How to Write a Christmas Letter: A 5 Point Primer

It’s time for me to write the Christmas letter. Today.

How about you?

I’ve always loved Christmas letters, a peek into the lives of friends who live far away; an opportunity for me to reflect on and sum up 365 days of my family’s life.

(Facebook gives me an immediacy I didn’t have until recently, so perhaps the letter isn’t as important to you, but I still love them.)

For now, though, I’ll write and tell my annual stories–hopefully in an entertaining way.

Here are five points to remember when composing a Christmas letter.

1. The letter is about connecting with people you love

I like to think about the recipients of the letter–what do they want to hear about me and my family?

Owing to our military years, many of our loved friends live far away (more than a dozen in Washington, D.C., for example).

Many of them knew us during strategic times in our lives and would be interested in what happened to those boys who played in the yard, that surprise girl who provoked such joy.

I need to include information about them, as well as my husband and me–which means our letter is two pages long and edited squeaky clean to get everything in!

2. Happiness should play a role

It’s Christmas, the point of the letter is to touch base and make your friends happy they read the letter.

Please don’t complain–about anything.

I try to say humorous things–though not in a deprecating way–that will make the letter an enjoyable experience. Rather than dwell on the negative, I like to salute the good–even if it’s minor in my life in a particular year.

I suspect one of my lines this year will be: “We’re so thankful for the recent rain in California!”

3. Be honest, but be careful

Some years have been difficult. While I don’t minimize what happened, I don’t dwell on it either.

The years we lost  family members, I mentioned it, but then went on to say something along the lines of, “because of these losses, we’ll be holding each other close this Christmas and overlooking those things that might have separated us in the past. We’re mourning, but we’re doing so together and with our faces turned to the future.”

At the same time, please tell me about awards in general so I can cheer you on, or check out your book on The New York Times best seller’s list, myself!

Okay, I admit this year I’ll be including my most recent Christmas novella. I’ll be giving away the novella to some of my dearest friends.

You’re welcome to check out The Yuletide Bride, yourself! Only 99 cents. 🙂

4. Spare us the unnecessary details.

Too Much Information is unnecessary. Suffice it to say “my daughter graduated from college this year and we’re thankful.”

“My child continues looking for work and we’re cheering him on. Anyone need an astronomer?”

“My health has had some challenges, but I’m grateful I can dance Zumba every morning–at the ungodly hour of 6 am.”

You can tell me your child won an award, or was accepted to 20 colleges, but I don’t need a list of every single one. And be very careful you’re not gloating.

5. Don’t forget to run the letter past your family–get their okay if you’re writing about them.

I pass the letter on to my husband and children, asking for comments. Last year, my daughter-in-law pointed out a mistake I made. I hadn’t seen it the same way, and quickly amended the description.

Sometimes I get facts wrong, and it’s important I correct them.

Family members may have a different point they’d like to mention.

The end of the year is a time to reflect: to count our blessings and to remember the good things God has provided in a given year. For me, it’s a time to reflect on the why of Christmas: Christ born to save the world.

For me, that reason for the season is reflected in the card we send. The Christmas letter is the bonus.

What do you like about Christmas letters?

Any other pointers you’d like to mention?

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