Engaging Today's Global Citizens

Dear Sir,

How to stay active through letter writing

There are many ways you can put your pen to work on a regular basis and use letters to express your views on US foreign policy. Writing letters to elected officials as well as sending letters to the editor and guest commentaries to your local newspaper can have an impact. The tips below will help you to use letter writing more effectively.

The first hurdle in letter writing is finding time to do it. One recommendation is to regularly schedule time on your calendar when you will draft, edit, and submit letters. Many of us are more likely to do something if it's on our calendar. Another way to get past your "writer's block" is to invite friends to join you for an evening of discussion about a foreign policy issue of concern to you and then encourage each before leaving to write a letter based on your discussion.

Writing a personal letter to your elected officials is one of the most effective ways to convey your opinion. When writing letters to elected officials it's important to remember that you don't need to be an expert. Simply describe what you believe about the policy in question. Elected officials do pay attention to what their constituents say. Important tips for letters to elected officials are:

• Be brief and clear. Letters should be no longer than one page.
• Always include a personal angle. Even if you are using recommended talking points, include something that indicates how the policy in question impacts you, your community, or your state.
• Include your full contact information. You will want to see the response they send and this legitimizes your letter.

The most highly read part of the newspaper is the letters to the editor section, making it a great place to express your opinion on important foreign policy issues. You can write a letter to the editor in response to an article, to commend or criticize a recent article or editorial, or simply to provide your opinion on a current foreign policy issue. Key points for letters to the editor are:

• Be timely. Refer to recent news and events.
• Keep it short and simple. The typical word limit on letters is 200 words. Be clear and stick to one subject.
• Make it unique. Try putting your most important fact or statement in the first sentence, almost like a headline. Use humor, irony, or even anger—but don't be rude.
• Follow up. Contact the person in charge of letters to the editor to find out if they plan on printing your letter.

Anyone knowledgeable about a topic can write a guest commentary for their local newspaper. Contributing opinion pieces is an effective tool for reaching a large number of fellow citizens and influencing elected officials on foreign policy issues. The tips for writing a letter to the editor are also applicable for guest commentaries, but some specific tips for such pieces also include:

• Find a group of like-minded people to sign the letter with you. More than one signature can influence a newspaper's decision to run the piece.
• Usually the text of an Op-Ed is no more than 500-600 words. Check with the newspaper to see what format requirements they may have.

If you don't find what you're looking for here, several Web sites offer letter writing tips. Many have tips specific to US foreign policy topics such as UN reform, global warming, or foreign aid. Now, let your voice be heard!

—Jennifer Smyser