Making Newsletters with ClarisWorks


Computers in Communication
Boston University College of Communication
Copyright © 1996 by Professor Jim Lengel

1. Sketch out your ideas.
Who is your audience? What are the ideas you want to get across to them? What elements do you need in your newsletter to communicate those ideas? Answer these questions, then list the elements of your newsletter: stories, photographs, headlines, graphics, and so forth. Next, sketch out the placement of these elements. Consider the principles of balance and contrast as you do this.

2. Set up your page.
Create a new a ClarisWorks word processing document. Set all of the margins to 0.75 inches. Use the Columns item of the Format menu to create two or three columns. (any more than that will make the text so narrow that it will be hard to read.

3. Create headers and footers.
Most newsletters show a header with the title and a footer with page numbers on every page. Set these up now, using the items under the Format menu. Headers and footers can be aligned left, right, or center just like regular text. They can usually be set in very small type.

4. Create the masthead.
All of the parts of the masthead - title, lines, logos - should be created as graphic elements. Use the Note Pad to create text, then paste it in as a graphic. Stretch and adjust its size and weight as necessary. Use the line tool to create lines if you need them. Set the Text Wrap of all the elements of your masthead.

5. Place your graphic elements.
Put your pictures and diagrams onto the newsletter. Copy and paste it from the Scrapbook, or use the Insert command under the File menu to bring it in from a disk file, as a graphic element. Once you have imported the graphics, move them around the screen to the place you want. Set all graphic elements to Text Wrap.

6. Make your headlines.
Headlines should be graphic elements, not part of the text. Use the Note Pad to enter and copy the text of your headline. Paste it into ClarisWorks as a graphic element. Use the text tool to select the headline, then adjust the font and size as necessary. Move and stretch it to its desired location. Set it to Text Wrap.

7. Enter your stories.
You can type stories right into the columns, or you can paste them from the Scrapbook, or insert them from files. Your words should automatically wrap around your graphic elements.

8. Adjust the text to fit.
Select the text. Adjust font, size, line spacing, and style so that it is attractive, readable, and fits into the space you have. Edit the content if necessary to make it fit. Check the spelling.

9. Review your work.
Hide the page guides for a moment. Zoom out and look at your newsletter from a distance. How's the balance? The contrast? Adjust these as necessary, then print a copy. Look at it one more time for balance, contrast, and readability. Go back and adjust as necessary.