Climate Action
Ink Your Opinion: How to Write a Killer Letter to the Editor
July 10, 2025
So, you’ve read something in the news about the state of the planet or spotted a growing trend, a new development, a worrying issue and you are fired up. You’ve got something to say about it. But where do you say it? Easy: the Letters to the Editor section.
This magical corner of the newspaper is where everyday people can potentially peak up, correct the record, praise good work, or sound the alarm. And yes, your letter can make a difference.
This Earth Day, we got a 900% increase in coverage by bombarding the press with stories that made them care about the issues we care about because they resonated with ordinary people, their readers. So trust us when we say, we can help you write something that garners attention and helps to champion causes you care about.
Let’s break it down in plain English.
What Even Is a Letter to the Editor?
A letter to the editor (LET) is a short piece of writing, usually about 150-300 words long, sent to a newspaper, magazine, or online publication. Your letter is either reacting to something that they’ve already covered in a story or you arousing the medium of a letter to chime in on a hot issue that you believe the publication should be covering. Your letter should aim to inform, persuade, or add a fresh or alternative perspective.
It’s like saying, “Hey! This matters. Let’s talk about it.I have an opinion on this.”
Before You Write a Single Word…
Take a breath and ask yourself: Why are you writing? And be specific!
Are you correcting a mistake? Adding a new angle? Calling for change? Maybe you’re shining a light on something hopeful or noting a solution to a known problem? Once you know your letter’s purpose, it will be easier to write it and make it more effective.
The best time to send a letter is early in the morning, be one of the first to comment, it will elevate your chances of being published because editors make their letter selections quickly.
What’s the Vibe?
Get to know the tone of the outlet you’re writing to. Every paper has a vibe. Some are buttoned-up. Others like it punchy. Read a few existing published letters to get a feel for what they are looking for. Not every letter sent to a paper or publication gets published, so it is important to know what the outlet likes so they’ll be more likely to publish it. The New York Times gets hundreds of letters a week so do not be downhearted if at first you do not succeed!
And don’t skip the fine print. Each publication has guidelines; word limits, required info, rules about political endorsements, and more. If you don’t follow them, your letter might go straight into the digital dustbin. Every outlet that takes letters to the editor will have a page dedicated to guidance on what they will consider printing so read it before sending your letter in. One of the simplest mistakes is not adding your name, address and a cell phone to your letter. They almost certainly will NOT publish your address but they need it to verify you are a real person!
Gather Your Facts, Then Trim the Fat
Your opening sentence is everything. So make sure you grab attention with a compelling fact, a punchy opinion, or a clever turn of phrase.That first sentence acts like a newspaper headline or hook and will make people decide in seconds if they want to read on to the end. The rest of your letter should deliver the heart of the issue you are writing about and then an end line to hammer your thoughts home. The magical letter the editor formula is: Hook, Heart Hammer.
Even letters need to be rooted in truth. Backup your points with statistics, reports, a cutting quote, or a real-world example. If you’re responding to a specific article, mention it by name at the very top of your letter and include a link to it. This will give your perspective more clarity. Do not be afraid to disagree with an article in the paper or the editor’s perspective, letters are often sought out that do just that so it will stand you in good stead. And if you can localise your letter – do – most papers like to find letters with local angles that appeal to a specific community, experience, or region.
But remember: this isn’t a research paper. You’re aiming for clear, not complicated. Use simple language and ditch the jargon. Write like you’re talking to a friend new to the topic over coffee, not trying to win a debate with a robot. To make sure it flows and is not stuffed with filler words read it out loud, if it trips off the tongue easily it’s probably working.
And whatever you do, keep it respectful. Be bold – sure. Be passionate – absolutely. But don’t insult or attack people. Ad hominem attacks will not be effective, will turn folks off and in the end just eats up your allowed word allowance anyway.
It’s possible to disagree and be classy about it.
Hit Send (the Right Way)
Most papers want you to email your letter. They are busy and it’s faster, cleaner, and easier for them to copy and paste into their publishing software. Remember, we are saying it twice a sit is so important – to include your name, contact info, and address even if you’re asking to be published anonymously. (Heads up: not all papers allow anonymous letters.)
If the paper doesn’t clearly list how to submit a letter don’t panic; just call or check their website. The info’s usually buried under “Opinion” or “Contact Us.”
And once you’ve sent your letter, be patient. If you don’t hear back in a week or two, it’s okay to move on and try another outlet. Editors are busy, and space is limited. Don’t take rejection personally.
Just keep going and try to think like an editor.Will this make readers care? Is it new, surprising, or well-said? Does it stand out from the other letters?
Why Bother?
Even if your letter doesn’t make it to print, you’ve done something meaningful. You took a stand. You shaped your thoughts. You entered the conversation and likely learned in the process.
When you start to get traction with your letters being published, always mention to editors that you have been published before and where – success attracts success! Whatever you do, keep writing and sharing your thoughts and ideas, it will eventually pay off, one of our interns got their letter in the Washington Post!
The more you practice, the better you will get. Think of it as training for bigger things; op-eds, public speaking, standing for local office, maybe even writing that longer article or short story or novel that you’ve been secretly dreaming about So go ahead. Be brave. Be brief. And start writing.
At EARTHDAY.ORG, we write because we want to inspire, inform and educate. Each week, we fire off letters and publish many original articles on our News and Stories page – which we encourage you to read, repost them and share.
This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.
