- Always read your paper’s requirements for letters to the editor. Do not exceed the word count. Make sure you send the letter to the appropriate address.
- Choose a specific topic. Write clearly on one central point. Conciseness and clarity count. Make the language your own, but keep the central message.
- Keep your letter short. Letters to the Editor are usually 175 words or less, so you must be short and to the point. The shorter the letter, the more likely it will get published. The shorter the letter, the more likely it will be read. The shorter the letter, the more likely it will be remembered.
- Respond quickly. Newspapers will typically only run letters that are written in response to an article within the past week. Try to get in letters to the editor within 48 hours.
- Reference the article in your letter. You can do this as a title (Re: “Green Your Spring Cleaning”, Lifestyles, April 2nd) or directly in the first sentence of the letter.
- Be witty. Try one or more of these techniques:
- Personalize your letter. Do not simply copy and paste information. You can use much of the language from a prepared sample, but add personal touches – what you do, why you care, etc.
- Consider whether you can relate the issue to a popular issue or anniversary or holiday.
- Use an analogy or metaphor if the issue is complicated in order to simply the problem for people.
- Repeat, repeat and repeat again. Repeat a phrase or word.
- Ask questions. The use of rhetorical or self-answering questions allows the writer to ask a question and then provide the answer in the next sentence or paragraph.
- Vary sentence lengths and don’t be afraid to use paragraphs. Shorter paragraphs make your letter more readable. Long paragraphs look boring to the average reader.
- Citing “hot” facts or startling statistics will get attention and wake people up.
- Telling a story can be even more effective than facts and statistics. The more personal, the better. Stories are powerful persuasion tools. Emotional stories go to the heart and gut. They are memorable. Good stories stay in the readers’ minds long after facts and figures are forgotten.
- Emphasize important values—Democracy, Freedom, Civil Liberties, Justice, Privacy, Fundamental Right to Security, Public and Personal Safety, etc.
- Be controversial. Take a pro or con position about something in the paper.
- Be provocative. Make a surprising argument or conclusion.
- Be funny. Use humor.
- The last paragraph is the most important! Make it short and to the point. If appropriate, end the letter with a Call to Action.
- Have people who agree with you write letters as well. Editors look for letters that are representative of the readership. If the editor receives a lot of letters, he or she is more likely to print one or two of them.
- Always proofread your letter to correct any grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
- Sign your name and provide your address and telephone number for verification purposes. If there is an online form accompanying the letter submission, be sure to include all required information. Include your contact information and day and evening telephone numbers. Newspapers will often verify your identity before printing a letter, and will usually not print your letter if they can’t get in touch with you.
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Send your letter to your chosen publication. Follow the instructions for each newspaper you will be sending your letter to. Sending your letter before noon can help you to get published, as editorial decisions are often made based on what arrives during the early part of the day.
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