Write an Op-Ed Like a Pro: Expert Tips and Tricks
Why The World Needs Your Idea
The business of the government did not stop during COVID. School boards still met. City councils and state legislatures still met. Congress sometimes met. Elected and appointed decisionmakers got up each day and still made decisions on your behalf. Did you have a voice?
It may seem worrisome that we as a society have lost sight of the necessity of argument, science, and evidence, but if you turn to the op-ed pages of publications you’ll find plenty of people making their voice heard.
Op-eds are a powerful way to share your thoughts and opinions on subject matter that is important to you. Whether it’s politics, social issues, or current events, op-eds provide a platform for individuals to voice their perspectives and ideas. To write an effective op-ed, it’s important to have a clear argument or thesis statement, support your claims with evidence and examples, and engage the reader with strong writing and a compelling narrative. By sharing your unique perspective on subject matter that matters to you, you can make a difference in shaping public discourse and promoting change.
Op-eds are an effective way of expressing opinions and sparking discussions on important topics. They provide a platform for writers to share their thoughts and ideas with a wider audience, while also encouraging critical thinking and debate. Writing an op-ed requires careful planning and research, as well as the ability to present arguments in a clear and concise manner. A successful piece of writing should be thought-provoking, engaging, and well-supported by evidence. Whether writing for oneself or on behalf of someone else, the key is to focus on the issues that matter most and present them in a persuasive and compelling way to media outlets.
Op-eds are an important way to share your opinion on a particular topic. When writing an op-ed, it is important to keep in mind that opinion editors are looking for articles that provide a fresh perspective on the issue at hand. While it is essential to back up your opinion with credible sources and well-organized information, editors also appreciate a touch of humor and fun. A good op-ed should present a valid argument that challenges conventional wisdom and offers new information and insights into the topic. So, take your time, do your research, and craft an opinion piece that will make a lasting impact on your readers.
An op-ed is a powerful tool for expressing one’s views and influencing public opinion. However, writing an effective op-ed requires more than just having a strong opinion. To help ensure your piece is well-received and impactful, it’s important to follow a checklist of key elements. This checklist might include having a clear thesis statement, providing evidence to support your argument, acknowledging counterarguments, and using persuasive language. By following these guidelines, you can increase the chances that your op-ed will resonate with readers and have a meaningful impact on the issues you care about.
Why write an Op-Ed?
COVID cut down the number of in-person events where we could debate ideas. Videoconferences are poor substitutes for the moments when we could teach, debate, and learn, from one another. Social media posts only travel so far as the self-curated-echo-chamber algorithms allow them to. However, a well-thought-out op-ed will endure beyond a screen full of half-muted conversations and fleeting attention spans.
An op-ed can…
- Introduce ideas to readers who had not previously considered your perspective
- Increase your credibility and authority
- Spread your message across the platforms of publications with far greater reach than your social media feed or email list
- Bring more followers to your cause
- Raise awareness for your mission, your nonprofit, your company, or your candidacy
- Start a conversation in your community with like-minded people and decisionmakers
- Influence the decisions affecting your life and that of your family and friends
What is an op-ed vs. an opinion piece or letter to the editor? (the actual meaning of op-ed)
The principles in this guide are applicable to any of the above types of opinion pieces. Op-eds are traditionally found in newspapers — the term is a holdover from when print newspapers would print opinions “opposing the editorial page.” But online media has changed what a newspaper or magazine can be, so for the purposes of this guide, I’ll use “op-ed” and “opinion piece” interchangeably throughout. Other synonyms you may run into with any publication include “guest view,” “guest voices,” “guest opinions,” you get the idea.
Letters to the editor are typically much shorter than any op-ed or opinion piece (usually 50 or 100 words) and often run in newspapers. Follow the same guidelines here but condense them down. You get to make one point and the more emphatic you can be the better.
The principles in this guide can help you whether it’s for an op-ed in your local newspaper or national publication; an opinion piece for a solely-online publication or blog; a quick letter to the editor…
But who am I to suggest my op-ed for submission?
Who are you not to write one?
Op-eds are not relegated to the multi-degreed professors, authors, and “important idea people.”
Any of the following qualify you to write an op-ed:
- You have a lived experience whose voice is missing from a current debate or question
- You have discovered something interesting about how the world works
- You have your own take on a solution to a common debate or problem in the world
- You have an opinion or idea contrary to what most think is the right course
Ultimately, timing matters: Your experience, discovery, or opinion, must be timely and tie into a current issue covered by the publication to which you are submitting
How do you write an opinion piece with a strong thesis? Why this guide and what will you get out of it?
By the end of this guide, you will have all the tools necessary to pitch an op-ed, write it well, and get it published.
You will learn:
- How to pitch your piece and how to stay in bounds for what the editors of a publication expect
- A straightforward approach to writing and organizing your piece: Hook, Teach, Ask
- How to deconstruct great op-eds and model them for your piece
- Step-by-step instructions from brainstorming to writing to editing to publishing
- How to troubleshoot common mistakes that prevent publication
- What to do with your opinion piece after it’s been published
How this guide is different from others out there:
There are some incredible pieces of advice if you just google “how to write an op-ed” but this guide is going to stick closely to what we can learn from the examples of op-eds and opinion pieces already published. You’ll discover that there are seldom strict rules and instead guidelines to follow. Each publication will have its own rules for what it accepts but beyond those, it’s about following principles rather than rigid rules.
