Guide to Letters to the Editor

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There are many guides to writing letters to the editor available online, but, with one exception, they all stink. The five tips provided below will greatly improve your chances of having your letters published in newspapers. As a letter writer, you may never have the awesome mind-bending power of media goddess Oprah Winfrey, but you can nudge thousands or millions of people's opinions a little bit at a time. Here's what you need to know. Be Timely Your letter will become irrelevant very quickly. You need to get it into the very next edition. If your letter relates to something in Monday's paper, send your letter to the editor before 1:00 p.m. on Monday. If you cannot send your letter as an email, don't bother. In some cases, if you miss your chance to comment on the original story, you may be able to comment on the ensuing letters or columns (i.e. you can comment on the commentary). But earlier is always better. Be Concise Nothing beats a short letter. Sentences should also be kept short. Staying brief will help you get your point across clearly. The paragraphs on this web page are about as long as you would want most letters to be - ditto for sentences. Keep in mind that the letters page is a jigsaw puzzle and there are many places a short letter will fit where a long letter would not. Be Bold Timid writing is for losers. If you are taking the time to write a letter, surely you have an opinion. State it in no uncertain terms right up front. Look at the first line in each paragraph on this page for examples of bold writing. In life, seek balance and understanding. In letter writing, don't. Be Funny Funny letters get published. Humour is one of the most effective ways of communicating. If you don't believe me, ask any advertiser. Sex, humour and the word "X-treme" are the only ways to get a message across these days. Send funny letters to the editor. Send X-treme sex letters to me. Be Easy Editors don't want to put up with any crap or waste any time. Make it easy for them to publish you. There are many ways you can help them. Follow their rules regarding letters (check the paper's website). Spell everything correctly. Include your name, full address, and phone number. Don't ask questions or try to land a columnist job; just write a damn letter. That's it: fast, short, bold, funny, easy. If you can get all that into a letter, you're on your way to publication. Millions of people will read your words and maybe come a little closer to your way of thinking. I sincerely hope you are not an evil super genius. For samples, see here.