Writing Letters to the Editor

Vermont Natural Resources Council

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Letters-to-the-editor (and their larger relatives, op-eds) are one of the best ways local activists can regularly participate in the political process, reaching a large audience for free. Politicians and local opinion leaders rely on such letters to get a read on what “real people” are thinking about an issue. Small newspapers are often looking to fill their pages with thoughtful commentaries. It is much easier and takes less effort to get a letter printed than to do a press conference or to get on television. Just remember, never use your letter to attack others personally! Especially in the Internet Age, your letter will live forever and you will likely regret your words later.

Structuring Your Letter

Effective letters to the editor are under 250 words, simple and straight forward. Your letter is most likely to be printed if you live nearby, if you email your letter to the paper (so they don’t have to retype it), and if it falls within the word limit (typically 150 to 250 words) the paper requires.

Here's one way to structure your letter:

The “hook” that explains why your letter is relevant. Best is if you can relate your letter back to something that was recently printed in the paper, or something that is famous enough (e.g., the recent death of Pope John Paul II) that others will know the reference. This is the first sentence of your letter.

Example: Three cheers for your editorial last Sunday against sprawl.
The point you’re trying to make. Your English teacher would have called this the “thesis sentence.” You make your point either in the first or second sentence of your letter, then repeat it in the last sentence.

Example: One of the critical things we can be doing to fight sprawl is to preserve natural areas on our public lands as wilderness.
Your supporting argument(s) to back up the point you’re trying to make. Try to think of arguments that will be most persuasive to your audience (i.e., local opinion leaders and elected officials). It’s very effective to identify yourself as part of a group that elected officials care about: a business owner, person of faith, a hunter or angler, a long-time resident, a parent, a scientist. Don’t try to put too much into your letter—2-3 points at most.

Example: As a member of a local snowmobile club, I really enjoy the network of trails across Vermont. However, I also want to make sure that some places remain quiet and free from the sounds of motors. As a devout Episcopalian, these are the places I feel closest to God. As my own town gets more and more built up, I rely on wilderness areas to experience what nature is supposed to look like.

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