A bit about me — Eddie Rice: I am a freelance ghostwriter who loves to help leaders tell better stories through speeches, op-eds, guest posts, podcasts, and media appearances. I have worked with business leaders, nonprofit executives, political candidates, and association presidents.
Objective 1: Learn what the best op-eds do and how to reverse engineer paragraphs in great op eds to get inspired for topic ideas and structure
Overview: What do the best op-eds do?
The best op-eds and opinion pieces teach. Sure, some argue, some demand, but if you approach your piece as an opportunity to teach you will have a better chance of changing minds and effecting change.
You can teach through history, through anecdotes, through personal testimony, through well-chosen statistics, through research, through envisioning likely implications, through showing the shortcomings of an argument, through any method that helps the reader better understand your perspective.
In today’s world, jargon is everywhere. It’s used in industries from tech to finance and can be intimidating for those who aren’t familiar with it. However, when writing an op-ed, it’s important to avoid jargon as much as possible. Using plain language allows readers to better understand your argument and engage with your ideas. While jargon may serve a purpose in certain contexts, it can often obfuscate or cloud your message instead of clarifying it. So let’s keep it simple and speak to our readers in clear, concise terms that everyone can understand.
Alternatively, the best op-eds are not infomercials for the organization, company, book, or candidacy, you represent. Sure, you can draw attention indirectly to what you are doing in your work but the end goal of your opinion piece is to teach the reader something new about a current issue.
The OpEd project is an initiative that aims to increase the voices of underrepresented groups in op-ed writing. It seeks to address the lack of diversity in opinion pieces published in mainstream media by providing training, resources, and support to individuals from marginalized communities. The project recognizes the power of op-eds to shape public discourse and influence policy decisions. By amplifying diverse perspectives, the OpEd project helps ensure that important issues are not overlooked or misrepresented. As a society, we need to value and prioritize diverse voices in op-ed writing, and initiatives like the OpEd project play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
How to use the op-ed examples: Reverse engineer great writing
As you read these and those of the publication where you will submit your piece, ask the following questions to figure out how the author put their piece together:
- What was the author’s overall main point or “ask” of the reader?
- What type of evidence did the author use? Rather than focus specifically on what was said, how did the author make their case? Imagine they were a lawyer or investigative journalist, how did they put together their case? Was it mostly an emotional appeal, a logical fact-based one, or some mix?
- What made you want to keep reading? What happened in the first paragraph that made you say, “This is worth my time to keep reading?”
- In the middle, what did the author do to convince you they were right? How much time did they spend on their opinion? Did they ever address opposing viewpoints? Some op-eds and opinion pieces don’t (which is OK depending on the subject).
- How did the author close? Was your mind changed in the end? Was that the author’s objective? Did you gain a new perspective? Did you already agree with the author and have your views confirmed? Did you want to find out more about the author and their cause?
- Why do you think the op-ed/opinion piece was published at that moment? What was going on in the world at the time to make the piece timely? Reading past op-eds can give us a sense of what issues mattered at that moment to that publication’s readers.
Objective 2: Learn the Hook, Teach, Ask Method, see how it applies to three effective op eds, and start brainstorming ideas for your piece.
Op-ed format: Hook, Teach, Ask — the method explained
One method that helps with organizing an op-ed is “Hook, Teach, Ask.” This method will help you organize your thoughts and the eventual piece itself. We’ll get into the specifics of each portion later on in the guide when you’re ready to write the piece.
Hook: Begin in a way that grabs the reader and makes them want to read more. This is also your opportunity to layout the main themes and question you’ll be exploring. Some ways to hook your reader: Declarative sentences, hypothetical situations, surprising statements and quotations, stories and vignettes, recreated conversations — anything that will make a reader stop scrolling and say, “This sounds interesting, I want to find out more.”
Teach: The main body of your op-ed should be devoted to teaching your point of view. Use historical examples, vignettes, personal testimony, statistics, research findings; you can also take this opportunity to explain your background and why you’re writing this piece.
Ask: Have a clear ask ready at the end. It could be as general as advocating for something like registering to vote or eating less meat; it could be as specific as urging the passage or defeat of specific legislation.
The final paragraph of an op-ed is crucial in leaving a lasting impression on the reader. It should effectively summarize your argument and reiterate your stance on the issue. Additionally, it can serve as a call to action, encouraging others to take steps towards making a positive change. By crafting a strong final paragraph, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on your readers and inspire them to take action. So, be sure to give it the attention it deserves!
3 Op-Ed Articles to Learn From:
A few op-eds that follow this model with the parts outlined (click each one to read in full):
A Murder Case Tests Alexa’s Devotion to Your Privacy by Gerald Sauer
“Think of the assistants like really smart dogs. They’re always ready to react to specific commands. Also like a really smart dog, they can remember those commands forever. And this concept of an always-on, always-connected, always-remembering listening device is where it gets intriguing.”
What I love about it:
- The author builds his case through historical examples, legal examples, and current news.
- It takes one issue — the use of voice data collected by law enforcement via the Echo — and raises a larger one, “but the company has failed to address the real problem: Why is all that data just sitting in Amazon’s servers in the first place?”
- The author uses realistic hypothetical examples to demonstrate that the problems raised are plausible — how often do we hear people bring up improbable implications instead?
