(Netscape) Love them or hate them, holiday letters are now arriving in your mailbox. Chances are, you're writing one yourself. But unlike dashing off that Facebook post or text message, both of which are short and not necessarily written with complete sentences or punctuation, letter-writing requires a bit more command of the language. Enter the Yule Rule. The brainstorm of John Llewellyn, associate professor of communication at Wake Forest University, the YULE rule is a formula for creating a well-crafted, year-in-review letter. if you follow these four simple steps, you'll write a holiday letter that loved ones will actually enjoy reading.
Yule Rule Number 1: You care for these people. Make the love and caring -- the spirit of the season -- come through in the letter. "We generally send holiday letters to people with whom we have strong connections, so use the opportunity to remind them of the things that really matter in your life," Llewellyn says.
Yule Rule Number 2: Use vivid language to tell your story. Let them "see" the special moments. This is not a drab inventory; it is a catalog of adventures.
Yule Rule Number 3: Level with them about the hardships of the past year. While you want to keep the letter upbeat, it's important to strike a balance between spreading cheer and being sincere. "You're showing a level of respect and concern for the person by not glossing over adversities, but you want to tell the truth in a way that makes it easy for you to tell and easy for them to hear," he says.
Yule Rule Number 4: Enough is enough. Two pages of news is plenty. Writing any more than that is likely to overwhelm your readers. Llewellyn points out that holiday letters can be even more meaningful now that so much of our communication is electronic. "You could dash it off, hit a magic button and send it to 100 people," he says. "But since you're choosing to do something more direct and intimate, it just makes sense to take the time to do it right."
