Letter to the editor | 9 Ways to make it interesting!

Do you want to take some action for the general welfare of society, but aren’t sure of the most effective way to do it? Well then, you should definitely try writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper or a magazine. 

Such a letter can often get published in the columns of the same newspaper or magazine. And if it ends up influencing a massive number of people, you will have ignited a positive change in society! But to do that, you will need to understand what this letter actually is and how to write it. 

What is a letter to the editor?

A letter to the editor is a way of informing a newspaper, magazine, or any other media about the current issues you are concerned about as a reader. It is also a way of expressing your opinions to a larger audience, because when such letters are published, they often appear in the first few pages of the print.

If you wish to write such a letter and voice your opinions, then here are the 9 things that you need to take care of. These points will help you make the letter interesting so that it has a higher chance of getting published.

1. Simple salutation

The salutation is one of the most important parts of any letter. It is directed towards the reader of the letter, who is, in this case, the editor of the respective newspaper or magazine. When you write a letter to the editor of a newspaper, you can begin the letter with the salutation, “To the Editor of (Name of the newspaper).“ 

A similar salutation can also be used when writing to the editor of a magazine. So the goal is to keep the salutation as simple as possible because editors usually get a bulk of letters. Hence, if the beginning of your letter is clearly directed to the editor, then there is a higher chance of it being read by the right person.

2. Interesting hook

Always remember that the first few lines of a letter should be an interesting enough hook for the reader to continue paying attention.

What is a hook, you ask? A hook is a sentence (or even two sentences) that can be found at the beginning of an essay, or a letter, that catches the attention of readers. It also persuades them to continue reading on. 

3. Introduce the subject

Whenever you write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper or magazine, you need to ensure that you deliver the crux of your message within the first paragraph. This is how you need to introduce the subject (or rather, your opinion on a particular subject). Moreover, you should follow these three rules throughout the letter so that it is easily readable and understandable to the masses. 

• Quick

This means your way of writing should quickly convey your position as well as back it up with facts. This will ensure higher readability and also increase the pace of your letter, making it all the more engaging to the reader.

• Concise

Your letter should also be concise, taking up room to state multiple points instead of droning on about a single point. This will ensure that the reader finds your letter packed with valuable information.

• Truthful

Your letter should show that you base your arguments on well-known facts rather than on obscure theories. This will ensure that a larger audience sees and appreciates your viewpoint.

4. Importance of the issue

Once you are done stating your points either for or against the subject, you should begin compiling all the evidence from your research that has led to the points you’ve stated in your letter. This, when explained easily, can help the reader understand the reasons for your opinion on the issue being of great importance.

5. Provide evidence

While a particular topic may move you enough to write such a letter, no argument can be complete without fact-based evidence for the same. However, while explaining the importance of the issue, it is important that you use simple language even when explaining complex facts. This is because your letter, when published, will be read by everyone. So if the general public is incapable of interpreting your message, then the letter will probably not be published. 

6. State your opinion clearly

Some may write a letter to the editor to vent their anger about a current issue, while others state their support for or against an issue. If you consider doing the latter (which is a more meaningful approach), then it is imperative that you state your opinions in a clear manner.

Pro tip: Your recommendations on a plan of action to resolve a particular issue should be realistic and fact-based.

7. Do not make it lengthy

One important point when writing this letter is to remember that quality matters over quantity. Writing 300 words with value-packed insights will prove to be more helpful than sharing 1000 words that are making the same point over and over again. So condense your thoughts into short, skim-able paragraphs to keep your reader hooked until the end. If you ask us, the recommended length of any letter to the editor should be about 300 words. 

8. Sign and proofread

Finally, you must always remember to sign such a letter with your full name, contact number, and address. This is because most newspapers and magazines do not print anonymous letters to their editors. This may be because an authored letter adds a character to the piece of writing.

You should also proofread your letter to make sure that there are no grammatical or continuity errors because this might reduce the chances of your letter to the editor getting published. 

9. Additional Tips

Apart from these 8 things, there are certain additional tips that you might need if you wish to write an effective and engaging letter.

1. Since most editors cut short your letters into small, easily publishable pieces, you need to remember to provide the main arguments of your issue within the first few paragraphs. 
2. Moreover, if you want to make your letter highly engaging and relatable, then you should draw in references to events in the local community.
3. You could also add a personal experience or two to make the letter personal and realistic.

What is the format for a formal letter to the editor?

Apart from these tips, you also need to know about the proper format for writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper or a magazine. Take a look at the generic format for the same, but remember that this is likely to change in each geographic region.

Your Address

Current Date 

Editor

Name of Newspaper or Magazine

Editor’s Official Address

Subject: 

Respected Ma’am/ Sir

Body of the Letter

Introduction: Use this section to introduce the subject and provide a brief about the contents of the letter.

Content: Provide all the main arguments and opinions of the letter in this section.

Conclusion: Summarise all the key arguments and provide some recommendations, if any, in this section of the letter.

Yours Sincerely, 

(Your Signature)

(Your Name)

In nutshell

A letter to the editor can be a powerful tool for common people to voice their opinions in the media. You can also use it as a means of practicing your formal communication skills as a student. By following these tips and adhering to the format provided, you may also get recognized by the editor of a newspaper or a magazine. This might give you the chance to regularly publish such letters in a separate column and gain you quite a good readership!

FAQs

1. What are some popular topics for letters to the editor?

You can write on any current topic when writing to the editor. Just ensure that the topic is relevant, interesting, and worth writing about.

2. Why write a letter to the editor?

It can be a way for you to perfect your skills in writing formal letters. Moreover, it will help you learn how to voice your opinions on current issues and become an important member of society.

3. What is a good example of a letter to the editor for students?

One example could be students writing to the editor of a newspaper or a magazine about their opinions regarding the recent curriculum changes in an education board.

This is all we have for you, for now. If you have any doubts, you can get in touch with us. Or you can also comment below!