How Does An Editor Choose a Letter?
Other People Are Reading
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The Letter Has Something to Say
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Editors for popular publications receive a great deal of letters. So many that in some cases, the editor only receives suitable letters for consideration after they have first been reviewed by staff members trained to filter out letters that aren't suitable for the publication. The final decision goes to the editor, who picks letters based on the relevance of the topic as it pertains to the publication's style. Although the letters might be edited for clarity and space, the letter should start out as having something interesting to say, while also saying it well.
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The Letter Will Interest Readers
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The letter should be interesting to the readership of the publication. In other words, the topic should be something that would be a likely topic for an article or feature within the publication. It should be something that will interest readers while also potentially prompting them to write a response to the letter. After all, editors want to promote readers to get involved in the process of expressing opinions, and a great letter to the editor works well as a tool for this.
The Letter Won't Ruffle Too Many Feathers
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Although most editors really enjoy publishing letters that might stir up some controversy or compel readers to respond, very few editors look to publish letters that are so incredibly controversial that readers will be offended or cancel their subscriptions in protest. Writing a letter to the editor that is shocking for the mere sake of being shocking is not a guaranteed method to get the letter chosen by an editor for publication.
The Letter Moves Readers to Action
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Even better than letters to the editor that prompt responses from other readers are letters that actually compel readers to jump into action to right a wrong or help someone in need. Well written, thought-provoking letters that give readers the opportunity to take action to help someone in need can be very attractive to editors.
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Resources
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