LETTERS to the Editor

A letter to the editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers. Usually, these letters are intended for publication and can be sent as hard copy or by electronic mail.  It’s a competitive form of publicity. 

You are more likely to be published if you follow these five simple tips

* Do some research

          Read the editorial columns of the newspaper or the magazine you are targeting to see what issues the editorial staff consider topical. Try to deal with topical issues.

          Read letters to the editor to see what types of letters get published.        

* Read the rules

Each publication set out their own publishing rules. They usually include the following:

“Letters should include the writer’s full name and address and home telephone numbers.”

 “Letters should not exceed x number of words.” (Possible 200 words.)

 “Letters may be edited for clarity and length.”

* Avoid certain topics

Avoid controversial topics such as religion, racial controversy, blasphemy and issues that could be libellous.  

* Helpful Hints

          Keep to one topic per letter.

          State your views, ideas or complaint clearly at the beginning of your letter.

          Don’t be offensive. You make more impact with restrained language than with criticism or abuse.  Try using humour and satire. They often hit where it hurts most and they can be popular with readers.

          Arrange your statements in a logical order.     

          Start with an attention-grabbing introduction and your strongest argument. Leave you weakest arguments until later because they could be deleted if your letter is too long for the space available.

* Edit well

          Keep your sentences and paragraphs short.  When you have drafted your letter remove all jargon and clichés and all unnecessary words. Editors prefer short, succinct letter and they prefer emailed letters as they are easier to edit.

–Geoffrey Moss

“Leave unmentioned what your audience already knows – tell them something new.”

SOURCE: “Persuasive Ways” first published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand and in Simple Mandarin by the Shanghai People’s Publishing House as “Secrets of Persuasion”; by Thomson Learning Asia.com, as “Getting Your Ideas Across”; by Kogan Page in the United Kingdom and in Budapest by Kommunikacio in Hungarian. Also available as an e-book from Amazon.com.