Hook: Sauer starts off with a declarative sentence, “THE AMAZON ECHO can seem like your best friend — until it betrays you.” In one sentence, you have the opinion piece summed up with the major themes. If you can’t think of such a sentence immediately, write your entire piece and then figure out what the opening sentence should be based on the rest of the piece.
Teach: Sauer uses history, legal examples, descriptions of current digital assistants beyond the Echo, analogous cases with smartphones and other listening devices, and reasonable hypothetical examples — all to teach us of the dangers of these wonderful assistants
Ask: Rather than a specific call-to-action such as “go vote,” it’s more of a consumer beware, “Millions of people are putting digital assistants in their lives with no clue about the potential havoc this Trojan horse could bring. Based on what Amazon and Google say about their devices, everyone needs to recognize the unresolved legal issues involving this new technology. Beware of who, or what, is listening.”
Questions to think about:
- Can you take one issue a current news story presents and demonstrate that it raises a larger one?
- What other technologies in our lives do we take for granted where we are trading privacy (or safety or some other value) for convenience?
- If you are arguing that a course of action should not be adopted (such as the passage of a law) can you create believable hypothetical scenarios that show those effects?
It’s Time to Talk About Death by Sunita Puri, M.D.
“Americans are not good at talking about death. But we need to be prepared for when, not if, illness will strike. The coronavirus is accelerating this need.”
- The author sets the scene as if you were there — you can experience what she has experienced in end-of-life discussions
- The Ask at the end is incredibly detailed and specific — a reader can walk away knowing what to do and say in these situations
- It’s a great example of the right profession, the current issue (COVID), and larger issues (end of life, limited healthcare resources) all coming together in one piece. Timing is crucial with many op-eds and this one demonstrates how all three parts come together for a piece published in the NY Times
- You get an insight into the author’s own discussions with her parents on the issue of end-of-life decisions
Hook: Dr. Puri opens with a scene where she brings the reader into one of the discussions she had with numerous patients — replete with dialogue and description — as if we were reading a novel.
Teach: The author gives us her own advice on end-of-life discussions and then relates a personal story of having those same discussions with her parents.
Ask: This ask, as opposed to the one in the Wired piece, is a series of questions that provide a guide for the type of questions a person should be asking their parents and loved ones about end-of-life decisions. Relevant 3rd party resources are also given.
- Is there a way to demonstrate that your perspective, a current issue, and a larger “life” issue, can all come together for the piece you’re writing? Are you someone earning a minimum wage and there’s an issue on the ballot to raise it? Can you also discuss what it means to be able to have a comfortable life?
- If you’re an author, can the work you’ve done for a book be repurposed into an op-ed such as done here? Do you have something that directly bears on a current situation or issue?
- Can you share a piece of your own life as relevant to the issue? Can you recreate those scenes as if we were reading a scene from your autobiography?
- In offering your own advice, are there 3rd party organizations and sources that you could amplify as well?
I’m a Developer. I Won’t Teach My Kids to Code, and Neither Should You. by Joe Morgan
“There are no books that teach you how to solve a problem no one has seen before. This is why I don’t want my kids to learn syntax. I want them to learn to solve problems, to dive deep into an issue, to be creative. So how do we teach that?”
- It combines the author’s own experience with parenting, his career, and argues against a current trend (teaching kids to code)
- It’s nuanced — it’s not necessarily against coding but showing that learning syntax is not the same as the overall skill of computer programming
- He addresses the argument for teaching kids to code but shows its limitations by demonstrating that knowledge of Java or C++ isn’t the same as understanding the overall philosophy of coding
- The author uses a mix of stories from his own life (servers crashing) but also of problem-solving with his son (fixing a wobbly chair, making sugar cookies) to make his case that learning syntax is not the same as problem-solving
- The author focuses on the question, “Should we teach all kids to code?” but then raises it to the larger issue about fostering creativity.
Hook: The hook is the subject of the op-ed itself — why would a coder not want to teach his kids to code? The opening paragraph sets the stage for a current debate: Why is it assumed that we should be teaching young kids the syntax of programming languages?
Teach: The author uses stories from his own life as a developer where he demonstrates that simply knowing the syntax of code isn’t enough — you need to have problem-solving skills, too. He then demonstrates that in action as he relates stories of teaching problem-solving and applying algorithms to fixing wobbly chairs and baking sugar cookies with his kid.
Ask: He heightens the debate to the larger issue of teaching kids creativity and implies that’s what we should be doing instead of just teaching the syntax of programming languages.
“But you’re not only teaching them that. You’re teaching them the world is full of interesting things to discover. You’re showing them how to be passionate and look for that ephemeral sense of quality in everything they do. The best part is that even if they don’t become coders — most shouldn’t and won’t — the same skills can be used in nearly any career, in every hobby, in every life. When we force kids to learn syntax, we reinforce the idea that if something is not a blatantly employable skill, it’s not valuable. Adults can learn syntax. Only kids can learn to embrace curiosity.”
Questions to ask yourself:
- Can your perspective as a parent (or not a parent) give a perspective to an ongoing debate?
- Can you take a contrary view towards what people might expect of you because of your profession, group identity, or way of life?
- Does a current debate rest on a faulty assumption? Can you demonstrate that through evidence or your own experience?
- Are there stories from your own life that directly and indirectly prove your point that you could tell?
- What larger issue is a current question or debate getting at? How do you add to that conversation?
