Outtakes 123

No Vacation

By Cait Collins

I don’t know about any of you, but my December calendar is beginning to fill up. Between my job, dinners, parties, shopping, cooking, and wrapping presents, I’m finding it difficult to do much writing. That doesn’t mean I take the month of December off. I keep polishing my skills by writing Christmas letters.

I don’t sit down at the computer, type out a year-end update, and then open my mailing list, mail merge and send the same letter to everyone on my card list. I write individual letters, by hand, using a good ink pen and holiday stationery. Each letter is directed to the recipient. The tone is based on the relationship I have with the person. I make every effort to write the letter as if the reader and I were sitting side by side on the sofa, sipping wine, and just catching up.

If I’m writing to a relative, I give the news of our family. I include accomplishments, milestones, what the kids are doing, plans for the holidays, and hopes for the New Year. For friends I recall memorable experiences, work, reunion ideas, and holiday plans. I focus on common interests. No two letters are alike, and I’m proud of each one of them.

Writing a good holiday letter allows t writer to draw on his experiences and his craft to create enjoyable correspondence. We have all received Christmas letters that have no real felling or heart because they are not personal. Why not take the time to compose real heartfelt missives. After all, we are writers.