Writing a letter to the editor may seem daunting at first. If you care about the issue, have an idea of what you want to say, and give it a little bit of thought, though, it’s not so hard.
Choose your target
Pick a newspaper. Don’t do this at random. Find out more about the newspaper by reading it.
Pick a topic. Pick something that is relevant to your audience and something that you care about.
A letter to the editor is a formal piece of writing: open with a formal salutation
“Dear Editor:”; “To the Editor:”; “Dear Ms / Mr / etc Name of Editor”; etc.
If you know the editor’s name, use it. This is particularly important for small papers, where being familiar with the paper is an asset. (You’ll find the names / emails for many of the editors of papers in Minnesota here, in the listing of Minnesota newspapers.)
Start strong
Your opening sentence is important: it should tell readers what you’re writing about. It should also make them want to continue.
Explain what the letter is about at the start.
Letters to the editor are not novels. They must be short, focused, clear pieces.
So:
- Get to the point.
- Be concise.
- Be clear.
Explain why the issue is important.
You already think that your topic is important, but that’s probably not true of the newspaper’s editor or the newspaper’s reader. They may not share your interest, passion, or background.
So:
- do explain the issue and its importance simply and clearly
- don’t hedge
- don’t waffle
- don’t equivocate
- do use language that people will understand
If you’re criticizing or giving praise, provide evidence
Heaping abuse or slathering people with compliments isn’t effective. “Marco Rubio is a snivelling little toady” may be satisfying to write, but it’s not likely to have any good effect on a reader. Instead, make your point with evidence and argument.
Sample letter
Dear Editor:
Marco Rubio’s astonishing flip‐flop on Ukraine shows he lacks the moral courage to be Secretary of State.
As a Senator, he was an ardent champion of Ukraine and a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. In 2022, he declared, “Vladimir Putin is the real aggressor in this war, and he is attempting an unjustified takeover of a sovereign, democratic country. The United States cannot recognize Putin’s claims or we risk establishing a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes, like the Chinese Communist Party, to imitate.”
Two weeks ago, when Donald Trump and JD Vance bullied Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House, Rubio slumped in his chair—and said nothing.
This week, when Donald Trump excused Russia’s latest missile and drone barrage, declaring the Russian dictator was ‘doing what anybody would do’, Secretary Rubio, shamefully, said—and did—nothing.
He has put personal ambition ahead of principle, abandoned those he once pledged to defend—and has proven his word means nothing.
He must resign.
Sincerely,
Be clear about what should be done.
Think about the purpose of your letter. Are you just blowing off steam? (That can be satisfying, but it’s not always the best way to get published.)
Are you writing to criticize a policy or action? If so, don’t just criticize—offer a solution if you can. You’re not writing a policy brief, so be concise—but do, if you can, say how the problem could be fixed. (In the above, the solution is to get Rubio to resign; another way to approach this would be to ask the Senate to hold hearings.)
If you’re writing to praise something or someone, again, provide reasons for your praise. Praise without reason verges on sycophancy—and that’s one of the things we’re struggling to overcome.
Be specific. And give as much evidence or reason as space and clarity will allow.
Keep it short.
Shorter letters are more likely to be published. Revise your first draft. Cut excess words.
If you have a lot to say and your argument really cannot be made in 200 words (or less; some people and papers recommend 300, but concision is almost always good), get in touch with the editor and offer to write an opinion piece.
Sign the letter.
This may be obvious—but take responsibility for your words. Provide your full name; include your address, phone number, and e-mail address. Newspapers generally don’t print anonymous letters, though they sometimes withhold a writer’s name.
The newspaper may call you to make sure you wrote the letter before they publish it.
Tout your credentials
If you’re writing about an issue in which you have particular expertise or responsibilities, say so. (But be careful – if you work for someone and are writing in your personal capacity, be sure not implicate your organization.) If you are a doctor writing about healthcare, by all means let people know that you have the cred. If you are a farmer writing about the cost of inputs, says so; if you’re writing about immigration and have expertise, say so. Use your experience and your credentials (formal or informal) to boost your credibility.
Review your letter to make sure concise, readable, and persuasive.
A newspaper will usually not print every letter it receives, but a thoughtful, well-written letter is more likely to get published than a sloppy, ranting, piece.
Will your letter get into print?
If you write to the New York Times, the odds are slim because so many people want to say something there. But other papers are much easier: some local papers print every letter they get, provided the letter isn’t abusive, libelous, or otherwise harmful.
If you write about something of interest to the paper and its readership, you’re more likely to get your letter in print, too. Writing to a paper in northern Minnesota about the microclimate in Peru probably isn’t going to work; writing about issues of local concern (mining, forestry, agricultural issues, you name it) may well. Use your judgment. Consider your audience—both the editor and the readership of the newspaper. And remember what you want to achieve.