Writing Tip: 7 Ways to Write about Love

By TheRaven6825 on February 8, 2017 • ( 1 )

Ah, love; a dreadful bond, and yet, so easily severed.

So says Davey Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, after having his own heart ripped out to remain buried in a chest. Most of us know how that feels, and so love becomes a bittersweet emotion after it has been tainted over and over again. Heartache is easy to write about after feeling a few scars from cupid’s arrow, but there are other types of love to indulge in.

The Greeks have 7 different words for love: Philia, Ludos, Agape, Pragma, Storge, Eros, and Philautia. Use any of these as your muse to write about love as the world needs it more than ever right now.

Philia – A deep friendship. A love filled with loyalty. Write about those friends who have stayed by your side, those brothers and sisters in arms, or even a team-mate you cherish.

Ludis – A playful love. Flirting and also puppy love among the young. Write about that high school sweetheart who got away. Write about the way your spouse flirted with you before the first date – describe the butterflies you felt before that first kiss.

Agape – Love for all. A selfless love. Probably the most important love of all to write about as the world is lacking in empathy. Write about love and compassion felt for a stranger. Write about how love can change the world and how it can bring light to a dark place.

Pragma – A long-lasting love. Mature love between two people. This is the love all married couples hope to achieve; a love that endures until “death do us part.” Write about your own pragmatic love or a long-lasting relationship you witnessed in your lifetime. Best-friends have this type of love as well, so write about your own if you are the fortunate few to have this bond.

Storge – Family love. Write about a love between parent and child, brother and sister, or grandchild and grandparents. Don’t forget aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and step-parents or siblings.

Eros – A passionate love. Love filled with desire. Even an erotic love. This is the type of love we wish for in our relationships with our better half. Even if you have never experienced it, write about how you expect it to be. Write about a love on fire with a hint of steam.

Philautia – Love of the self. One must be careful of this type of love. We must love ourselves, but not to the point of obsession. Once we learn to love ourselves, then we can share that love with others. Write about too much or too little love of self.

Now that you have an idea of love from many aspects, let the love poetry flow. The cure for most of the world’s ailments is love, so share your affections to help heal the wounds.

Written by: Donna J. Sanders (Repost from July 27th 2016)