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| Photo: Word Wise Tips |
I confess I'm not a fan of Christmas letters.
During the holiday season, my husband and I receive a handful of single-spaced letters typed on the front and on the back.
So many words.
In some holiday letters, photos are added here and there and I can't help but wonder if the sender thinks this will break up the text in order to make the reading more bite-size and thus more pleasurable.
When one arrives in the mail, I put it side. A holiday letter is a time commitment. I have to fit it into my schedule in order to read it from start to finish.
But senders may have a different vision of how their letters are perceived. Perhaps they imagine me eagerly tearing into the envelope, pulling out reading glasses, and being enthralled with the 1000-word letter that consists of exotic vacations, camping trips, biking trips, the 4th of July celebrations, concerts, news about the kids, the grandkids, the pets. Wait...did I miss something? Yes, the grand pets.
In most cases, these letters are sent with love to inform and to stay connected, yet sometimes, they seem to come across as bragging, and to me that is a put-off.
On the other hand, I love receiving Christmas cards. You know, the sparkly ones with glitter that sticks to fingers and to every surface they touch. These cards portray serene winter scenes with snowy trees and frosted wreaths, deer and cardinals, ice-skaters and villages. Often times, the senders may even include a hand-written note. And they can even be displayed on mantels and bookshelves. As for showing off the long-winded Christmas letters? Hmmm...I think not.
There are probably a gazillion people who love receiving the holiday letters. They may even look forward to them. And I would too, if they were shorter and more interesting. If they were addressed to me instead to friends.
Sad to say, so many of the letters that my husband and I receive lack a sincere way to communicate during the holidays. Many friends haven't discovered how to write concise letters that I would actually look forward to reading.
If you're among those who enjoy writing a holiday letter, I applaud your efforts, but I have some questions for you:
Is your letter merely a month-by-month account of your accomplishments and travels? And, is it the stuff your readers can relate to?
Christmas will soon be upon us and I hate to be the one to tell you, but nobody wants to slog through a long self-centered letter. So, I challenge you to come up with a short humble recap of the year and write personalized note at the end.
And if you can do that, I will find the time to sit down and enjoy your letter.
À la prochaine!
For more on writing a great holiday letter, check these tips.
https://blog.cardsdirect.com/holidays-special-occasions/tips-for-great-christmas-letters/
https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/write-a-Christmas-letter.html