| Do's
and Don'ts |
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| Do: |
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Construct
your newsletter carefully, especially if you have a big mailing
list. Think of it as a long email to a friend but not necessarily
someone you have known all your life. |
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Edit,
edit, edit. Too many letters are grocery lists or chronologies.
Or worse they're the victims of Too Much Information (TMI.)
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Laugh
gently at yourself. Self deprecation is an underrated quality
these days. |
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Remember that some of your friends may not be as successful
as you.
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Keep the tone light (unless you have sad news to relay.) |
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Make
sure you identify everyone you mention. Even a relative may
not know that Keith is Lori's boyfriend. |
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Ask
members of your household to contribute part of the newsletter
detailing important things as they see them. This gives your
letter variety. |
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Be selective with your address book. Your good friends will
devour your letter, but the couple you met at Disney World may
not. |
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Go
easy on the graphics and photos. A Santa or a few doves are
OK but don't cram in Rudolph, the three wise men, a flock of
penguins and the Vienna Boys Choir. Likewise pictures of your
family. |
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Use large type, at least 12 points, in a clear, unfussy font.
Optimum, Georgia, and Garamond are some good examples. |
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Ask
someone to read the letter before you send it. That person
should be the "objective reader" who will suggest
changes.
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| Don't |
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Create a letter written by your pets or anything else that cannot
speak for itself. |
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Write
your letters in verse (unless you're Maya Angelou). |
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Name
drop (especially if the person isn't universally famous). |
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Overwhelm
with details. Stick to the year's highlights. |
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Use
puns, especially bad ones ("Creampuff watches pay-for-mew
television"). |
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