How to Write a Family Newsletter

Once the scourge of advice columnists, the familyfamily newsletter is being yourself. Write your
newsletter is making a come back. Gone are the daysnewsletter from the heart and you will do fine.
when people were afraid to write, and send, theseOnce you decide what format you are going to use,
treasure troves of family information. Now they areyou will need to think about the content of your
finding their way back into people's hearts.newsletter.
Families today can find themselves living hundreds, ifAchievements. Everyone likes to brag about their
not thousands of miles away from loved ones.achievements. But you will want to keep your writing
Keeping up with each other can be difficult, even withof them brief. Tell relatives who did what, but do not
telephone and e-mail. A family newsletter can helpgo on and on about it.
keep your family and friends informed of the events inFailures. They happen to everyone; a job is lost or a
your life.business goes under. Even education set-backs can
Before you sit down to write your newsletter, think ahappen. As with achievements, keep the discussion of
bit of how you want it to look. Do you want it friendlybad things to a minimum too. Do not dwell on the bad
or more professional? Consider your family and howthings. It can be depressing to those reading your
they are when you are planning the kind of newsletternewsletter.
you want to send out. There are many differentMarriages and births. These are joyous events and
formats you can choose from, these are only a few.ones you can discuss in more details. But remember to
Newspaper format. With a title header and columns,identify people who aren't well known by all of your
this style is reminiscent of the daily paper. You can addreaders so they can follow the story.
pictures, use larger type for the "titles" and even haveIllness and death. It is part of life's cycle. Family
an advertising section with upcoming birthdays andmembers will become ill or die. Handle these with
anniversaries. You can either go with black and white,respect and love. Keep details to a minimum, out of
or color, depending on your preference.respect for the family and individual.
Personal letter format. Just like any letter, this oneBe sure to keep your newsletter balanced. Use an
starts with a salutation, has a body and a closing at theequal amount of special news with everyday news.
end. You can place photographs and graphics as youYou want to keep your readers interested without
want, but usually they are one page total in length.boring them with too much "amazing" information.
Black and white copies is a good one for this kind, butA word about using photographs in your newsletters.
if you use photographs you might want to spring forPictures of you, your spouse and children are ones
the color copies to make them stand out.you can use as you see fit. But if you want to use
Scrapbook layout. Using pictures and writings, thispictures of other family members, the polite thing would
format is a favorite of families, especially if you havebe to get their permission. Family squabbles and hard
children. This one looks best if copied with a colorfeelings can sometimes be the outcome when using a
copier.picture someone did not want used.
Handmade layout. Are you creative? Then use thatFamily newsletters are wonderful ways to keep in
creativity and come up with a format that speakscontact with your extended and far-reaching loved
volumes about your and your family. Again, using aones. Writing your newsletter to be informative and
color copier will make this kind of newsletter stand out,entertaining will make them want more news from
and show off your creativity.you.
Remember, the first and most important rule of doing a