This next part of the guide will guide you through the initial ideas and pitch to draft to publication. Have a doc open where you can start generating notes and ideas for your piece.
Do now: Based on the lessons above, what are some of your initial ideas for your piece? How will you make your case?
Objective 3: Determine your topic, target publication, and the initial pitch
Where to Start: The Pitch, The Publication, and the Angle
Before you write, you want to have a clear idea of your topic, your main point, and where you want to see your piece published. Getting this all straightened out ahead of time will give you the parameters in which to write. Publications have different word limits, different tones, and styles, and cover some topics more than others — knowing this information now will prevent the need to massively rewrite portions later on. Additionally, it’s important to consider your audience, as the average reader is not going to be an expert. It’s up to you to capture their attention with a strong, well-written piece.
When it comes to writing an op-ed, the best way to effectively convey your message is through a clear and concise argument. Start by stating your main point in the opening paragraph and then provide evidence to support your claim. Use real-life examples and facts to back up your argument and make it relatable to your readers. Remember that you are trying to persuade others to see things from your point of view, so be respectful and avoid making personal attacks. Finally, end with a strong conclusion that summarizes your argument and leaves a lasting impression on the reader and includes your byline.
Topic and angle first or publication first? A debate
You can read this section in the following way: Figure out your topic and angle and then find the best publication for it.
Or, you know you want to submit to a particular publication (or they’ve asked you to) — both ways can work.
If it’s the latter, read the most recent 10 opinion pieces of the publication to get a feel for the topics and angles their authors covered and ask yourself how your piece will fit in with them (or stick out well).
Deciding your topic and angle:
The very first question any editor is going to ask is “Is your issue timely?”
Most opinion pieces that rise to the top tie into a timely news issue. They connect the author’s experience or argument into an issue of concern for that publication.
Ask yourself, “Would my topic be likely printed tomorrow if I submitted it today?” Look for the stories that the publication is currently covering and ask yourself how your view ties in with them.
Timeliness includes any connection to the following:
- A current issue in the news
- A holiday, a commemorative anniversary, the birth or passing of a notable figure, an industry day/month (e.g. National Solar Power month)
- An event getting attention — e.g. a presidential debate, the release of a controversial movie, a sports championship, a conflict breaking out
- An offensive remark made by someone notable
Another note on timeliness:
Take note of important dates in the calendar such as when budgets are passed, key votes are taken, upcoming elections, product announcements, important events. You may be able to prepare a draft of your piece way in advance and fill in the relevant details as the event draws near. You might not know the exact date something will happen (like a product announcement) but you can do the majority of the work and then add in the details once it happens.
Sometimes you may not know the outcome of an event but you want to be ready to submit your piece to a publication for immediate publication such as in the case of an election. Write a piece for each outcome and tweak as necessary if new details emerge.
One method to decide what to write about is to answer the following questions (Go ahead and answer them in your open doc):
- Why you?
- Why now?
- Why this topic?
- What can you add?
A second method is called the Headline or Title Method. Look at other op-eds and follow their angle as a model.
The publication may end up choosing the title for your piece but you can give it a title ahead of time as a way to help figure out what angle you want to take on your given topic. Examples are easier. Submitting your own headline with the op-ed can increase the chances of it being used and should hook readers right away as they scan the newspaper. The following is a list of op-eds and the type of angle that their author took on the topic.
As you read through each title and its angle, brainstorm possible titles for the angle you want to take for your piece. These are not hard and fast rules but it seems as though these angles appear in pieces across multiple publications.
Angle 1: I participated in a significant event and here’s what I learned about this key issue.
A man I found guilty of dealing drugs died in prison. I wish I could take that verdict back.
Angle 2: As part of a profession, I witness the following in my job and it tells us about a key issue by…
What’s the last song you want to hear before you die?
Angle 3: I am a part of <insert group of people> and I believe differently than the majority or stereotyped picture painted by the media.
Why I’m OK with my kids “falling behind” in school during the pandemic
Angle 4: How I changed my mind about…
How I changed my mind on ‘Medicare For All’
Angle 5: I discovered something interesting and here’s what it means for this key issue
A Blackjack Pro Explains How Ignoring the Odds Cost the Falcons the Super Bowl
Angle 6: Celebrating this holiday means for me or a cause/group I represent…
“My Mexican American family never celebrated Día de Muertos. Then Abuela died.”
Angle 7: I am a (local example) of a (national/international issue)
Cameron Kasky, Parkland student: My generation won’t stand for this
Angle 8: This event happening right now is a model for…
Opinion: You Can Learn Something From The People Of Wuhan
Angle 9: This new technology/new law/new idea will have serious repercussions for this key issue
How Tinder wrecked my mental health
Angle 10: If this course of action is taken, it will positively/negatively affect…
Can Boston be the hub of the start-up universe?
Angle 11: A current law or practice isn’t working or is flat out wrong:
The Qualifications Of Black Life: Why It’s Necessary To Do Away With Qualified Immunity
Angle 12: Condemning or praising a person/group/organization in the spotlight
Working At The Amazon Warehouse Was Always Painful. Now It’s Terrifying.
Angle 13: What you think about this current issue isn’t true (or worse than you thought)
Don’t defend the cowards who abuse the Second Amendment
Angle 14: This person’s life can teach us about…this key issue
Jonathan Wackrow, former Secret Service agent: Barbara Bush’s code name was absolutely perfect
Angle 15: This part of history can help us understand this key issue in the present
The disappearing story of the black homesteaders who pioneered the West
Angle 16: Something happened, why is it being ignored?
