A Guide to Writing Readers' Letters

                          

                             CONTENTS

Introduction

What Can I Write About?

Who Do I Write To?

How Do I Write It?

What Else Should I Know?

What Subjects are Best for the Beginning Letter Writer?

Examples of Published Letters.

INTRODUCTION

You might not get to give up the day job, but with a

little practice and determination you could be on to a

nice little earner writing readers' letters.

Word for word, this has to be the highest paying of

writing forms, unless of course you just happen to be one

of the world's best selling novelists with fans waiting

in all corners of the world for each and every word you

write.  Even letters as short as a dozen words are

published and highly paid for by almost every magazine

and publication you could care to name, and few

publications continue to offer the once familiar 'token'

award, in the form of humble plastic pinny or ballpoint

pen.

Star letters today are more likely to attract payments of

œ10 - œ25 for their writers - not a bad return for what

often amounts to so few words, neatly, succinctly and

grammatically entered on to a sheet of paper.

Readers' letters, despite some improvement in their

general status, are still not universally accepted as

falling within the scope of traditional writing forms. 

Fillers though, often considered mini-articles, are

viewed in an entirely different

light.  Freelance writers will far more readily admit to

submitting fillers in an attempt to boost their normal

earnings than they will to writing readers' letters. 

There exists however a means of working to both

disciplines, since a great many letters pages tend to

rely heavily on filler techniques, and so we find letters

included which are in fact dressed up versions of

anecdotes: rhymes, photograph submissions, jokes,

overheard conversations and so on, all of which arguably

belong more appropriately to the fillers section.

Almost every magazine and newspaper, of which there are

thousands in Britain alone, has a letters page, most

paying for contributions; some on set themes, others

leaving the subject matter entirely to the readers'

discretion.  Awards range from œ1 to perhaps today's

highest award - (with the exception of prize letter

writing competitions) - the Readers' Digest œ150.

Because potential rewards are so high, many freelance

writers channel their entire efforts into providing text

for the letters pages, many making a handsome living for

themselves by doing so.  A sustained degree of success

demands that the writer pays great attention to each and

every letter, to the words chosen, the topic selected,

target publication, length, and the style of writing. 

The end result is 'polished' carefully before being

written or typed onto the best stationery at the writer's

disposal.  All of this though, for the determined letter

writer, is of little consequence until a preliminary,

careful and rigorous market study has been made of the

publication to which the letter will be directed.

What Can I Write About?

Look at almost any letters page and you will notice how

vast is the area of topics  forming  the basis of letters

published.  Depending upon the style and viewpoint of the

magazine or newspaper, the letters may be formal or

informal, family-originated or business/career-related,

strongly worded or humorous, even argumentative,

sometimes tame.  The importance of market study will no

doubt become evident when one considers the difference

between the tone and style of one publication's letters,

and those printed on another's pages.

For most letters' pages, that experience known as 'life'

is all that is required to find our letters selected for

regular publication.  Comments, opinions, everyday

experiences, all have their place on the majority of

paying pages.

Some editors favour comments on current affairs and

matters of concern to the general public; others lean

towards family anecdotes, words of wisdom from readers,

those funny things children say, and comments from older

readers on how things have changed since they were young. 

Editors quite naturally take great pride in publishing

letters that comment on articles and features from past

issues, showing of course that the magazine has a loyal,

regular readership, and allowing them too, at least in

their own minds , to favour the regular reader over the

freelance writer - not always the case, but who cares if

the cheques are forthcoming?

Your hobbies, children, home town, job, husband, feelings

and views, all can contribute to the letters you write,

and unlike many writing forms you should never even

consider it possible to run dry of things to write about.

Replies to letters published in earlier issues are

favoured by most editors, allowing readers to join one

another in agreement or dissent, and showing too that

those much-coveted regular readers are making their

presence felt.

Who do I write to?

Decide, before you even pick up your pen, to which

magazine or paper you intend to write.  Styles differ

greatly as we have already discussed, and what suits one

editor and his or her publication will prove most

unsuitable for another.  Study as many publications as

you can from the newsagent's shelves, noting in

particular the type/style/length/viewpoint and

seriousness of the letters in their pages.  Think too

just what groups constitute the publications' readership. 

