How to Devise a Strong Letter to the Editor
A letter to the editor is written to a newspaper or magazine to comment on an article or to express a point of view about a political or social topic. It gives you a forum to voice your opinion, which is important if you are trying to sway people to change their thinking on a subject. Many letters vie for limited space, so make your letter stand out.
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Instructions
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Research the periodical's guidelines for letter to the editor submissions. Note the word count limit and suggestions the periodical provides for how to best craft your letter to increase its chances of publication.
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Use first person and begin by stating the name, date and writer of the article to which you are responding. If you are writing about a hot-button issue that is not in direct response to an article, state the issue and what recent event prompted your letter.
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Express your opinion about the issue and why you agree or disagree with either the referenced article or express your point of view on the subject you have chosen. Make specific points that clearly delineate your opinion, and if you disagree with an article, explicitly state why you disagree. For example, rather than saying: "I disagree with John Smith's view on abortion," say: "I believe in a woman's right to make choices about her own body, contrary to the sentiments in John Smith's article, in which he states that all abortions, even in instances of rape or incest, should be outlawed."
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Use your expertise to bolster an argument. For example, if you are a doctor writing about the frivolity of many malpractice suits, state your personal experience as an expert in the field, especially if you have had malpractice suits thrown out of court for lack of substance. Also cite a relevant statistic that helps to strengthen your opinion.
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Focus on one subject and avoid diluting your letter by going off on tangents. If you are writing to express disagreement with an article about increasing tax cuts for the wealthy, do not segue into party politics and partisanship. Make your argument about tax cuts, and save your other opinions for another letter dealing with acrimony between political parties.
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Conclude by providing an alternate solution if your letter disagrees with an article's position. If you are writing about a topical issue, express your wish on a course of action you believe the government or society should take. Write your name, address and contact information, including your email address so the periodical knows how to reach you.
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Tips & Warnings
Write your letter within a few days of an article's publication to ensure it is topical. If you are writing about an issue that is not in response to an article, ensure that it is a hot-button topic that is in the zeitgeist.
Type your letter. Handwriting might be hard to read, even if you think it is legible.
If the periodical does not provide word limit guidelines, call the editorial page editor for guidelines. Typically, your letter should not exceed 250 words.
Avoid name-calling or making offensive remarks, which will likely disqualify your letter from being published.
