I have a confession. I’m not a big fan of holiday mail. You’d think being passionate about mail would make me thrilled with any kind of mail, but I’m just not. Most holiday mail feels too obligatory, too forced.

The amount of mail I get between January and October is a fraction of what I get during the holidays. I get mail from people I barely know. I get mail from friends who never write me. I get mail from business associates. Mostly they are cards with a pre-printed message and a signature. Sometimes I get cards with NO signature! I get the impression that people are sending cards because that’s what people should do during the holidays.

Well, I say “Bah humbug!” I say it vehemently, fervently, passionately, strenuously, and well… repeatedly. I say it not because I want to be a big Christmas killjoy, but rather I want to radically reform holiday mail. If you love sending out holiday cards, please do it! But do it in a way that is meaningful, thoughtful. Don’t do it because it’s an obligation you must discharge. Honestly, nobody is fooled.

There is a solution to make your holiday mail memorable and extraordinary once again. All you have to do is make it personal.

First of all, let’s review your Christmas list. Start by dividing it into three sections. In one column put those you genuinely care for and want to be in touch with. In a second column put people you need to send holiday cards to in order to maintain healthy business or social relationships. In a third column put all the people who are 1) on your list because you’re on their list and 2) all the people you send cards to because you feel like you have to.

Next get pen and put a gigantic X through the third column. The two columns left over are your new Christmas list! If you’re worried about suddenly not sending cards to someone on the list, most likely they won’t notice. (Especially if all you did was sign your name to it.)

Now that you’ve got your new list you can begin the cards. This will take longer than just signing your name, but the great thing about these cards is you don’t have to put a date on them. You can start in October or November, or if you’re really concerned about how long it will take start them in July. Nobody will know the difference as long as you mail them in December.

Address all the envelopes and stamp them. Get all the tedious stuff out of the way so once you’re done with the writing you can just stuff the envelopes and seal them. Think of the first person on your list. What is special about the person that makes you want them on your holiday list? The great part about holiday cards is they’ve done most of the writing for you. On the blank facing page of the card all you need to come up with are two little lines. Just two! Feel free to write more if you want, but at least two (or one really long one) is enough to make it look like you’ve made an effort.

Below are two lists of examples you can use as a starting point, one for casual and business acquaintances and one for closer friends and family. By the end you will see how little it takes to turn drab into fab.

For business cards:
• I’ve really enjoyed working with you this year, especially on Project XYZ. Can’t wait to start back at it in 2009!
• Can you believe it’s Christmas already? It seems like we should still be in the 1st quarter. Have a great rest of the year.
• I had fun working with you this year, but let’s not have another copy toner fiasco like we did over the summer!
• You’ve made a great addition to our office. I’m really glad to have you on my side.
• What a cool boss. How did I get to be so lucky?
• We’ve been working together for 3 years now. I appreciate continuing to serve your business needs.
• Thanks for being our first choice in [whatever]. We love being in business with you. (If you don’t love it you can still say something like “we value/appreciate being in business…”.)

For personal cards:
• I love you, love you, love you and… did I say I love you?
• We are looking forward to seeing you, Sally and the kids over the holiday break. It’s not getting here fast enough!
• I’m sorry we can’t see you in person for the holidays. We’ve got your pictures on the mantle, though!
• I know you’ve had a challenging year. I hope the holiday season is a peaceful one for you. You’re in our thoughts often!
• What a fantastic year you’ve had. I’m looking forward to seeing how you sprint to the finish line of 2008!
• We’ve got the ornaments dusted off and finally have the tree up. I know you are as busy as we are… if we can do it, so can you!
• Hey, when I unpacked the Christmas stuff, I saw the ornament you made last year for David. How adorable and thoughtful. It reminded me of all the good times we had.

If you’ve not done your holiday mail yet, I hope you’ll rise to this Day One Challenge and review the systems of correspondence you already have in place and see if there are ways you can improve it.

What traditions for holiday mail do you have that people get excited about? What works well for you? I’d love for you to share it with me!

Tags: challenge, christmas, exercise, holiday, letter writing, letters, Practice, Technique

People seem to have a love-hate relationship with the holiday newsletter. People like sending them, another group either loves or hates to receive them. The two main complaints about holiday letters are: 1) they seem mass-produced and impersonal, and 2) they are often tiresome and boring to read.

The good news for those of you who like doing a holiday newsletters (or for those of you who have been afraid to try it) is that, if done well, they can be a received with enthusiasm and possibly even anticipated as the holiday nears. Here are 15 steps you can take to make sure your holiday newsletter is the best it can possibly be.

1. Consider your audience. Who is the newsletter for? Just for intimate family? For family and friends? When you write your newsletter be sure to do it in a way that all people will find it interesting. While you and your close family might be fascinated by every burp and gurgle that comes out of little Emily, my guess is that the audience for that news will number somewhere around five (if that). Instead, create a nice mix of personal news with other things that casual friends will find useful and inspiring.
2. Monitor your tone. Had a hard year? Had a great year? Watch for the extremes of both. A holiday letter should be upbeat and pleasurable to read. It’s okay to admit your hardships or tragedies, however, consider putting a spin on it that will turn it into something positive. If you’ve had a fabulous year of successes, please do share them, but watch that you don’t cross over the line from pride into bragging. Also remember that some of the people who receive your letters may have had one of the worst years of their lives.
3. Include pictures. People love pictures. They are interesting and break up long paragraphs of text which will make your newsletter easier for busy people to digest. Instead of using clip art or stock photos, use your own personal photos that reflect activities or accomplishments throughout the year. You can also add interest by drawing in silly thought balloons or informative captions. Whatever pictures you use, make sure the people are big enough to be identifiable and do use a good print quality so the photos are clear and attractive.
4. Find the humor. Even a newsletter that is low on the scale of interesting can be salvaged if it contains a few nuggets of humor. Try to find humorous things that have happened in your life over the year and include those or try to put a funny spin on something ordinary. If you don’t feel like that’s your style of writing, maybe you can have a family member do a “guest column” in your newsletter — maybe they will have a funny interpretation of your year or a particular event. Another alternative is humor through pictures. If there are any amusing photos be sure to include them!

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Tags: family, holiday, holiday newsletter, kids, letter writing, letters, newsletter

The holidays are a natural time for written communication.  We send holiday greeting cards, give cards with our seasonal gifts, send invitations and thank you notes.  It’s a snail mail bonanza!

During a quiet moment, sit down with pen and paper and make a list of everyone you are thankful for in your life.  If the list is too large, feel free to pare it down to something that doesn’t feel overwhelming.  Remember, this is supposed to be fun (not feel like a chore or obligation)!

Every day between now and the end of the month, choose a new person or two from the list.  Write them an open and heartfelt letter telling them all the ways you are thankful that they are in your life.  Or you might express gratitude for some impact they have made in your life in the past.

What a wonderful surprise for family and friends to come home and find a real treat of a personal letter in their mailbox!

Post here and let me know how it goes!

Tags: creative, holiday, idea, letter writing, letters, writing prompt