Are they older, more affluent, broad-minded, even risque?

Are they concerned exclusively with particular hobbies,

careers or political persuasions?

How do I write it?

Now we must turn to the actual wording and presentation

of our letter.  It is generally accepted that we should

begin with the words: 'Dear Editor' as opposed to

addressing the intended recipient by name.

In deciding what wording shall constitute the main body

of the letter, it is always prudent to analyse carefully

those letters the editor has already chosen for a place

in the pages of his or her paper or magazine.  Remember

some publications favour short letters, some select a

sizable proportion of rhyming contributions, some like

jokes and quips, some instead choose only staid, serious

comments on the more serious aspects of life.

A letter's very beginning will very often distinguish one

chosen for publication, to that passed over for

relegation to the rubbish bin.  Some published examples

start almost with a 'headline' opening, perhaps a short

statement intended to shock or surprise, maybe just force

the reader into continuing to the letter's end, the

latter of course being our precise intention  from that

very minute we pen those words 'Dear Editor'.  If the

editor finds nothing in those first few words to prompt

him or her to continue, the readership in general will

not be even allowed an opportunity to assess the value of

the words to follow.

The very best letters tend to be, if not short, then at

least concise - straight to the point, with not a

superfluous word to spoil the rhythm and impact of what

it is the writer has to say.  The successful

correspondent will ensure that every word in his or her

letter has a part to play.

Until your letter writing becomes more fluent, write down

in full, all of those points you wish to make without

caring too much about their order or actual wording. 

When you have listed all of the points concerned, then

plan their most logical sequence within your basic

framework.  Re-read your work and if it makes sense and

is sufficiently interesting, then turn your attention to

the actual words you will use to convey your message. 

Will you for instance use a headline opening?  If you

write of your night spent in an hotel with a colourful

history, will you add greatest impact by beginning:

'In July we stayed overnight at the XXX Inn...'

or will the editor and ultimately his readers, be more

swayed to finish reading your work if you begin:

'Now I know why they call that hotel's ghost The Grey

Lady.

The very first time I saw her...!!!'

Once into the body of your letter, try cutting the

wording down to the barest minimum, whilst still

retaining the essential message with that all-important

rhythm and flow.  Delete all repetitiveness destined to

create boredom - repetition has little part to play in

short manuscripts other than to reiterate the most

important of points.

Look again at the letters published within the pages of

your target publication.  Are they captioned?  If there

is a tendency to include a short caption to the letter

then why not try providing it yourself?  It might end up

being changed once it reaches publication, but the mere

fact you have tried your hand at captioning your work

will be sufficient to convince the editor that you have

at least paid attention to the general requirements of

that publication's letters page.

I've lost count of the number of times I have been asked

whether a typed letter will, or will not win over a

handwritten example, and in general there really is no

satisfactory answer.  If I had to decide in favour of one

over the other, then perhaps I would fall on the side of

the pensmith, but only to the extent that not all readers

will have access to typewriters, and it may therefore be

that a written letter will be viewed the likely work of

an everyday reader, as opposed to a freelance writer

attempting to boost his or her income from more

traditional writing sources.

When you aren't restricted by deadlines, such as the need

to reply speedily to another reader's letter or an

editor's invitation for readers' views on set topics,

then it's always a good idea to put your work to one side

for a while in order to give your mind the opportunity to

'sleep on it for a while', with the intention of reading

your words afresh at a later date.  When you do read your

letter again, perhaps a week or so later, ask yourself:

Does it make sense?  Is this what I intended to get

across?

Do the words flow or do I stumble over any parts of the

wording?

Have I repeated myself unnecessarily?

Would another word or phrase be more suitable than that

which I have chosen in my initial wording?

Can I make it better in any way?

If your letter still fulfils all of the requirements of

succinctness, smooth-flow, and grammatical accuracy, as

well as still sounding in your mind worthy of a place on

the target publication's letters page, then write it up

on the best paper you can find, and post it.

