Holiday Newsletter Tips

If you get writer's cramp penning greetings or letters to send with your Christmas cards, you may find it easier to create holiday newsletters on your computer. Are you still resisting this method? Keep in mind that there are many ways to make them more interesting. Here are several tips that will make your holiday newsletter personable and fun to read.

Gather Information

Write notes first! Make a compilation of the events that occurred within the last year that you wish to include. It's a good idea to ask family members for their input or you may inadvertently leave out something important. Another way to jog your memory is to look at the most recent pictures in your photo album.

Pick Your Topics

Good topics include family vacations, job promotions, special occasions, or baby's first step. To prevent it from being the annual "brag letter," keep it short and add a little humor. For example, instead of "We traveled all over the United States in our new, expensive motor home decked out with all of the extras" would be better put it you state that "We got to see much more of the United States in our new motor home. It's definitely a step up from the old one that was falling apart!" As you can see, how you put it makes an incredible difference.

Bad things do happen. Although holiday newsletters should be uplifting, some things can't be ignored. You can mention illnesses and mishaps, but don't elaborate on blood tests and surgical procedures. A death in the family can be acknowledged with statements that express your loss but also convey happy feelings of remembrance. Consider this: "Sadly, Aunt Betty passed away last February after a long illness. We sure do appreciate the Christmas ornaments she gave us. We were reminded how generous she was when we hung them on the tree!"

Add Illustrations

Add visual elements to adorn the pages, holiday style. Many Christmas newsletter templates on the Internet have the layout and images ready to go. Or, you can make your own with a word processor or publishing program and add festive clipart. Better yet, forget the clipart and add family photos instead, complete with descriptive captions. Whatever your choice, keep it simple. Busy pages look "overdone" and distract from the message.

Make it Personable

Close your holiday newsletter with Christmas greetings and warm wishes for the upcoming New Year. You can make it more personal if you hand-write a short note at the bottom, tailored to the recipient. Does that defeat the purpose of saving time by creating a printed holiday newsletter? Not at all. You'll pack in much more information in the printed portion that otherwise wouldn't have been included and still be able to convey an intimate message. When you're through, proofread your letter for errors, address, stamp, and send.

Back to Christmas Holiday Planning Articles

The contents of this website are copyrighted and may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior consent.