I'd write it and then spend twice as much time unwriting it and dewriting it to reach 200 words. This truism from the olden days of paper newsletters still holds true. We flex on the max, but not by much, because shorter is sweeter for on-screen text. If what you're writing runs long, divide it into a series of shorter articles. Continuity across newsletter issues is a plus.
Contractions turn two words into one and make for a more informal tone.
This article is now 422 words long, but the editor likes me. Reach Laura Hoelscher by email. It From time to time, we all might do well to check up on our telephone etiquette to be sure we're on target. That thought crossed my mind the other day when I overheard a student talking with a client. She is always cheerful and professional, but maybe sometimes a little too mechanically cheerful over the telephone.