What Else Should I Know?

You should never send the same letter to more than one

publication at any particular time.  Editors live in

constant fear of discovering that a letter on their page

coincides with one on the pages of a rival, or dare we

imagine it, several rival magazines?

Don't copy someone else's letter verbatim.  This is

'plagiarism' - a much frowned upon practice of cheating

for the writer to succumb too.  You obviously might agree

entirely with the writer of another letter and wish to

say as much;  perhaps you wish to expand upon your fellow

reader's views, all of which is okay as meat for your own

letter, but never, never, copy what one reader has

written, with the intention of leading the editor and his

readers to believe the work consists of entirely your own

original thoughts.

If after a few months you have heard nothing of your

letter's fate, then you may safely retrieve it, perhaps

amend or update it, and send it to another suitable

publication.  Usually a space of three to six months

before re-submission will be adequate.  Some letter

writers believe you should wait a year before considering

an alternative publication; in doing so they seek

obviously to ensure their letters have the very last

ounce of a chance of publication, without the accepting

editor finding the letter has appeared elsewhere, and

potentially endangering chances of future publication -

unlikely under the circumstances that any editor would be

so unforgiving.

In order to keep track of items on offer, an efficient

record system is essential so that those letters not

accepted by one publication can ultimately be offered to

another editor.  A small record card, even a plain white

postcard, will suffice for each letter, with sections to

record the contents of the letter, its date of

submission, title or caption, target publication/s, and

so on.

Now a word about the writer's identity.  You will almost

certainly start your career by writing entirely under

your own name, but there may arise an occasion when you

wish to submit a letter for which you do not wish to

reveal your true identity.  Perhaps you don't genuinely

believe what it is you write, and it is by no means

essential to convey your real opinion.  You might though

not want those friends and relatives who know that you

stand for one principle to find you supporting another,

and hence a pseudonym will disguise your true identity. 

You might also fear that as a successful writer, used to

regular acceptances, the editor will pass your letters

over in case accusations of favouritism should be

forthcoming.  Whatever the reason you are allowed to use

a name different to your own, even to ask that your name

is not included at all with your letter.  You won't find

problems in paying cheques made out to your 'pen-name'

into your bank account; it's standard practice for

professional writers to receive payments in names other

than their own.

Some letters have a great deal to gain from the

accompaniment of a photograph.  In the women's magazines,

the odd things children say are all the more likely to be

published if a photo of the little rascal is provided by

which to satisfy the imagination of the magazine's eager

readers.

In some letters pages the photograph stands alone, and

added words would merely detract from it.  Think for

instance of those silly shop names, the odd signs we find

on the highway, and so on.  What for example could I have

added to my photograph of sheep grazing in a field,

beside which there was placed a sign stating: 'grass

cutting in progress' relating as it happened to the

agricultural mower a few yards removed from my lens'

field of vision?

What Subjects are best for the Beginning Letter Writer?

Anecdotes:  Anecdotes are short narratives of particular

incidents or occurrences of an interesting nature, to

which an element of humour is usually added.  Examples

include: the things kids say, odd shop names, silly

signs, odd and little known facts, quotations,

malapropisms, and so on.

Verse  In some magazines a letter stands a much better

chance of publication if the message it conveys is one

made via the medium of verse.  Some prefer short snappy

humorous offerings, whilst others prefer serious,

reflective verse.

Hobbies, Interests, etc

You don't need to be a parachutist or deep-sea diver to

enter your letter in this category.  Anything remotely

connected with your leisure time can be shaped into

interesting letters.  The odd quip, joke, amusing

incident, occurring during the course of your leisure

pursuits makes for fascinating and profitable reading.

Your Job

Your job, to qualify, needn't in itself be fascinating. 

Odd things that have happened to you, emotional

occurrences, people who have influenced you, places you

have visited, are all side-issues to your employment,

which when written up into interesting letter form will

readily find a place on the majority of letters pages.

Life's Irritations, both Major and Minor

Do you hate politicians, bureaucracy, back-seat drivers,

mothers-in-law, neighbours?  You do?  Great! We all hate

the very same things sometimes.  Get your pen out and

give us a chuckle, or simply cause for thought.

