How to Write an Op-Ed: 8 Tips for Writing and Pitching Your Opinion Articles

If you have an interesting opinion that you can share in a persuasive and compelling manner, you might be able to reach millions of people and change some minds (and perhaps even policies!).

Writing an op-ed is a great way to share your opinions and build your authority as a writer, especially if you can manage to get your work into a major newspaper or publication.

What Is Op-Ed Writing?

The term op-ed is short for “opposite the editorial page,” or “opinions and editorials page,” which is a section found in many newspapers and magazines.

An op-ed piece expresses the opinion of a writer, usually one who is not directly affiliated with the publication. They tend to be written by experts or people who are particularly passionate about a topic.

This distinguishes the op-ed from an editorial (when an editorial board member submits an opinion piece, mean to represent the views of the publication), and a “letter to the editor” (when a reader submits a response to a previously published article, usually to complain or present an opposing view).

How to Write an Op-Ed

Below are 8 tips for writing a strong and convincing op-ed piece.

1. Present an argument.

The first step to writing a quality op-ed is to take a stance on an issue. The whole point of an op-ed is to stand for or against something, so make sure you’re not just summarizing the details of an issue.

Before making an assertion, brainstorm topics that are current and relevant. Everyone has opinions, and you probably have quite a few, but that doesn’t mean others will find them interesting enough to read about.

Follow the news and stay up to date on current events. If you specialize in a certain area or industry, make sure you’re always in the loop. This will help you to not only think of attention-grabbing topics, but also write a better, more informed op-ed.

2. Hook your readers.

If you’ve chosen a current and relevant topic, your target audience should already have an idea of its significance and be interested enough to read it.

However, not everyone will be so familiar with your topic, so you may need to demonstrate why they should care. Show them what’s at stake, and why they need to be invested.

Your op-ed should start with an effective hook to grab readers’ attention, draw them in, and convince them that they should keep reading your piece.

You might use a brief anecdote to create a narrative hook, or open with a “news flash,” in which you briefly introduce the relevant news item or current event that your op-ed centers on.

Whichever style you choose for your hook or “lede,” be sure to keep it brief and don’t get carried away, or you may risk losing your readers’ interest. Just say enough to hook your audience, then get to work on actually making your argument. You should also place your main point at the top so readers won’t miss the most important part of your argument.

3. Present relevant evidence and data.

You’ll need evidence to support your argument, but make sure you only include the most relevant points. Time and space will be limited, so you need to be able to weed out the critical evidence from the less relevant details. Providing too much support can actually end up distracting from your main argument.

This skill will make your writing stronger and your argument more effective. And since many publications have strict word count limits, learn to make your writing more concise and efficient.

4. Prioritize logic and simplicity.

Write simply and clearly to make an appeal to logos, or logic. Contrary to popular belief, using fancy, technical language isn’t the best way to make an argument. You might make yourself sound smarter, but that won’t necessarily convince people that your argument is sound (especially if they can’t understand it!).

So rather than sounding like a professor, make simplicity your priority. Your words will resonate with more people, and not just the select group of industry insiders who are likely already familiar with your main points.

5. Acknowledge the counter-argument.

In any kind of persuasive writing, it’s important to acknowledge the “other side,” or counter-arguments.

Writers who can acknowledge where their opponents are right have more credibility in the eyes of readers. After all, no one is right (or wrong) all the time, so drilling the same points of why you’re right and the other side is wrong isn’t very appealing.

Acknowledge the strongest points of the opposing argument and address them as best you can.

6. Check your tone.

If there are specific publications you know you want to write op-eds for, make sure you read their columns regularly.

This will give you an idea of the style and material they’re looking for when it comes time to pitch your ideas, but you’ll also learn more about their typical audience and the overall tone of the publication.

You should write with your own unique voice, but try to match the tone of the other writers. Are they largely critical? Sarcastic? Reflective?

The same goes for your audience. You should know the general age range of the readers you’ll be writing for, as well as their backgrounds.

If you really want to write a piece on an issue that pertains to Millenials, for example, you probably don’t want to pitch to AARP Magazine. Likewise, if you really want to write for Vanity Fair, you should have an idea of who their average reader is and the kinds of issues they care about.

7. Keep it brief.

Most op-eds and columns are less than 1,000 words long, and you’ll likely be given a limit by the publication. This means that you’ll have to follow a clear plan for how you want to make your argument and stick with it. Don’t get carried away or sidetracked.

Creating an outline can be very helpful for staying on track, and it also ensures you won’t forget to mention any key points.

When it comes to the structure of your article, always opt for short, simple sentences and brief paragraphs. This makes the information easier to digest, and the article as a whole easier to skim. As Pythagoras once said, “Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.”

8. End with a call to action or unifying statement.

Whenever possible, try to end your op-ed by looking forward. This means encouraging your readers to look to the future and consider the impact of what you’ve argued for (or against), and if relevant, include a call to action.

What do you want your readers to take away from this piece? What do you hope they will do as a result of reading your article?

If you opened your op-ed with an anecdote, you should also try to tie that narrative back into your conclusion (to bring things “full-circle”).

How Do You Pitch an Op Ed?

So now that we’ve covered the basics of writing an effective op-ed, it’s time to talk about how you’ll get those words in print.

The following tips will help you create a successful pitch and find a home for your opinions:

Find the right fit. First, make sure you’ve taken some time to research the best publications for your writing style and the topics you wish to discuss. Otherwise, you’ll just be wasting your time taking shots in the dark (and also wasting the time of the editors). If there’s a publication you really want to write for, check out their op-ed section and see what kind of content they usually publish.

Cut to the chase. Editors are busy people, so keep your pitch as short as possible while capturing their attention. Briefly summarize your main idea, and explain who you are and why you’re qualified to write the piece.

Don’t include attachments. Unless otherwise stated in their guidelines, you should paste your article directly into the message. Check for proper paragraph breaks, hyperlinks, and other formatting issues. This will save editors the time (and often trouble) of trying to download and perhaps convert your material just to read what you’ve pitched.

Follow submission guidelines. When submitting any kind of work for consideration, always follow the guidelines to a tee. Failure to follow even the smallest of details could result in your pitch being thrown out entirely before an editor can read your work.

Follow up. Like we said, editors are generally busy people, and there’s a good chance your first attempt fell through the cracks of their swamped inbox. If your article is time-sensitive (urgent) send a follow-up email after 24 hours; otherwise, wait 3–5 days.

Is an Op Ed an Opinion Piece?

An op ed is a type of opinion piece. It is different from editorials and letters to the editor because it is not written by a member of the publication’s staff, nor a casual reader responding to a past article, but rather an unaffiliated writer who has a unique perspective or expertise in a given area.

Proper Spelling of Op-Ed

According to Merriam-Webster, the proper spelling is op-ed (hyphenated). However, it is sometimes misspelled as op ed (not hyphenated).

Op-Ed Tips

If you want to use your writing skills to speak up and share your views, writing an op-ed is a great way to do so.

By following the tips above for effective, persuasive writing, you can build expand your writing resume, build your authority, and successfully pitch op-eds that will get people talking.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

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