Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Choosing a topic
• Part 2 of 3: Writing your piece
• Part 3 of 3: Complete your submitted article
• Tips

Opinions in newspapers or magazines are usually written in the form of a "submitted article." In a submitted piece you as a reader can give your opinion on a variety of topics, ranging from small local events to international issues. Then others can respond to your article by means of a "letter sent in." Would you also like to write a submitted article? Below you can read how to choose an interesting topic, write a catchy text and deliver your article in a professional manner.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Choosing a topic

1. Choose a current topic. Your submitted article must be about a current event, or about trends, opinions, or other issues that are currently going on. When you send an article submitted to a newspaper, current events are extremely important. News editors are much more interested in a piece about a current discussion, or about something that just happened, than an article about an event from a few months ago.
   • Search the newspaper for topics of interest to comment on. If your article is about something that has recently appeared in the newspaper, the editors will by definition find your article more interesting and the chances of it being published, if you wish, are much higher.
   • If the library in your area is about to close, write a submitted article about the library's merits and why the library is absolutely indispensable in your community.
2. Choose a topic that you can write passionately about. Opinion pieces must contain a genuinely convinced opinion. If you can't write passionately about the topic you've chosen, choose something else. If you have chosen something that you have an opinion about, reduce that opinion to its simplest form. Try to summarize your opinion clearly in one or two sentences. If you can, then the topic is suitable for writing an article submitted about it.
   • Let's build a little further on the example of the library. As an argument you can put forward, for example: The library has historically been a central place to learn and do things together. It would be a shame if they closed the library to build a fast food restaurant on that spot.
3. Pick a topic you know a thing or two about. To be convincing, you need to know what you're talking about. And to really know what you're talking about, you'll have to do some research. A submitted article that contains a lot of valuable information based on facts that support your arguments comes across much more strongly than one in which the writer merely expresses his or her opinion. Search the internet, look in archives, talk to those involved, and also include the information you obtained firsthand.
   • Why is the library closing? What is the history of the library? How many people borrow books from the library every day? Which activities are organized in the library? In what other ways does the community use the library as a meeting place?
4. Choose a complicated topic. A good opinion piece should not be about something obvious that can be easily proven or disproved. Why would you want to read someone's opinion on something that is already clear, such as whether or not heroin is healthy? Should we treat or imprison heroin addicts? Opinions are much more divided on this. Choose an argument and list its pros and cons. That way you can determine if the topic is controversial enough for an article submitted. For example, a first draft of the piece on the library might look like this:
   • The library is a center where people can learn and do things together in a city that does not have a community center and has only one small school for all different types of education.
   • If you are personally associated with the library in some way, you can include a personal story in your piece introducing current events and the activities that the community is organizing.
   • Find out if there are alternatives to closing the library and what the community could do to keep the library open. Include suggestions for the people responsible for planning the city.

