HOW TO WRITE AN OP-ED

An op-ed is an essay or guest column intended for publication in the opinion section of a newspaper. These are called op-eds because they usually appear on the page Opposite the Editorial page. Scores, perhaps hundreds, of submissions come in to a newspaper every day, competing for space on this page. In most newspapers, the allotted length is between 500 and 750 words. In most cases, te op-ed is intended to present a new, or different, point of view.

Editors have some very concrete requirements for selection, more or less in this order:

1. a provocative idea on any subject

2. an opinion on a current issue that is controversial, unexpected, authoritative and/or news

3. a call to arms on a neglected subject

4. bite and wit on a current issue

Without a forceful point to make, an op-ed is doomed to rejection.
This makes the op-ed page hostile to announcements of events, status reports or plain old news. This is the news section for blunt opinion, advocacy, denunciation, outrage, astonishment--all the heavy emotions. Editors want to be leaders in shaping the public debate, and you will do best by helping them achieve that goal.

WHAT NEWSPAPERS WANT

The editors of local and regional papers who choose which op-eds to use look for strong local interest. They don't want a generic slant. Tell a local story--of a real person, family or group and how your issue has affected them.

Timeliness is another characteristic editors look for. Even if your op-ed does not break new ground, you may be able to find something current to tie it to: a holiday, anniversary, election, upcoming conference, report, vote in Congress or some pending action by local or state government.

Sometimes, the signer (author) of the op-ed can make a huge difference. Even though you draft it, having the op-ed signed by a local or national expert, your group's president, a member of the clergy or a well-known politician, could make it more likely to be chosen.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO WRITE:

Call the newspaper first to confirm the name of the editorial or op-ed page editor, and to find out the criteria for submissions. Some newspapers accept op-eds by fax--but ask first. You should also ask about the approval process. In most cases, the newspaper will call you to clarify some of the facts only when they've decided to print your piece.

USING PROFESSIONAL HELP

Often, the person who drafts the op-ed has experience and information to relay, but relies on a writer with past op-d successes to shape and edit the draft. The problem is that newspapers are inundated with unsolicited op-eds; some big city papers get more than 100 each day. Using writing and placement professionals can sometimes make the difference in whether or not an op-ed gets published, however it does not guarantee placement. The tighter, punchier piece will have the edge over its competitors.

The typical process involves a discussion between you and writer to decide on the subject and form. A first draft by you. An extensive edit by the writer.
Minor tuning by you. A final draft by the writer. An okay from you before mailing to the target newspapers. The final version should be what you want to say, said in a way that can help you achieve your goals and that is likely to get published.

Don't be suprised if the newspaper asks for revisions. Typical requests include shortening, verifying facts, or providing a timely news peg. You and the writer can work together on this final leg of op-ed production.

GETTING STARTED

The first ste in writing an op-ed is to think through what message you want to deliver to readers. What are your goals for this op-ed: recruiting volunteers, starting a grassroos campaign, sustaining or increasing public funding, passing new legislation or educating opinion readers and the public?

Defining the goal will help you to determine which audience you need to reach:
the general public, local or national policymakers or specific groups like voters, teachers, doctors or senior citizens.

Defining the audience will also help you to determine to which the op-ed should be submitted: your local daily or weekly paper, a professional journal, a state or regional paper like the "Denver Post" or "Boston Globe," or the much more competitive national papers like "The New York Times" or "The Washington Post."

Other helpful hints for writing op-eds: consult materials that already exist--newsletters, speeches and policy papers--for background information; concentrate on one issue; work from an outline; keep sentences and paragraphs short; avoid cliches and jargon, and back up assertions with credible facts. Here are 10 helpful hints to consider when writing the op-ed:

1. Try to reduce your point to a single sentence. For example, "every child deserves a family."

2. See if your sentence passes the "wow" test or the "hmmm" test; if not, the point needs sharpening.

3. Any point worth making will have to be defended. Muster your best four supporting arguments or data bits and state each one in a single paragraph. Be as specific as possible. Avoid starting sentences with "There is/are" to employ the active, rather than the passive, voice.

4. Raise the opposition's best arguments and demolish them with countervailing facts, withering irony, condescension or whatever is appropriate, but deal with them.

5. Let yourself become emotional. Write a dozen such paragraphs and choose the best one.

6. Ask yourself what is the minimum background information a reader absolutely has to have in order to grasp your point. Write two paragraphs that summarize this information.

7. Imagine your target reader browsing through the newspaper on a workday morning, impatient to find, something interesting, gulping coffee, checking the time. What kind of statement might catch this person's attention? If you can raise questions, surprise, intrigue or baffle your reader into reading beyond the first paragraph, you stand a chance the editor will let you put the entire op-ed in the paper.

8. Now, write the piece. Write about 1,000 words (four double-spaced pages) maximum. Restate your key points in the final paragraphs.

9. Cut out half a page: Eliminate repetition. Trim words, not ideas. Check every word ending in -ly and see if you can't eliminate these and all the other adverbs.

10. Submit the piece at 750 words. Don't forget to include your name, title and affiliation at the end