“Please, President Trump, shed light on my fiance’s disappearance”
Angle 17: Here’s what your offensive statement means…
How not to talk to someone with depression
Angle 18: Rehabilitating your reputation
“The president attacked my reputation. It’s time to set the record straight.”
Angle 19: Advocating for change or a particular course of action
“Drivers, help us cyclists get home alive”
Angle 20: This holiday means…
Angle 21: I can no longer support this person, group, or company, because…
“I can no longer justify being a part of Trump’s ‘Complacent State.’ So I’m resigning.”
There are many more ways to phrase ways to give your opinion but in the examples above, you can see a few patterns forming:
- The author is offering a lived perspective on a key issue
- The author is warning of the dangers of new technology, law, course of action, or current view.
- The author is pushing back against the common view of an issue or how they themselves are viewed by the media
- The author is using their voice to raise awareness for a person, group, problem, or perspective, overlooked in the current conversation
A few more brainstorming ideas if you’re having trouble coming up with an idea or angle:
- Take a recent speech, social media post, newsletter, or any other piece you’ve created, and repurpose it as an op-ed.
- Talk it out with someone or alone with a recording app on your phone — just start coming up with various ideas and see where your voice leads you.
Do Now: Use one of the angles above or one from an op-ed that you want to model and give your op-ed a title as a way to brainstorm your topic and angle. Try different angles to see if they also spark ways in which you can write your piece.
Before you start writing, determine the publication where you want to pitch your piece.
Pitching: The explicit and implicit expectations of publications and editors
When the word “op-ed” is used, most of us immediately think of our local newspaper or one of the major publications with a national readership (NY Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal). Those are all fantastic starting places if you have an issue of regional or national importance.
However, many blogs and online-only magazines have space for guest views. Trade publications in your industry along with those of professional and civic groups often have room for guest views, too. Editors are hungry for content as long as it fits within their publication’s guidelines.
When determining where to pitch, ask the following:
- How many of my ideal readers will read my piece in this publication?
- Do my topic and angle fit within the ideas typically covered by this publication?
It may turn out that a niche publication might be a better place than one with a wide readership.
If you’re having trouble finding an ideal piece, try googling some form of “Your general topic” followed by “guest post,” “submit an opinion,” “guest view,” etc.
Example:
Food allergies guest post
Education submit opinion
Free-range parenting guest view
One caveat in doing this: If a publication has already covered that topic it may be some time before they cover it again unless you can give a different take.
So why worry about pitching before writing?
Well, publications have explicit and implicit requirements for the pieces they accept. Plus, it’s a best practice to submit your piece or pitch to one at a time.
Once you have your publication, look first for their explicit rules on guest submissions. Usually, there will be a link at the end of guest posts, sometimes it’s on the Contact page, other times they’ll have an explicit link in the footer of their site. If all else fails, you can email the editor overseeing guest submissions or the blog for rules and contact information.
Take a look here at the New York Times vs. BuzzFeed News:
BuzzFeed Reader: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rachelysanders/how-to-pitch-essays-to-buzzfeed-reader
A few highlights:
New York Times: how to write an op-ed nyt
Washington Post: How to
how to write an op-ed for washington post
Explicit Rules: Take note of the following before you write your piece:
- Does the publication want you to pitch an idea for a piece or for you to submit the whole thing? Some that are pressed for time want the latter as they can’t go back and forth on an appropriate topic.
- Word count — pay very special attention to this. Yes, most traditional op-eds are around 600 words but the publication will almost always spell this out.
- Topics considered for publication
- To whom do you submit your piece? What format? Does it need to be in the body of an email or is an attachment OK?
- The time when you should hear back — once that has expired, it’s OK to submit to another publication
- Payment — sometimes explicit and sometimes not.
Implicit Rules: You won’t find these in the guidelines of publications but these are the unstated rules that the publication follows. Figure them out by reading the past 10 opinion pieces.
As you read ask yourself the following questions:
- Is there an ideological range that this publication subscribes to? Everyone has a bias, and no, there are very few places where *all* views are published. Each publication will have a certain way that it views the world and will publish pieces according to it. Some will say that they want “contrary” views but then somehow they only seem to print views that are in line with a particular viewpoint. Know this ahead of time to ensure your piece will be well-received and that you have the right readership for your piece.
- What is the voice, tone, and style, accepted by the publication? Are most opinion pieces in this publication conversational, academic, lecturing, balanced, strident, etc.?
- Have certain topics been covered recently where you’ll be seen as repeating something already said?
- How do the authors typically make their points? Are the opinion pieces strongly driven by narrative and emotional appeal, or, are they more logical and fact-based?
- Can you see your essay getting published as the next one in this publication? Would it look out of place or would it be welcomed in?
Recap:
By now, you should have the following in your doc:
- Your topic, angle, and potential title
- Your target publication and its rules for submitting
Forming your pitch: In most cases, you’ll submit a pitch to an editor rather than the whole piece. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Apply Hook, Teach, Ask, to your pitch.
- -Give a one-sentence overview of your topic, explain why you are qualified to speak on it, a general idea of how you’ll teach it, and then ask if this will work for their publication.
