Tips for Writing an Op-ed Article

By M H Ahssan

If you have an opinion about current events-political, social, or otherwise-you have probably considered writing an op-ed article for local or national newspapers. Op-ed pieces allow writers, both amateur and professional alike, to participate in public discourse about the issues that are most important to them.

Writing an opposite editorial (op-ed) article is also a great way for an aspiring writer to break into the business and capture the eye of editors. Traditionally placed on the page opposite the editorial section, op-ed articles are written in the same tone as an editorial piece, but from the point of view of an individual writer. Often, this writer is not associated with the publication, or part of its regular staff of columnists and contributors.

The best op-ed writers are those who keep up with the news, and are able to write valid contributions to current topics. Newspapers focus on relevant journalism, and readers will not want to waste their time on articles that are based on outdated and tired arguments. If you have a fresh slant or new approach, go for it. Often, well-written op-ed pieces are the precursors to lively discussion in other media outlets, such as talk shows, news commentators, and news networks' round-table talks.

Below is a list of some of the basics involved with writing or editing an effective op-ed article:

1. Keep current. The easiest way to get your op-ed article published is to write about something that is currently relevant in headline news. After a story has been written about numerous times, editors-as well as readers-will tire of it and consider it old news. Additionally, an op-ed piece about the condition of the city's roads is hardly relevant when that same city is currently facing a crackdown on political corruption in the mayor's office. Op-ed editors know what readers want to read, and will be more likely to publish your op-ed article if you take the time to consider your audience's interests carefully.

2. Brevity is vital. Newspaper editors generally leave a space big enough for 700-750 words for an op-ed piece, and you have to be able to say a lot in that span to get their attention. A way to keep yourself on track is to remember to focus on one key point or argument, and save the multi-dimensional diatribe against all of society's woes for another outlet (or multiple op-eds). In many cases, if you send in an op-ed article that is considerably longer, the editor will immediately refuse it due to not having the time to go back and forth with you in cutting the word count.

3. Hook your reader. Academics, who are accustomed to writing scholarly papers, tend to have an especially hard time with this one. The opening sentence needs to capture the reader's attention, and this rarely happens in a roundabout way. The easiest hooks are the ones that begin a story, or make a blanket statement that someone might find humorous or intriguing. Think of Charles Dickens' opening lines in A Tale of Two Cities-"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Don't take time to get the ball rolling or get your point across-do it from the opening lines of your article. You'll find that this approach always works best in getting the readers (and editor's) attention.

4. Stick to arguing one point. The op-ed article is not the place to take on the world's problems. It's not really even the place to offer your own five-point plan for fixing the city's budget crises, or for bringing an end to corruption in government. Readers are drawn into op-ed articles because of the honesty of narrative, and simplicity of the argument, and the statements that will make them stop and think for a moment that maybe-just maybe-you have a valid point.

5. Avoid academic, stuffy, or jargon-filled writing. Newspapers around the world are generally written between and 8th and 12th grade reading level. Research has shown that when newspapers are distributed with articles written at higher reading levels, the circulation numbers tend to decline. Editors are aware of this, and will choose articles for publication that are clear and powerfully written without a lot of inside terminology and jargon that might elude much of their readership. If your chosen topic requires terminology that the average reader might not know, include a brief definition-either through context or one that is directly stated-to avoid confusion.

6. Use the inverted pyramid approach. Put the most important details-the "meat" of your article-in the beginning. This usually means to avoid meandering your way to what you are trying to say. As mentioned earlier, the editor will be concerned about space and word count. If the editor needs to cut your op-ed piece to fit and you've used the inverted pyramid approach, slicing off part of the end will not affect the overall intent of your article.

7. Publish locally. This is an often-overlooked method for aspiring writers to get their foot in the door. While national papers are often flooded with op-ed articles and requests for publication, local papers sometimes scramble to find new things to print. Think of it as the 'big fish in a small pond' phenomenon, and one that can work to your advantage as a writer. Later, you can query the larger publications with your previously published work as credentials, giving you a better opportunity to be noticed.