Tips for writing letters to the editor

[George Sheridan <learn@jps.net>]

 In 2005 and 2006, I averaged one letter to the editor printed each week in
California newspapers. I succeeded by writing to my metropolitan paper (The
Sacramento Bee), local papers (Auburn Journal, Georgetown Gazette and Mountain
Democrat) and alternative papers (Sacramento News and Review). I also wrote other
urban papers and was published once or twice in the Los Angeles Times, Los
Angeles Daily News, San Francisco Examiner, etc.). The circulation of the
Georgetown Gazette is only 1,500, but altogether, millions of copies of my
letters were printed. When I went to the State Capitol to visit my Assembly
member's office, his chief of staff recognized my name from letters in the
Georgetown Gazette.

To increase the likelihood that editors would choose to print my letters, I
carefully followed the rules for each publication, including limits on length
(from 100 to 250 words, depending on the publication, although a few have no
limits). In each case, I tried to tailor my letter to an article or editorial
that had appeared in that paper in the last few days. I did not create the
following list of tips, but they seem pretty good. If you're just getting
started, pick four or five of them to guide you.


Tips for Writing
?Letters to the Editor?


 ·        Know the rules. Each newspaper has its own rules for letters intended
for publication. Newspapers print the rules from time to time in their "Letters
to the Editor" column. Call the editor if in doubt.

·        Stick to ONE point. Trying to cover an array of issues usually doesn't
do justice to any of them.

·        Simple declarative sentences can be very effective. (Example:
?Legislators should champion teachers.?) Churchill said, ?Mastering the simple
declarative sentence was my greatest accomplishment in school.?

·        Sometimes the very best Letter to the Editor is only one paragraph in
length. Brevity is the soul of wit. It often is also the heart of readability.

·        Discuss the issue in terms of how it affects students, if possible.

·        Don't be reluctant. Express your convictions.

·        The experts say a Letter to the Editor often wins the hearts of readers
with humor, solid logic, a picturesque outlook or a unique manner of approaching
an issue.

·        Try to ?connect? with the readers. That is, write your letter as if you
were saying ?I want what YOU want.? A letter that appears self-serving usually
suffers loss of credibility.

·        You may want to include a motivation line (or ?Call to Action?
statement) in your letter.

·        An upbeat letter may be more persuasive than one that scolds, blames or
complains.

·        Remember, it?s fair for the editor to cut part of your letter. The
editor wants people to READ the Letters to the Editor column. If the editor
believes that editing will improve the readability of your letter, he or she will
do it.

·        Check a dictionary for spelling in your letter. (The general public
expects educators to be perfect.)


George Sheridan