This practical 5 step guide to writing effective letters to the editor is offered by member Sue S. A well-written letter is an effective way to get our message out to the the larger community.

WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Step 1

Decide why you are writing a letter to the editor. Letters to the editor serve a specific purpose. Sometimes they are to correct a previously published error. More often they are to express an opinion about an issue recently in the news. Sometimes they debate an opinion letter previously published by the publication.

Keep a copy of news articles or previous letters to the editor you are responding to handy while you are writing your letter. You will want to refer to them for accuracy if you quote anything previously published to be certain it is an exact quote. Research any facts or statistics you plan to use to support your opinion or argument. The more factual your letter, the stronger it will be in making your point and possibly even convincing others that you are correct.

Step 2

Write yourself some notes to follow as a guideline for your letter. List all the important points you want to make in your letter. Jot down the appropriate facts or statistics you will use to support each point next to the appropriate item.

Step 3

Focus your letter on an issue, not a person or business. Express your opinion about that issue, making reference to relevant people or businesses only as needed to clarify the issue specifically or to avoid reader confusion about what you are saying.

Step 4

Begin your letter by clearly stating your opinion and to what you are responding. Use subsequent paragraphs to make individual points that support the opinion you expressed in paragraph one. Incorporate facts that demonstrate your opinion is well founded, accurate and logical

Maintain a professional tone throughout your letter. You want to come across to readers as a reasonable, articulate individual with a valid opinion and solid facts to back up that opinion so that they will agree with you. You do not want to be perceived as radical, liberal, crazy, foolish, inconsiderate, unintelligent or uninformed or any of dozens of other labels that might be applied to a writer who rambles, uses his letter as a personal attack or vendetta, or otherwise writes a letter to achieve his own personal agenda.

Step 5

Keep your letter short and to the point. Use only as many paragraphs as required to clearly express and support your opinion. When you've achieved that goal, your letter should be complete. Check your notes to be sure you've included all of your relevant points and supporting facts.

Close with thanks to the editor, a short summary of your opinion or thanks to others who may be the subject of your opinion letter. Type or print your name a few lines below the close of your letter. Include your address, telephone number, email and other applicable contact information below your name.

Proofread your letter for accuracy, typos, spelling errors or other mistakes. Make any necessary changes before finalizing your letter. Make a copy of the letter for your records.

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