Letters to the Editor
@abitosunshine (765)
United States
August 29, 2010 10:29am CST
Have you ever written a letter to the editor of your local newspaper? And was it published? If you care to share what the letter to the editor topic was, please do. I'm sharing a letter I wrote in 1999.
Also, did you know that letters to the editor are considered a publication credit? Although this is considered a minor credit, it is a credit and can be useful in a submission query letter, as some editors you're submitting your work to may very well take a chance on an inexperienced writer if the topic/format of even these minor publishing credits fit the topic/format of what you're submitting to currently.
I've written several letters to the editors of newspapers over the years. I managed to save proof of two of these that were published, though I wish I'd saved them all.
Letters to the editors are a way of getting your name out there, along with a sample of your writing ability. So, why not write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper?
2 people like this
8 responses
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
30 Aug 10
Letters to the editors may not bring us fame nor fortune, but our voice will be heard (read) and for sure you'll be getting your name out there. You'll be letting your community know that your opinion matters.
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
1 Sep 10
Jennyze, I generally voice my opinion on either something I read a a recent newspaper or a current events topic. Sometimes it's just voicing my opinion on a topic I feel readers will find interesting enough to write their own letters to the editor referencing my topic.
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
29 Aug 10
I love reading the letters to the editor in magazines but I've never written a letter to the editor. And you know, it's a good thing that you mention it. I should write a letter to the Editor because sometimes when I read the letters, I have some opinion that I want to share, but I never do.
1 person likes this
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
29 Aug 10
Sometimes, I wish there'd be a "Letters to the President" section! :)
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
29 Aug 10
Oh, I do hear you there! And actually, you can address your letter to the editor to the president! I wrote one letter to the editor, again in 1999, that was published and it was titled -- Mr. President: Enough is Enough. I have it posted on my personal blog, abitosunshine Love and Writing
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
29 Aug 10
Good to hear I've inspired you to write letters to the editor; do let me know if you get them published! I need to write them more than I do. I'll read something in the paper, or hear something on the TV news that I really do have a strong opinion on, and yes, should let them know. Hey, we don't get many opportunities to voice our opinions on important matters in the community, so I think letters to the editors is one of those ways to take advantage of.
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
30 Aug 10
I have never written a letter to the editor, but it is good to write one. This is especially true when you consider yourself a serious writer who is looking to establish name and fame in the writing world. Writing a letter to editor may be one great way to successfully land a writing job that you always desired.@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
30 Aug 10
I agree; we never know who is reading whatever we've written wherever it is published, online or offline. Everything is a reflection of the writer.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
30 Aug 10
No, I haven't written any letters to the editor. My involvement with newspapers has been writing/editing for them.
However, I agree that it is potentially a good way for an inexperienced writer to get her/his name out there.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
30 Aug 10
You are quite fortunate to have such experience; I envy you. I'm glad you agree!
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
31 Aug 10
When I was in high school, someone once told me that I would be a great (good) writer someday. That was when I was still running the school paper and winning awards for the articles I wrote.
But, I chose line of education and career. Maybe this is indeed a good way to reconnect to the past. Just to start sending in letters to the editor. Thanks for the tip.
1 person likes this
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
31 Aug 10
Oh, wow, that would be wonderful if you renewed your love for writing and found it is truly part of your destiny! I do hope you'll share your letters to the editor. I'm going to start putting mine on my writing blog and I'm making it a ToDo to submit at leat 1 letter to the editor per month to my local newpaper.
@DarienBloom (3)
• United States
30 Aug 10
I Morgantown, there is a "Community Advisory Board". Once a year you or your friends can nominate people to serve on the board. One of the responsibilities of serving on the board is to write opinion articles for the newspaper. Callor write your local newspaper and see if they have a formal program for community participation.
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
30 Aug 10
That's quite interesting info, thank you! And I will be checking into that in my community.
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
29 Aug 10
No, I have not written "Letters to Editor". Yes, it is an excellent way to get credit. I have written articles in the local newspapers before. They are on subject matters related to community affairs and business interests, things I felt cound be of help to the public. But, I don't write articles there often with my full time job keeping me pretty busy. I get to write just two or three times a year, and that was way back then when I had more free time. Writing articles is any way still my favorite hobby.
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
29 Aug 10
That is great that you have had articles published in local newspapers! I have not yet submitted articles to newspapers; I just might have to add that to my list of ToDo's. If writing articles is still your favorite hobby, I do hope you somehow manage to find more time for doing so.
@GDTimothy (446)
• United States
29 Aug 10
I've often wondered about that! Thanks for the tip!
I've threatened to write letters to the editor on many occasions, but have never followed through. Now, I think I may just write one!
And, of course one should always save publication copies of newspapers. I had a story published in the weekend special section edition of a newspaper once, and I have several copies of it. And I even made a few bucks! Unfortunately, my story was edited and the final copy published really frustrated me because the editor left out one sentence that a later reference depended on to make sense. But that can happen even with letters to the editor; they can edit your letter any way they like, once you agree to the terms of publishing which are not always very obvious in the instructions/guidelines for submitting letters.
In any case, this is a wonderful idea, Ruthi, and I thank you for bringing it to our attention! :-)
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
29 Aug 10
Gary, I can't take credit for knowing this about letters to the editor; I had no idea either until I learned it from a Gather friend, Len.
I would love to read your article! That's great, even though they did edit your work. And yes, they do that and I agree it would be quite frustrating.
With your voice and eclectic thoughts, Gary, I can imagine you would write some interesting and informative letters to the editor!