Pets/Children/Husband/Wife/Friends/Neighbours, etc

Don't you just hate it when they suggest we shouldn't

love our pets as much as we do?  So do I, and because of

this, I once won a star letter prize by voicing my

preference for the company of my beloved boxer dog, when

incensed by a fellow-reader's letter, which suggested we

non-mother-dog-lover types keep our pets purely as 'Child

substitutes'.  Come to think of it, now that I have got

the kids, I wonder if a follow-up letter might be

necessary to reinforce my earlier point that 'kids are

kids, and dogs - are simply wonderful!'

Sarcasm to one side, you do get the point don't you, that

subjects of such everyday importance can still give rise

to powerful, prize-winning letters?

Seasonal and Anniversary Related Topics eg stories of

Christmases long ago, Easter customs in other parts of

the world, birthdays - and how differently they are

perceived once we start getting that little bit older.

Television and Radio

Well, is it bad for us?  I for one find those dreaded

'Turtles' on the telly are just the thing for plonking

the kids in front of when I want them to eat every ounce

of their dinners.  Every spoonful incidentally goes in

without a thought as to the taste - TURTLES RULE on my

TV!

So you see, your comments on television and radio can be

made even if in reality you've never looked at the screen

or tuned in to a station, and subsequently even the

seemingly most mundane of topics can be used to good

effect for future correspondence.

Famous and Infamous People

Have you met any?  Were they as you expected?

Money

Something that concerns us all.  Have you thought of

novel ways of saving it, making it?  You have?  Do tell!

Examples of Published Letters  (All early 1991)

Jingle Jangles

I do wish advertisers would stop using ringing telephones

in their TV ads.  My phone is in the hall, and many's the

time I've dashed out to answer it only to realise that no

one's calling me.  It's just the TV.  It's very

frustrating and annoying.

Listen Very Carefully....'

Overheard in the checkout queue:  'Now listen very

carefully to this.  I promised not to repeat it, so I can

only tell you once!"

A Gun Dog

My four-year-old daughter, Amy, was telling her aunt all

about her best friend's lovely new dog.  "He's a golden

revolver", she declared with solemn confidence.

Turtle Trio

(With photograph of three children) Here are my own

'radical' three young men, modelling their new Turtle

jumpers.  Jonathan, William and Thomas all say

'Cowabunga!'  Thanks, Woman's Own! (Follow-up to a recent

knitting pattern for sweaters)

Overheard

"It's all right, it's a menthol one!"  -  Health store

assistant smoking a cigarette while reassuring a

customer.

Perfect Start

The manager of our local butcher's shop has had the

brilliant idea of selling individual breakfast packs. 

Each pack contains an egg, a large slice of bacon, a

square of sausage, a slice of black pudding and a potato

scone.  This costs only 50p and is ideal for anyone who

is on their own.

Fault!  Martina!

(Follow-up to a recent feature)

Martina Navratilova claims that money has ruined tennis. 

She's right, but she's one of the ones mainly to blame. 

Your article mentions her earnings from sponsorships,

etc., and she intends to continue making money ....

Marse

(In reply to earlier feature)

Indeed it's an absolute farce,

To tell us we've got to say Marse!,

Those delectable bars,

Will always be Mars,

With nothing to touch them for class.

Show House

If you really hate doing the housework and just can't get

motivated to get on with it, try telling yourself you're

cleaning up to sell the house.  It's amazing what you'll

do if you think there are strangers coming to look

around!

Self-Service

I always enjoy your Pic of the Week, especially the silly

signs.  I once saw a roadside notice that boggled my

mind.  It read: 'Bagged Manure, 20p.  Do It Yourself,

10p!'

So Necessary

I know too well the necessity for breast screening.  I

went along for a test and found out that I had cancer and

yet didn't have any of the signs or symptoms........

Spelling Out Disaster

Having worked with people in their late teens and early

20s, I'm appalled by the poor standards of education,

speech and literacy.  Some examples I noted were Sidnum

for Sydenham, colidge for College and ........ ??!