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Tips for writing a good letter to the editor

Click here for a sample letter and a list of links to submit your letter to newspapers statewide.

After the front page, the opinion page is usually one of the most read parts of a newspaper. Because of that, writing letters to the editor is an excellent forum to get our message out. Below are a few tips that can improve the chance that your letter gets published.

1. Be concise and to the point. Most newspapers limit your letter to between 100 and 150 words. If you're letter is much longer, the paper will ether edit it or they won't publish it at all. A lot of word processing software will automatically give you a word count for your letter.
2. If possible, write your letter shortly after a major story ran or in response to another letter. This way you can ensure your letter has a tie-in to a topic that is considered "hot" or newsworthy to the paper.
3. If you are rebutting a statement someone else made, don't spend a lot of time restating their arguments. You only need reference their statement. Instead, spend most of your ink to get your message out.
4. Pick a focus and stick with it. While there are a lot of good reasons to support tax reform, it is better to make a couple of arguments well than to only scratch the surface of eight different arguments.
5. Organize your thoughts and try to avoid rambling. If it helps, make an outline of the major points you want to make then write from that. State your case, followed by a sentence or two about each major point, then summarize your argument.
6. Use facts to bolster your case, but don't overdo it. A few good, strategically placed facts can go a long way. Check out our on-line facts about State Tax Reform or the Food and Business Tax Fairness Act for talking points and facts to support your letter.
7. Frame your arguments in values language. Everyone makes decisions based on their own value system, so when writing about our inadequate education system for example, remember it's ultimately about how we value our children.
8. Get a friend to proofread your letter for both grammar and readability. Does the message come across? Does it make sense? If not, consider making some changes.
9. Most newspapers now allow you to submit your letter by email or through a web form. If you are submitting your letter by email, be sure to write "letter to the editor" in the subject line so as not to get mistaken for spam.
10. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number. The phone number is particularly important as some newspapers will call to confirm before printing the letter.