How to Write Family Newsletters

Family newsletters are often sent around Christmas time, but they are appreciated any time of the year. Consider creating an annual letter around the same time each year, such as end of the school year, Valentine’s Day or on an anniversary. Follow these steps to find out how to write a family newsletter.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Printer
• Envelopes
• Stamps

1. Set a deadline for when you want to mail out your family newsletter. Depending on your schedule, leave about two weeks to compile and complete the newsletter.

2. Grab your family calendar and make note of any activities or events of importance that have happened over the last year. Make sure to note any vacations, promotions, concerts, recitals, accomplishments, trip or tragedies.

3. Interview your family members about their highlights from the past year. What did they enjoy most? What have they learned?

4. Compile all the notes you have and see if you can detect a theme. Was it a busy year filled with activities? Were there plenty of mishaps and accidents? Did the whole family learn something valuable over the year?

5. Write a rough draft of the newsletter, incorporating a few poignant stories and anecdotes. Hit the highlights but mention a few disappointments as well, especially if a lesson was learned or it worked for the greater good.

6. Show the first draft of the newsletter to all the family members. Let them make suggestions for how to improve the letter.

7. Make final corrections to the newsletter, checking for spelling, grammar and accurate dates.

8. Print several copies of the newsletter, fold it and mail to family and friends.

9. Keep a copy for yourself, including it in a scrapbook or in your files.

Tips & Warnings

• Interview the whole family together. As ideas are pitched out, it might trigger additional thoughts for other family members.
• Let older children write their own section and either type or scan it into the newsletter. Their unique voices and thoughts will jump off the page.
• Don’t just mention the highlights of the year. If your family sounds perfect, no one will believe it. Mention a few of the important missteps, like a broken window during the baseball game or the minor fender bender on the family vacation.

[CBPope]

on 12/20/2008 great idea. I hope to start ours in 2009