Kitchen Table Publisher

Sharing ideas; Basic newsletter design

Kitchen Table Publisher Written by Julie A. Zagorski

Family news, church events, school bulletins and virtually anything that needs sharing is perfect in a newsletter. Basic layout is essential to getting your ideas organized. As in any layout following a simple thought will make your publication easily read and understood: K.I.S., "Keep it simple". These three words will help your reader follow the flow of your ideas as you intended.

Starting with the basic two-column design, the first important part is the title header, or the headline. Keep your title simple yet easily remembered and consecutive with the informational content. Use a graphic or colored background for appeal. Placement can be on the top margin, or on the side. For a spicy effect, you can place the header in the center of your document and format the text to flow around the header. This assists your readers in easily recognizing your product and keeps it from being lost in other literature received. The choice is really up to you. Use colors that are easy on the eyes and non-obtrusive. When the graphic is vivid in color, choose a white for the text font color. Define the border of your title block with a decorative edge or a straight borderline. This will assist the information to separate from the body of the newsletter. The use of white space is essential for allowing your header to stand out and not be lost in the text. When placing a graphic image in your document consider the size, shape and content of the photograph. For instance, the article is concerning real estate with a feature property. To lead the reader to the picture of the house, placing the photo at the end of the article will encourage the reader to read the information before making a decision from the picture. The opposite holds true for sale of a specific item. Marketing teddy bears may enhance the sale if the reader has a picture of the product first and then can obtain a detailed description. The goal is to draw the reader into the text of the newsletter without using the photo as a distraction. Placing the photo in the center of the column with the text flowing around the photo, is another strategy to give both informational content and promotion with a graphic display.

Text, is it easy to read? The use of text in your document is as important as the header information and placement. Choose no more than two specific fonts for your column content and use styles to ensure a uniform look. Excess bold and underlining is distracting in the paragraph. Try using a drop capital letter or an indentation to assist the reader in finding the beginning of the paragraph. Bullets (¨) can assist in directing the eye to a specific point or item without distraction. These bullets will enhance the flow of your document to give an easier read and help the recognition of essential points in your information. Margin settings are important for the space definitions and readability of your document. A ragged right margin is easier on the eye and helps the eye transition from one line of text to another without strain.

The column headers must not be overlooked when designing the newsletter. Without a good lead header title, the content may be skimmed or overlooked altogether. Bolding has been a common procedure in designing these headers. The use of color (specifically within a style) throughout the newsletter will enhance and encourage the read of the entire document. A particular font consistent with the direction of the text adds personality to the paragraph title. For instance, if your newsletter is particular to sailing enthusiasts, a great font for this paragraph title might be, "Great Sailing adventures!" (Copperplate Gothic Bold). Let your imagination take control and experiment with fonts on your computer system. A well-placed font is an expression of the author.

Document size is an individual choice. Considerations include size and weight of the paper, or a pre-printed design. The media with publishing and postal costs play a factor in this decision. The standard newsletter is generally 11" x 17" on a 28lb paper. Recently the 8 1/2" x 11" on 24lb paper was introduced and allowed the "kitchen table desktop publisher" to produce easily. Many local and specialty office supply shops carry various brands and designs. The design of your newsletter needs to reflect the overall message of the text included. Obviously, a pre-printed design of animals may not reflect the message or appeal sought for a beauty salon. (Yes, there have been inquiries of local shops to use such a design for their image.) Fortunately, common sense and the image projected ruled out the use of such paper.

The items mentioned here today are ideas to help start the documentation project. Ideas, questions and related stories are welcome from the readers of this column and may assist in creation of future articles. Please send your comments to juliez@nightowl.net

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