Activism - writing letters to the editor

[letterwriter]

Here's a guide I just emailed to a lot of activists about how to write letters to the editor. This actually works and I encourage all you you to write letters.

One of the easiest things to do it write letters to the editor for newspapers. People don't realize that it is extremely easy to get published. I personally have had thousands of my letters published by both big and small newspapers. And here's the rules on how to get published.

These days editors like email submissions. The can just cut and paste your letter rather than retyping it. This is easy for you too because you can send the same letter to a lot of different newspapers and maybe one will publish it. Papers prefer local writers but they get very few good letters and if your letter is good they will publish it.

One thing that you must do is include your name and address, email address, and phone number. Papers do not publish anonymous letters. Some papers will contact you to verify you wrote the letter. Many do not. Sometimes I don't know my letter was published until I get an email from someone saying, "Are you the moran who wrote that letter in USA Today?" USA Today published my letter? Cool!

The next thing you need to do is keep the letter short. Papers have limited physical space and if your letter is short it is easier to fit.

Pick a subject that is current. If an election is next week then write about elections. If people are talking about gays in the military then write about that. If it's on the front page then write about it. Editors like current controversial subjects.

Humor always works. If your letter if funny then it's going to get published. During the 2008 election the president of Iran referred to Obama as the "House Negro". I wrote a letter saying that he doesn't understand the American system of government. "Obama isn't the House Negro, he's a member of the Senate!" And editor from the Los Angeles Times called me up and was laughing so hard I though he was going to stop breathing.

And keep you letter sharp and to the point. Try to focus on one issue and make a point. If you do these things you will find it is very easy to get published. And don't get discouraged. Not every letter you write is going to get published. Even if it is one in ten, the one that gets published might be the one that changes the future of the world.

[tabasco]

1. Excellent advice.

I work for a newspaper.

[letterwriter]

5. Thanks

for confirming the advice.

[EFerrari]

2. If you keep it really short, you have a better shot at being accepted.

I make it a kind of game to see how far under 90 words still makes my point, shooting for 100 and then going back over the draft to take out every unneeded syllable. Once, the NYTs published a 1 sentence letter.

[donco6]

3. I agree with all of these.

I've had quite a few letters published in the Post. Do keep in mind some papers have their own rules - on letter length or how often they'll publish ANY letter from a reader. Funny, witty, pointed - all good. Honestly, the shorter the better - if it's more than two paragraphs, I really wouldn't bother. And people do read them. I've gotten invitations to liberal groups I'd never heard of because of a letter to the editor. It can be fun.

[Oceansaway]

4. thanks & welcome to DU...n/t