Christmas

Journalists covering Santa Claus: You better watch out. You better not cry. And you better be cautious.

Writing about Santa is delicate. Here’s advice from 5 journalists about how to cover Saint Nick while being sensitive to children.

December 21, 2023

Amaris Castillo

What I learned about writing from watching Hallmark Christmas movies

Each one is similar, employing a number of archetypes, bending toward stereotypes. But they might be the antidote to what ails you.

December 20, 2023

Roy Peter Clark

What I learned about writing and storytelling from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

There may be no more efficient example for teaching the elements of story than the story of Rudolph, just 88 words.

December 18, 2023

Roy Peter Clark

Here’s how much Kevin McCallister’s ‘Home Alone’ shopping trip would cost in 2023

In the 1990 movie, McCallister bought 10 items for a total of $19.83. The 2023 total for the same 10 products is $56.84.

December 15, 2023

Celebrate the holiday season in style with these AP Style tips

It’s ‘Happy holidays from the Poynters,’ not ‘Happy holiday’s from the Poynter’s’

December 20, 2021

What I learned about writing from watching Hallmark Christmas movies

An appreciation of Hallmark requires swimming against the tide of a half-century of literary and political criticism.

December 17, 2021

Roy Peter Clark

Yes, Virginia, it is okay for a writer to play with the form

Editor's note: This story was first published on Dec. 25, 2014. It's premise is especially…

December 21, 2017

Roy Peter Clark

Yes, Virginia, it is OK for a writer to play with the form

As a boy, my favorite story genre was the cowboy movie. As I got a…

December 25, 2014

Roy Peter Clark

I’m dreaming of a Christmas without holiday clichés

It's beginning to look a lot like laziness from headline writers across America: The result…

November 21, 2014

Benjamin Mullin