Part 2 of 3: Writing your piece

1. Get straight to the point. Unlike in a thesis or dissertation, for example, the intention in an opinion piece is that you give your opinion right at the beginning. Then, one by one, state your arguments, involve the reader in the topic, and say what you think should be done about the problem. Try something like:
   • “When we were little, my sister and I always took the shortest route to the library in the winter when it was cold and dark early. that beautiful historic building. Unfortunately, the library faces the same fate next month as so many beautiful buildings in our community that have now been closed. As far as I am concerned, this is the last straw. "
2. Provide colorful details and examples to keep the reader engaged. Readers tend to remember interesting details better than dry facts. There should be some hard facts in your piece, of course, but also use clear and fascinating details so that the reader will remember your story. Provide real-life examples that show the reader that this topic is worth reading about and remembering.
   • For example, in the article about the library you could say something about when and by whom the library was founded, or about one of the library staff who has been working there for 60 years and who has read all the fiction books in the collection.
3. Explain to readers why it should do them something. If the readers feel that the topic you are writing about does not actually concern them, they are less likely to read your article. Make your readers feel personally involved. Explain how the topic and suggestions you provide in your article will affect your readers. For example:
   • Closing the library means that 130,000 books and films will have to be relocated, and that the inhabitants of the city will now have to travel more than 60 kilometers to the nearest library, bookstore or video store. The children of the readers will only be able to choose from half as many books as now, because the school always lets the children borrow their textbooks from the library, etc.
4. Make it personal. Use your own voice to get the message across and provide personal examples to support your opinion. Try to come across as human to your readers with what you write so that they feel involved with you and your article by reading your article. Show them that you are a flesh-and-blood person who is deeply committed to this subject.
   • To use the library example again: For example, you could say that you borrowed from that library the very first book you ever finished completely; or you can tell about the special relationship you have built up with the old lady behind the loan desk; or about how you took refuge in the library when your life was temporarily turned upside down.
5. Use passive verb tenses and jargon as little as possible. With your article, you want to educate readers about your topic and help them do something about the problem. You don't ask them to analyze the subject. Therefore, write in the active form and try not to scare your readers with all kinds of technical terms. That can make a confusing or arrogant impression on the readers.
   • An example of a passive verb form is: "Hundreds of books and films are borrowed from the library every day and dozens of activities are organized."
   • An example of the active verb form is: "Hundreds of people borrow books and films from the library every day and dozens of associations use the library to organize their activities."
6. Draw up a plan in advance and ask the director of the library if you can organize a meeting there. Set a date and time and have flyers printed inviting local people to talk about the future of the library. You can invite a journalist to report on the different opinions and a photographer to take pictures of the meeting. All of this will make people more aware of the situation.
7. Also name the people who do not share your opinion. That just makes your article more interesting and shows that you respect the other party (even if you think those who disagree with you are all idiots). Also admit that your opponents may be right on some points. For example:
   • The people who want to close the library are certainly right when they say that the local economy is not doing well. Shops close here and there due to a lack of customers. But the idea that closing the library will solve the problem of our economy is a big misunderstanding.
8. Suggest a solution. An article in which the writer only criticizes and does not come up with a solution (or at least steps towards a solution) is less likely to be posted than an article in which the writer comes up with alternatives and solutions. In your solution you can also say what the parties involved can do to achieve the result that you think is best for everyone.
   • For example: If we work together as a community, there is a serious chance that we can save the library. I think with the help of fundraising and signatures we can make it clear to the municipality that they need to rethink their plans to close this historic and colorful library. If the municipality were to use some of the money earmarked for building a shopping center to keep the library open, we can prevent this beautiful monument from having to be closed.

Part 3 of 3: Complete your submitted article

1. Provide a strong lock. To complete your submitted article, write a good and clear last paragraph repeating your argument one more time and reaching a clear conclusion. Only then will your article stay with the reader, even after he or she has put the newspaper aside. For example:
   • Our local library is not only a home to the brilliant works of writers from all over the world, it is also a place where people meet to learn, to discuss, to express their appreciation and to inspire one another. If the plans go ahead and the library is closed, we will not only lose a unique witness to the history of our city, but also a meeting place and study center for young and old.
2. Respect the maximum number of words. As a rule, try to keep your sentences and paragraphs short and to the point. To convey your opinion to the reader with your article, it is best to use short, simple sentences in the form of a statement. The maximum number of words differs per newspaper, but for a letter or article submitted it is usually around 750.
   • Most newspapers make some changes to your article during final editing, but in principle they do not change the tone, style and opinion of the text. Of course, that does not mean that you can send a very long text to the newspaper and expect the editors to summarize it in their own way. Most newspapers immediately throw an article that is longer than the specified maximum number of words in the trash.
3. Don't spend time coming up with a title. You can assume that the newspaper will come up with a title for your article, even if you already send a title yourself. So you don't have to spend time coming up with a title.
4. Include a biography. To appear credible, it is a good idea to include a short biography about yourself explaining your relationship with the subject. Also include your telephone number, email and postal address.
   • An example of a short biography accompanying the article on the library: John Smith has a degree in Political Science and a postgraduate course in Creative Writing. He is an avid reader himself and has lived in the city where the library is located all his life.
5. If you have any, also include graphs, photos or other images. In the past, newspapers usually did not place images with submitted articles. But newspapers and magazines are also published online, most newspapers and magazines are more than happy to accept photos, videos and other illustrative material with your article. Mention in your first email that you have images with your article or scan the images and send them directly with your article.
6. Check with the newspaper which rules apply to submitted articles. The way in which you must submit your article and which information you must add differs per newspaper. Look it up on the newspaper's website, or check the opinion page of the printed newspaper to see what rules apply to the submission of letters or articles. Today, most newspapers only receive letters or articles sent in by email.
7. Let us hear from you. Don't get discouraged if you don't get an answer right away. Send an email or call the newspaper a week after submitting your article to ask if it has arrived. News editors are known to be always busy, and if your article just arrived at the wrong time, they may have missed it. By calling or emailing you can also immediately get in touch with the editor, which will give you an edge over the competition.

Tips

• Of course it depends on the topic, but if it is not inappropriate you can certainly include humor or irony in your piece.
• If you are dealing with a national or international topic, do not limit yourself to one newspaper or magazine, but send your article to several editors.