Example: To a regional newspaper: The state legislature is about to vote on raising the minimum wage. As a small-business owner, I’d like to show why I am in fact for this rather than against it like so many of my colleagues. My goal is to demonstrate that when my employees can make more they are happier, more productive and that there are ways for small business owners like myself to make the numbers work on our end. With the vote happening next month, I’d like to submit my piece in advance of our legislators voting on it.
2. Be nice when you follow up if you don’t hear anything — if their rules don’t state it, waiting 3–5 business days is OK.
3. Do not submit to more than one publication at a time. Wait whatever their time limit is and go on from there.
Readers and editors will want to know why you for a particular issue — that is, what is your authority to write on this piece? This doesn’t mean your degrees (but it can) but consider any of the following ways to demonstrate that you are the right person to take on your issue:
- You have done original research on the issue
- You have lived an experience that the current debate overlooks
- You were at an event being covered by the media and want to give your perspective on what the event itself and/or your participation means
- You are providing a contrary point of view to something commonly held (or perceived)
- You can demonstrate that a current controversial policy or solution is working or is not
- Your profession, or an experience, at your job can shed light on a larger issue
- Your participation in an event, group, tradition, can help the readers better understand an ongoing issue.
So let’s start writing
Step 2: Begin with the end in mind — who is your ideal reader, what point do you want to make, and what is your ask?
Now that you have your angle, rather than writing the Teach and the Hook part, consider first the Ask. What do you want to build towards in the end?
Do you want your readers to join your cause if you represent a mission-focused group?
Do you want a particular law to change? A bill defeated or passed?
Do you simply want someone to have changed their mind after hearing your perspective?
You can get incredibly prescriptive such as this one in the NY Times on end-of-life conversations:
By starting with the ending in mind, you will be able to build the rest of the op-ed towards this conclusion. It’s OK if in the course of writing you determine that a new ask is needed based on your arguments. But argue to one conclusive ending as you’ll only have 600 words or so.
Additionally, authors often take their conclusion as an opportunity to tie their piece to an even larger theme to make their point. Their op-ed centers around one debate but then they tie into something larger.
Here are some conclusions as examples:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/opinions/florida-shooting-no-more-opinion-kasky/index.html
I’m just a high school student, and I do not pretend to have all of the answers. However, even in my position, I can see that there is desperate need for change — change that starts by folks showing up to the polls and voting all those individuals who are in the back pockets of gun lobbyists out of office.
Please do it for me. Do it for my fellow classmates. We can’t vote, but you can, so make it count.
I am a human. Not a machine.
I learned that the New York City Council is considering legislation that would require big corporations like Amazon to pay extra during this crisis to compensate us for the increased risks we are taking on and make it harder for them to fire us on a whim. Going to work is a health hazard during this crisis, but we need the money, and people need to get the supplies we are sorting. A bit more pay and some job security would ease a lot of stress. They say we are essential, but Amazon treats us like we’re expendable.
Drivers, first and foremost, need to obey the rules, especially as the number of cyclists grows. If there is a next time, I doubt I will be as lucky. Cyclists count on drivers to make it home again alive.
Do Now:
What is the conclusion you want to reach with this piece? What larger themes does your piece tie into?
How do you want your reader’s mind to have changed by the end?
What do you want your reader to do after reading your piece?
Step 3: How will you teach your reader your point of view?
The central part of an op-ed is how it teaches its readers the author’s point of view and perspective.
Many times, the teaching portion features a story but not always and not always that of the author. However, the personal narrative is quite helpful across many. Story and narratives dominate this list for good reason: they are most likely to hold the attention of readers and have been shown to be more memorable than statistics and factual arguments. Look for a way to balance if needed to lend credibility to your argument by balancing emotion and logic to make your point.
Depending on how much space you have, you can use a combination depending on what fits for the tone and overall point of the piece.
- A story that happened to you
- The story of another person/group
- The story of research
- Well-chosen statistics/research report findings
- Likely implications if a course of action is taken or not taken
- History
- Quotations
- News reporting
- Pictures, graphs, and charts — submit these along with the piece if you feel they will help illustrate a key point.
Do you need to address an opponent’s viewpoint or argument?
For some pieces, this will be expected if you are responding to the views of someone else or directly trying to refute an argument you find lacking. However, the opinion piece is your piece— anyone with a differing viewpoint can submit their side. It is not your job to make their argument for them and devote precious space to their side. This is especially true in arguments where sides of issues are given disproportionate attention even when the facts and arguments are overwhelmingly against them. It’s up to you and the publication publishing your piece for the tac you’ll take.
Do now: Write out the portion of your piece where you teach your point of view. See what works from all of the methods above and any others that you would use to teach people your point of view. Imagine you were having a conversation with an open-minded person at a party or over email, how would you make your point to that person?
Step 4: How to start your op-ed to hook the reader’s attention to keep on reading?
Now that you have a strong ask and a case to be made, it’s time to create the hook that will lead readers to the rest of your op-ed.
