RE // MARKINGS

current writings on all things

The lost art of the holiday letter

Why spend time writing a Holiday letter when you can simply post all of your memories online? With photo-sharing sites like ShutterflySnapfish, and Minted, it is possible to upload 3-4 photos, slap them into a pre-designed (albeit generic) layout, complete with a generic message (i.e. “Season’s Greetings”) and click “Print.” Wham-o. Instant Holiday Cards that get sent to all of your friends’ and family’s mailboxes (for a small fee, of course).

Tips for Writing a Holiday Letter

Having written my fair share of Holiday Letters (for 15 years, up until last year), I can tell you that sometimes it is an arduous task that requires a lot of forethought and effort: updating everyone’s contact information (physical addresses, not email!); picking the two to three important things for each member of the family; writing the verbiage; rewriting the verbiage and then revising it again; printing them on the proper paper; addressing and stamping the envelopes; getting them to the Post Office and into the mail. As I write about all of this effort, I can see the allure of the pre-printed Holiday Photo Card.

What gets lost with these “quickie” Holiday Cards, however, is the personality, the emotional connection, and the perception that you care; especially when your card looks the same (and says the same generic thing), as everyone else’s. All these “templated” cards do is reinforce the idea that you didn’t have (or make,) the time to think of something that would be more relevant or interesting to them. One creative idea that I read about was a family that takes road trips to take pictures in front of highway signs that feature the current year. This is not to say that all letter or cards need to be this clever or creative, but to be effective they at least need to be memorable.

Droz family photos for their annual holiday card. Images from Wall Street Journal.

Some of the images taken by the Droz family for their annual holiday card. Images from Wall Street Journal.

How can we make a more effective Holiday Letter?

They shouldn’t be too long, too braggy, or too impersonal. Tell us about your highlights. Give us an update on the kids and work, but give it to us in one or two sentences, not paragraphs! Should you choose to send me a Holiday Card, please find a more creative way to say “Happy Holidays” than showing me photos of you and the kids…those things are important and I enjoy seeing them, but what has been going on in your life since we last spoke? That’s what matters most.

Another rant by: Ryan Hembree, Founder | Fearless* Leader

Having written my fair share of Holiday Letters (for 15 years, up until last year), I can tell you that sometimes it is an arduous task that requires a lot of forethought and effort: updating everyone’s contact information (physical addresses, not email!); picking the two to three important things for each member of the family; writing the verbiage; rewriting the verbiage and then revising it again; printing them on the proper paper; addressing and stamping the envelopes; getting them to the Post Office and into the mail. As I write about all of this effort, I can see the allure of the pre-printed Holiday Photo Card.

What gets lost with these “quickie” Holiday Cards, however, is the personality, the emotional connection, and the perception that you care; especially when your card looks the same (and says the same generic thing), as everyone else’s. All these “templated” cards do is reinforce the idea that you didn’t have (or make,) the time to think of something that would be more relevant or interesting to them. One creative idea that I read about was a family that takes road trips to take pictures in front of highway signs that feature the current year. This is not to say that all letter or cards need to be this clever or creative, but to be effective they at least need to be memorable.

 Some of the images taken by the Droz family for their annual holiday card. Images from Wall Street Journal.

 

How can we make a more effective Holiday Letter?

They shouldn’t be too long, too braggy, or too impersonal. Tell us about your highlights. Give us an update on the kids and work, but give it to us in one or two sentences, not paragraphs! Should you choose to send me a Holiday Card, please find a more creative way to say “Happy Holidays” than showing me photos of you and the kids…those things are important and I enjoy seeing them, but what has been going on in your life since we last spoke? That’s what matters most.

Another rant by: Ryan Hembree, Founder | Fearless* Leader