Browse past letters you’ve sent or received to get inspired.

To make things easier, copy and paste your letter into multiple word documents, and then make alterations based on who will be receiving it. Consider creating variations for: professional connections, close family members, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and extended family.

You could even write a short story or a poem for a fun, light-hearted letter. Top 10 lists are also a great way to share news without inundating people with thick paragraphs of text.

For example, you could write about your child starting college, a weekend trip you took, and then add a sentence or two about your normal, daily life, like, “When Dan and I aren’t spending our weekends visiting Hayley or exploring our new neighborhood, we’re catching up on laundry, binge-watching Netflix, and experimenting with new gluten-free recipes. ” Avoid bragging. There’s nothing wrong with sharing about your anniversary, your kids’ successes, or a fun trip you took to Europe with your girlfriends, but you also want to honestly communicate without bragging.

A great idea is to fill one side of your letter with text and the backside with a few photos.

Write something like, “We hope this Christmas is filled with many good moments, and that you enjoy time spent with loved ones,” or “Wishing you peace and love this holiday season. ”

Craft and stationery stores have lots of Christmas-themed papers you can choose from. There are also online templates you can explore if you’d like to download something.

A great tip is to write your letter, let it sit for a few days, and then come back to it with fresh eyes to make any needed edits. [9] X Research source You can even look into apps and companies that provide a template and printing services to make your Christmas-letter writing process even simpler.

If you want, you could even add a short, personal note to each letter, just to let the recipient know you’re specifically thinking of them.

Make sure to write the names and addresses on your letters clearly. If you’re using a dark envelope, use a black marker, rather than a pen, to write, or opt for labels.