November Rudolph Club Meeting - Write Holiday Letters!

Welcome to the Rudolph Club: your once-a-month meeting to simplify your holidays and get organized for Christmas!

At Organized Christmas, we know that the holiday season can be fast and furious. Solution? Take a day once each month throughout the year to plan and prepare for a more-organized holiday season.

On the 25th of each month, we'll bring simple assignments and easy tips to try now for a simpler, more joyous season. Over the year, you'll tackle planning and preparations to make the season lighter, brighter and less stressful come December.

November's meeting sets the stage for one final holiday prep chore: writing holiday letters.

November Rudolph Club Assignment: Holiday Letters!

We've already assembled the raw material for holiday letters, by adding notes to a file each month on Rudolph Day, beginning in February.

Ready to edit? Here are some tips for writing holiday letters that are fun and fulfilling to read:

Start off on a positive note! It's a trend you can count on. Roughly 98% of the holiday letters you receive will begin with a sentence like this: "I can't believe the year has come and gone so quickly!" While we all feel this sentiment, it's not the happiest way to begin a holiday letter.

Start holiday letters with a cheerful bang, not a whimper about the passage of time. Try openers like, "One of the blessings of this time of year is the chance it gives me to connect with you, my friends and family." or "We've had a happy, busy year here in the Adams household!" Even a stock "Holiday greetings from the Young family!" is a better opener than the traditional plaintive cry about the passage of time.

Shorter is Sweeter. Even the most doting aunties can be daunted by a multi-page, single-spaced Christmas letter that drones on (and on and on) about the minutia of family doings. Keep Christmas letters short and sweet! Hit the year's high points, and save the day-by-day description of your summer vacation for long lunches or personal phone calls.

Write in your own voice. Too often, holiday letters show all the symptoms of "writer-itis": big words, turgid sentences, piled-up adjectives. Friends and neighbors don't want to hear from Edward Bulwer Lytton, they want to hear from you! Use your own voice, and write as you speak. You'll bring a breath of fresh air--and a happy echo of your own personality--to your letter.

Keep your audience in mind. Holiday letters really aren't "one size fits all". Business associates won't know what to make of a chatty, family newsletter when they've never met Uncle Walter and Aunt Peg, while distant cousins don't care about the ins and outs of workplace politics. Before you start your holiday letters, picture the recipients in your mind and write in a way that will make sense to those who will receive them.

For instance, if your holiday letter will be sent to far-flung friends or long-ago neighbors, be sure to identify family members by relationship, not just name. Hearing that "Wallace is a happy Rebel this year" can be mystifying to those who don't remember him well. "Oldest son Wallace, now 18, is thriving in his first year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas." gives the reader the details he or she needs to catch up with Wallace's activities.

If your letter will be sent to casual acquaintances or business contacts, keep family stories to a minimum--or send a card instead. Sure, you sit next to that nice fellow at each week's Kiwanis meeting, but will he really be interested in a season's worth of your grandchild's soccer scores?

Resist the urge to embellish. It's a holiday-time stereotype: the braggin'-braggin' Christmas letter. While it's only natural to put your best foot forward, keep your perspective as you write. Your true colors and real personality are a lot more interesting to your friends than a puffed-up presentation of the year's events.

Be selective about photos. With the rise of digital photography, there's been a corresponding inflation in holiday letter photos.

Share photos selectively and sparely. One or two great shots that illustrate your text are much better than an over-the-top photo barrage. If you will include photos as part of your letter, use brochure paper so that photos print clearly.

Make it personal. A sparkling, informative holiday letter is underdressed if it doesn't contain a personal touch. Add a short handwritten note to your holiday letters for a warm finish. Alpha computer geeks among us use word processing software to personalize each letter. However you achieve it, be sure that the recipient can feel your warm--and personal--regard.

November Rudolph Club Reminders:

It's here! Since January, we've met monthly to prepare for the holiday season. Time to reap the rewards of our efforts. For a more organized holiday season next year, mark your calendar for January 25th. We'll kick off a new year at the Rudolph Club.

Frugal Finds for November

Sales PlannerBlack Friday Sales Weekend looms! Are you a dedicated day-after-Thanksgiving shopper? Get organized to get the jump on Black Friday specials. Online coupon and sales sites often list Black Friday specials before the big day. Last year, more retailers introduced online Black Friday sales, as well.

To get organized, try our free printable Holiday Sales Planner form. It'll track this year's Black Friday bargains and organize shopping trips. Shop till you drop!