Texting is HARD, I'll admit it. It's so easy to overthink things and end up spending an hour trying to come up with a response, only to realize you left your crush waiting when all they wanted to know was, "what's up?" You're not alone when you spend 20 minutes picking out the perfect emoji. Everyone struggles with texting when feelings are involved. Need help crafting the perfect message? Don't worry, here are tips to so you can perfect the art of texting.
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1
Stay Positive and Playful
Sade Adeyina
Texting can be super discouraging, especially if you send a hilarious, well-thought out message and all you get in response is a measly "lol." Don't let that get you down, though. Stay positive and keep the jokes and banter flowing! In the beginning of the relationship (whether it's a flirtmance or romance), you don't want to be too much of a burden on your crush. Even if you did poorly on a test and are having a bad day, use that to your advantage and ask your crush on a study date. Keeping things lighthearted and fun will make them look forward to texting you!
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2
Keep the Conversation Going
Sade Adeyina
Again, your crush should look forward to receiving a text from you. They shouldn't roll their eyes when your name pops up on their phone because texting you feels like a chore. When they ask, "What's up," instead of a canned answer like "nothing much, what about you?" try something that will continue the conversation.
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3
Be Confident, Not Cocky
Sade Adeyina
Confidence is sexy, that's a fact, but you have to walk a fine line and make sure you don't fall into the cocky territory. When texting your crush, be confident, while also being sincere. Instead of saying, "I know you want to go on a date with me," try, "What does your week look like? Any time for a date?" This way they know you're obviously interested, and they'll be impressed that you really put yourself out there.
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4
Flatter Them!
Sade Adeyina
Who doesn't love to get a compliment? When in doubt, just flatter your crush when you're talking to them. It will make them feel good about themselves and it will make it clear that you're into them. Compliment their athleticism, smarts, taste, whatever you think will make them happy, and, of course, whatever you truly like about them. They'll also be glad to know that you notice that they killed it in the soccer game last week or tried extra hard on their outfit today.
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5
Play Off Their Interests
Sade Adeyina
If you know what your crush likes, use that to your advantage. Text them after their favorite show airs so you can chat about it, or send them a new song you think they would like. They'll appreciate the fact that you also care about their interests, or at least that you care about them enough to know their interests. And, they'll be excited to talk about their favorite musician or sports team with you!
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6
Start Forming Inside Jokes
Sade Adeyina
The more you guys laugh together, the closer you'll become. Work on forming inside jokes with your crush so you have your own personal rolodex of jokes. Maybe your math teacher always pronounces a word wrong. Now, every time someone pronounces said word wrong, your crush will think of you! This is obviously easier said than done, but if you can think of something that will make them laugh, bring them in on the joke and soon it will become an inside joke!
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7
Text with a Purpose
Sade Adeyina
Let's be honest, idle texting can be the worst, and sometimes it can feel more like a chore than something fun. That doesn't mean you need to have a goal with every text you send, but if you start a convo, you should have a reason for doing so. If you just want to chat, the convo will prob go downhill pretty quickly. The purpose doesn't have to be super important. You can just want to compliment them, or even entertain them — that's enough to make the convo more lively.
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8
Send Pics
Sade Adeyina
No, not those kinds of pics...Send photos of what you're doing throughout the day. It will add an extra level of imagery to your conversation and it will give them a peak into your world. Yes, you can Snapchat photos, but there's something about sending a picture over text that seems more intimate.
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9
Ask Questions
Sade Adeyina
This will not only help keep the conversation going, but it will also show you're interested in their life. Also, if you ask follow up questions about an event they went to or a test they had, it proves that you were paying attention and actually care.
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10
End the Conversation
Sade Adeyina
Sometimes, ending the convo can seem like the hardest part. You don't want to leave your crush hanging, but maybe the topic has begun to get stale or you really need to focus on your English paper. Honestly, just be straight forward. There's nothing wrong with letting them know that you can't focus on texting right now. Also, it will leave them wanting more and excited for the next time that you have a chance to chat.
Carolyn Twersky is an associate editor for Seventeen covering celebrities, entertainment, politics, trends, and health. On her off time, she's probably watching Ru Paul's Drag Race, traversing NYC for the best donuts, or, most likely, enjoying time in her favorite place in the world: her bed.