The first sentence of your op-ed should be where you spend the most time to hook the reader. Typically, a strong declarative sentence will do the trick. It should be immediately apparent what the rest of the piece is about or at least enough to get the reader to keep on reading. Other methods to hook the reader: A surprising statistic or sentence; a hypothetical posed to the reader; recreated dialogue; setting a scene like in a novel; a rhetorical question; a vignette from your life; a story from history
Your hook is typically your first paragraph. It can go to a second if needed. Here is what you’ll need to achieve:
- You’ve hooked the reader
- You’ve tied your piece to a timely news item
- An editor or reader, just by reading your first paragraph can tell the major themes and ideas in the rest of the piece
Let’s look at a few opening hooks:
If being born into Generation X ever gave me anything, it has been a lifetime of training in lowered expectations. And as we chaotically hurtle toward the start of a new school year in the midst of a still explosive health crisis, my slacker parenting technique has never been stronger.
Earlier this week, the New York Times ran a feature on a now all-too-familiar theme. “Worried your kid is falling behind?” the headline blared. “You’re not alone.” As the Times explained, “As kids start school with more online learning, parents wonder whether they’ll ever catch up. Here’s how to set them up for success.” Granted, the article advised moms — surprise, no fathers were interviewed — on “creating fun, low-key learning opportunities,” but the phrase “falling behind” nevertheless appeared three times in the body of the article.
Ever heard of Blackdom in New Mexico? Dearfield in Colorado? What about DeWitty in Nebraska? Didn’t think so. Neither had I several years ago. But they were once vibrant African American homesteading communities. Today their buildings are falling to ruin, their locations are mostly unmarked, and the achievements of their pioneers are mostly forgotten.
At Dearfield, the walls and roof of the lunchroom, once an important gathering place, have collapsed. The decaying building sits behind a chain-link fence. The substantial wood-frame house of the settlement’s founder, Oliver Toussaint Jackson, built in 1918, has been vandalized. Although listed in 1995 on the National Register of Historic Places, and despite local efforts to save it, Dearfield is undergoing demolition by neglect.
Windblown rain lashes against the hospital windows in an uncertain rhythm that seems even more unsteady as I enter the patient’s room near the nursing station. There is music in this room. Two people sit in chairs by the bed of a patient, a woman who is lying very still. I recognize the voice of Elton John coming from a tablet computer on the bedside table. He’s singing “Crocodile Rock.”
“She liked this,” says the woman’s daughter, smiling and rolling her eyes, as though to say “Elton John, really?” The dying woman’s husband glances at his daughter, then at me, and says, “We followed the advice from one of the nurses to play some music in her last few hours and days.” He smiles slightly, as if in apology for the jaunty tune ( I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will ) in this solemn setting.
What you don’t want to do:
Throat clearing: Burying the lede and the purpose for writing this op-ed; giving too much background information early on; giving your credentials and biography.
Your bio will normally be at the end of the piece. If you need to provide the reader with who you are and why you’re writing this piece, that’s typically done in the paragraph after the hook.
Do Now: Go ahead and write the opening for your piece. Try various openings. Can you open with a story? Recreated dialogue? (you don’t need exact quotes, to save space you can condense as long as you remain truthful)
Putting it all together:
Now you should have in your doc an outline or at least a first draft of each portion of your piece. It may sound disjointed at this point, so go ahead and write it from the beginning to the end in one voice to ensure each part flows together.
Op-Ed Templates:
- Hook, Teach, Ask
Intro
Your evidence and claim 1
Your evidence and claim 2
Your evidence and claim 3
Refutation of common arguments against the claims above
Conclusion and Call to action
Straight Refutation (sometimes necessary):
Intro/Hook/Lede
Opponent’s Claim 1 and why it falls short
Opponent’s Claim 2 and why it falls short
Opponent’s Claim 3 and why it falls short
Your argument or a better way of viewing the issue
Conclusion and Call to Action
Tips on writing the draft:
The First-person is OK! Op-eds and opinion pieces are your opinions so feel free to break free from a feature piece style or typical staid 3rd person objective journalistic view.
You don’t have to give digital ink to the other side. Sometimes you may need to refute an opponent’s argument but these 600 words are yours — let any opponent respond if needed. Some pieces are set up to enter into a debate while others may need to summarize the opposing point of view but other times you have a personal experience where there is no space needed for someone to call that into question. To be sure, it is important to acknowledge any flaws in your argument and address any obvious counter-arguments in order to strengthen your op-ed.
Argue the hell out of your side; teach your side well; you don’t need to hold back. The more passion, power, and determination you have the better. This piece is your point of view and moment to teach — let other submitted op-eds do the other work of responding or refuting. However, it is important to resist the temptation to prepare a point-by-point rebuttal, as it can make you look petty.
Admitting that you were wrong about a previous idea or have changed your mind on an issue is a great tack to take and the perfect basis for an op-ed. It’s persuasive to hear, “I used to support X candidate but now I’m voting for…” or “the current party is not the one I grew up with…”
Vulnerability sells when telling your personal story. If there’s a part that’s relevant where you can be vulnerable with your reader you’ll have a better chance at leaving a lasting impression than trotting out some facts that anyone could have looked up. Your story is yours and yours alone — don’t be afraid to tell it.
Use other op-eds as models. Even ones not in your subject area, find ones that you like and take apart their structure.
Giving context for your views almost always comes in the 2nd paragraph rather than the first. The first paragraph is there to invite the reader in and lay the groundwork for why you’re arguing but your background, historical context, etc. often come just after the 1st to help the reader better understand where you’re coming from.
Write in a tone appropriate for the publication you’re submitting to — go back to the exercise of reading the previous 10 opinion pieces published by that publication. Can you get away with being breezy and light as you write? Is the tone academic? Serious?
