Editors only consider letters that are well written, grammatically correct and aren’t full of misspellings. They look for clear and concise responses that present a unique solution to the topic discussed.
Choose a theme that you feel strongly about. Relate it to an issue very recently covered in the publication to which you are writing. Make sure to identify the news story by its headline and the date it was published (Re: Headgear Banned in Local School District, Sept. 8). This enables the editor to quickly check the original item to verify any references you have made to it (i.e. quotes, statistics, etc.)
If it is a topic with which you have personal experience, write about it from your own perspective.
If you are responding to a columnist's views (or any other opinion piece), don't launch a personal attack on the columnist–attack his/her views. Offer a different opinion.
Try to move the debate forward so that other readers might join in the discussion in subsequent letters.
Think of new ways to discuss the subject and present unique solutions to the problem.
Be sure to follow the guidelines for submission that usually appear on the editorial page or letters to the editor page of the publication.
Include your major points within the first few paragraphs. Make your sentences clear and sharp; don’t use ten words if you can make the same point with five! Space in a newspaper is very costly, and editors won’t waste one word’s worth!
Type your letter and double space between lines. Run spell check, but don’t rely on it; (i.e., from and form are both spelled correctly, but have different meanings!) Proofread it; have someone else read it; read it again!
Sign your name and include your phone number and address if required. Most editors will call or write to you to verify that it was you who really wrote the letter.
