| Where do you send your letters to editors? The | | | | with material on a regular -- sometimes daily -- |
| reality of letters to editors is that the smaller the | | | | basis, and sometimes that can be a real task). |
| publication, the more likely your letter will be | | | | Give the smaller ones a chance, and hone your |
| published. Sending your letter to, say, the New | | | | skills at writing, while . |
| York Times is -- unless you are the vice-president | | | | These same rules apply to industry publications. |
| of the United States, or above-- is almost a | | | | While a national journal might get too many |
| guarantee that the letter will not be published. Not | | | | letters to print, a smaller industry publication, or a |
| because the letter is not good, or anything else, | | | | state journal might be desperately needing |
| but because they get thousands of letters a year, | | | | material, and would be happy to print what you |
| and can only print a few, so yours is more likely | | | | write. Remember: your goal is to get published, |
| to get lost in the pile. | | | | not to try and score points. Look to get lots of |
| Unless you have something really exceptional to | | | | letters printed, and you'll come out ahead. |
| say. Having said what I did, know also that | | | | The other rule about sending your letters is that |
| publications such as the Times do print letters | | | | it's not wrong to submit to more than one |
| from unknown writers if the writer has something | | | | publication. The only rules about this are (1) the |
| to say, and says it well. What I don't want is for | | | | different publications you submit to should not be |
| you to get discouraged by submitting to | | | | competing -- in other words, 2 local newspapers |
| something like the Times, and giving up. Start | | | | should not be sent the same letter -- and (2) if a |
| lower. A weekly newspaper in your area will | | | | publication insists that any letters sent to them |
| almost certainly print your letter (the dark secret | | | | should not be sent elsewhere, try and follow their |
| of publishing is that publications have to come up | | | | rules. |