We have to begin now to let people know that there are alternatives to unfair tax hikes and destructive budget cuts. An excellent way to reach out to people is to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
The letters to the editor section of the newspaper is the most frequently read section of the newspaper.
Letters should be brief, clear, and to the point. The best length is about 200 words (two to three short paragraphs).
After you write your letter, click below to send it by email to the editor.
The most important thing of all is to get it written. As long as it is a letter honestly reflecting your feelings, people will want to read it. The tips below can help get your letter published when you are writing to a major newspaper that prints only a few of the letters they receive.
Be concise. This may be your greatest challenge. If you go over 200 words, the letter is much less likely to be published. Carefully identify your main point and make sure it is the centerpiece of the letter. If you have more than three facts in the letter, you may have gone too far. It’s better to make one strong point and quit than to get lost in a recital of less convincing detail. Every sentence should be there for a reason.
Make it personal.If you have a unique experience or perspective, use it. Readers like to feel that a real person is doing the communicating.
Write in response to a recent news article, column, or editorial. This motivates your letter, and increases chances of publication. Try to get your letter to the editor by the second or third day after the article appears. (Use FAX or email to avoid postal delays).
Use specific and high-impact language. After your first draft, reread the letter to weed out weak prose. Be very wary of the adjectives “all”, “never”, and “always” – they require just one counterexample to be discredited.
Make the first sentence count. If readers aren’t hooked by the first sentence, they may just skip to the next letter.
Check your facts. It’s better to be correct the first time than to print a correction or an apology later.