Step 5: Key questions to ask in the editing process
Once you have a draft that you love or are OK with, leave it alone for a few hours or a day to give yourself a break.
Then come back and edit it:
As you edit, ask yourself the following:
- Am I following the guidelines laid out in the top publication where I want to submit? Does this piece look similar in style, tone, and approach, to recently published opinion pieces? (“Same but different”)
- Do all parts — Hook, Teach, Ask — flow together? Is any transition needed between paragraphs?
- To make it shorter, can I replace a series of words with fewer or one that mean the same thing?
- Are parts repeating themselves? Can I cut those?
- Does my intro avoid “throat-clearing” (i.e. where too much background is provided and the lede is buried)?
- Are my claims backed up by citations and credible sources? Are those sources readily available to anyone needing to fact-check them?
- If my main mode of teaching is through facts and statistics, is there a way to add in an emotional story or narrative? Conversely, if my main mode is a personal story, is there a way to enhance it through citing statistics or facts?
- Does my piece tie into a timely news event? If not, can it be modified to do so? N.B. This may happen where you may have your central argument ready to go but nothing timely to tie it to. You can either pitch what you have and explain the situation (the editor may have an idea) or you can wait until a newsworthy moment pops up.
- Is this op-ed self-serving or will readers genuinely come away with a new perspective?
- If you choose to refute another argument, did you present it in its best light rather than worst? Ironman vs. strawman
- If my work doesn’t fit into a current trend or theme, does it touch on an evergreen topic? Birth, life, death, cultural identity, mental illness, chronic illness, parenting, taking care of parents. (find examples of these to link to)
Should you have others look over your work before submitting it to an editor?
Yes — if you have time, seek out the services of a writer or editor with a background in journalism or PR (Google is your friend). I’d be wary of friends and family unless you can trust that their eye and grammar skills will be up to par. Don’t give it to the relative who believes that everything you write is worthy of the New York Times.
Why your piece is going to get rejected:
- Problem: The topic has been covered extensively by this publication or similar ones that the readers read.
- Cure: Find a unique angle or perspective that hasn’t shown up yet
- Problem: It doesn’t tie into any timely issue
- Cure: Wait and keep it in your back pocket or revise the main argument to tie into something going in. Don’t try and force the issue but if you can tweak it just enough you’ll be OK. Alternatively, if you want to comment on breaking news, have an op-ed you can tailor to the situation prewritten. Often you’ll be able to predict events within your industry or what types of changes to the law may happen even though they may be months off from happening. Let’s say there’s an upcoming election with two candidates, you can write two op-eds, one for each outcome, and have them ready as soon as the results are tallied.
- You don’t have the authority — you might not be the best person to write the op-ed
- Cure: Pitch first and demonstrate to the editor that you do have the authority before writing the full piece. If a full piece is required in lieu of a pitch, ensure that you have stated how your background makes you qualified to write it. It doesn’t need to be tons of degrees but you need some connection that says, “OK, this person is enough of an authority to publish this.” The publication doesn’t want to look silly.
- It’s clearly a first draft — no one has the time to go back and forth with numerous grammar and spelling revisions. The first draft you write should not be the first draft that the editor sees.
- Cure: Revise and get the help of a writer with a journalism or PR background (Google is your friend); college professors in those areas are great, too.
- There were just too many submissions — sometimes this happens but if the issue is ongoing you might be considered for a later date to get published. It’s OK to ask and resubmit.
- The publication doesn’t want to appear biased — this happens more often with local papers and covering political campaigns. If you’re running for office and the paper prints your op-ed, they will probably want to hear from your opponent.
- Cure: If the race is notable, ask the paper if they would accept dueling op-eds and to reach out to your opponent (yikes, could backfire). Publish early before announcing your candidacy — ideally not the day before because that will look tricky. But if the upcoming election isn’t getting any coverage yet and there’s no buzz and you’re still undeclared and have an opinion, go for it. Alternatively, see if there are other publications that would accept your op-ed or larger ones that might not be local but where you could re-share the piece on your social media and email list. “Hey, I wrote this piece for Forbes…”
- No support for your arguments — include the links and stats that you referenced to make it easy to fact-check. A straight emotional piece may not get accepted and you may need facts or stats to back up your position (but check with what has been published in the past)
Once published, what’s next?
Share it!
Put your op-ed on your social media channels. Share the link via your email newsletter — always to the original source. Is there someone that you want to have an in-depth conversation with over the piece such as a legislator? Send it over as part of your introduction.
With online pieces, almost every publication wants their work to be shared. The exception might be if it’s behind a paywall but check with the editor if you aren’t sure.
Other tips not covered above:
Are all op-eds and opinion pieces essays?
No! The New York Times has a series of op-eds in comic form and video:
Video: America Wrote the Pandemic Playbook, Then Ignored it
If you want to go this route and have the partnerships for creative content like this, go ahead and pitch that idea to the editor.
Do all op-eds need to be serious?
Satire and comedy can make great points when done well:
Sonny Bill Williams’s thoughtless act of generosity has ruined sport for ever by Stuart Heritage
In bad taste or not, I’ll keep my Comic Sans by Joseph Epstein
What’s next to get your byline?
Find an issue you’re passionate about and your unique take on it. Pitch the idea to a publication that will welcome it. Write it up and hit “send.” Then email me and let me know how it went.
