Keep your letter short and focused on one subject. Many newspapers allocate limited space to letters to the editor and enforce strict limits on their length. Keeping your letter brief will help ensure that your most important points don't get cut. Check to see whether the paper you're writing has any official LTE guidelines, and stick to them! (Often these guidelines are published on newspaper websites.)
Speak from the heart. While keeping your letter short and to the point, don't be afraid to be passionate or controversial. You don't have to be an expert to have a strong opinion. But refrain from making any direct personal attacks and avoid jargon. Let your commitment shine through your words!
Make it legible. Your letter doesn't have to be fancy, but you should use a computer or typewriter if your handwriting is difficult to read.
Include your contact information. Many newspapers will only print a letter to the editor after calling the author to verify his/her identity and address. Newspapers will not give out that information, and will usually only print your name and city if your letter gets published.
Send letters to weekly and community newspapers, too. It's exciting to get a letter in the New York Times or another major national paper. But the smaller the newspaper's circulation, the easier it will be to get your letter printed. You can use http://capwiz.com/results/dbq/media to identify all the publications in your area.
Make it relevant. Most newspapers will only print letters that refer to a specific article they've published or a current event. Be sure to the relevant article or event prominently. Here are some easy ways to handle this in the first sentence of your letter:
If your letter get printed, be sure to send a copy to your Representatives and Senators. And don't forget to send it to us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), too!
SOURCES: http://action.aclu.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AP_writing_letters_to_editor
