Tips for Op-eds and Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor and op-eds can be a great way to draw attention to your work and spread your message widely. Here are some tips to keep in mind when crafting and pitching LTEs and op-eds.

Letter to the editor 

A letter to the editor (LTE) is a short response (usually 250 words or less) to an article or reaction to a news event. As such, it is necessary to make only one or two succinct points in your letter. Sometimes an LTE is a better choice than an op-ed because it is more likely to get published and/or it will get published faster. 

Things to keep in mind when writing a letter to the editor: 

• Look up your publication’s word limit for LTEs, as well as any other submission guidelines 

• Sign the letter off from one or two individual representatives 

• Identify your specific League name in the body of your letter 

• Keep your angle local 

Opinion editorial (op-ed)

Different from a letter to the editor, an op-ed is a longer-form essay (500 to 800 words) on a specific topic aimed at making a case to the public for an explicit action.  

It’s important to find an angle for your topic that is specific and clear. When writing an op-ed, it can be tempting to use the opportunity to tell your audience everything you think they need to know, but that is always too much for one piece. Look for a unique, newsworthy angle. A successful op-ed lays out its specific thesis clearly and explains it in around 800 words.  

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only pitch to regional and local publications. Leagues should not submit op-eds to large national publications, such as the New York Times. For questions, contact [email protected].

Things to consider when writing and pitching an op-ed: 

• Pick a specific and clear topic – look for a unique angle or newsworthy hook 

• Keep references based in your state/community 

• Aim for 500 to 800 words 

• Have one designated author; you can use first-person pronouns, and other members can help ghost-write 

• Try to incorporate a call to action 

• Identify the author’s title and your specific League name 

• Only pitch your op-ed to one publication at a time; this piece will be "an exclusive"

• Paste the entirety of your op-ed in the body of your email to the opinion editor, and precede it with a short paragraph (pitch) explaining why you think the piece is good for them to publish right now

• Make your pitch specific to the publication you're pitching to

 

Here are some examples of published op-eds from the League of Women Voters: 

• From LWVUS: How H.R. 1 could help more women make history 

• From LWV of Wisconsin: THE TIME FOR REDISTRICTING REFORM IN WISCONSIN IS NOW 

• From LWV of Florida: Direct democracy in Florida is under attack at the Capitol 

• From LWV of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville: The League of Women Voters urges a Yes vote on Measure F