In the dimly lit room, she poured her deepest desires and unspoken love into the passionate letter, each word a burning testament to the intensity of her feelings for him.”
“His heart raced as he read the passionate letter, written by the one who had ignited a fiery passion within him, and he couldn’t help but yearn for their next encounter.”
How it Adds Description
Using the term “passionate” to describe a letter emphasizes the intensity and fervor of the emotions expressed in it, making it clear that the letter contains more than just casual or ordinary sentiments. It illustrates just how much the sender feels for the recipient, especially if they may not be able to communicate this in person.
10. Unsent
Definition
Not been sent.
Examples
“The unsent letter, tucked away in a dusty drawer, held the unspoken words and regrets that he could never bring himself to share, a testament to the emotions left unexpressed.”
“She wrote a heartfelt, unsent letter to her late father, pouring out her thoughts and memories as a way to cope with her grief and find closure in her own way.”
How it Adds Description
Sometimes, letters don’t make it to their final destination and go “unsent”. These types of letters can be a powerful mechanism within your story to show regrets, apologies, and even tragic events that have unfolded that led to it not being delivered. Just as letter writing can be a form of catharsis for us, it can also be used by your characters to show emotions and feelings as they process events alongside the reader.