First, something that could be helpful in the long run but that you probably don't want to hear. For multi-page newsletters, Microsoft Publisher will be the better software to use in the long run. Word is more for single page documents, letters, and reports. You will find the built-in functionality of Publisher more helpful with multi-page newsletters - especially newsletters with columns.

If CTRL+A is not picking up your text boxes, I think you will have to individually select, copy, and paste each text box.

When you start inserting a text box, I think the message is supposed to be "Draw textbox," not "Make your drawing." However, Word does want you to "draw" the text box by clicking and dragging the tool to determine the box's starting dimensions and location.

In 2003, for both graphics and text boxes, you can gain more control over the placement by formatting the object. Right click the object in question. Select "format" image or whatever. Go to the layout tab. Click advanced at the bottom of that tab. Notice the horizontal and vertical picture position options. Because Word is more for letters and reports, it defaults that pictures should flow with text rather than having a fixed position on the page. This is alignment relative to paragraph and column. You can fix an object's position on the page by choosing an alignment relative to the page or its margins. Also notice the advanced text wrapping options while you're in there.

Good luck!