You have a killer idea. It’s been rattling around your brain for three days, keeping you up at 2:00 AM while you stare at the ceiling. You finally sit down, pour your heart into 750 words, and hit send to the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. Then? Silence. Complete, soul-crushing radio silence.
Most people think submitting an op ed is about being a great writer. It’s not. Honestly, some of the best-written pieces I’ve ever seen are currently sitting in a digital "trash" folder because the author didn’t understand the weird, unwritten rules of the opinion desk. Editors aren’t looking for prose; they’re looking for a "hook" and a "point of view" that hasn't been chewed over a thousand times already. If you’re just repeating what’s on the nightly news, you’re wasting your time.
The Brutal Truth About the Opinion Desk
Newsrooms are shrinking. You probably knew that. But the volume of submissions is actually exploding because everyone with a Twitter account thinks they’re a pundit. At major metros, an editor might glance at your subject line for exactly four seconds. If you don’t grab them there, you’re dead in the water.
What is an op ed, anyway? The term literally stands for "opposite the editorial page." It’s a space reserved for voices outside the newspaper’s own staff. It’s your chance to influence policy, change minds, or just vent about something that’s genuinely broken in society. But here is the kicker: it has to be timely. We call this a "peg." If you’re writing about the importance of literacy, that’s nice. If you’re writing about why a specific new bill in the Senate is going to ruin literacy rates by next Tuesday, that’s a submission that gets published.
Why Your "Great Idea" Is Probably Too Late
Timing is everything. I once worked with a researcher who wanted to write about wildfire prevention. Great topic, right? Except he tried submitting it in December. Nobody cares about wildfires in December. You have to anticipate the news cycle. If you want to be successful at submitting an op ed, you need to look at the calendar three weeks out. Is there a Supreme Court ruling coming? Is it the anniversary of a major historical event?
Editors at places like The Washington Post or USA Today receive hundreds of pitches a day. They want something that feels "urgent." If your piece could have been published six months ago—or could wait another six months—it’s an essay, not an op ed. Go send it to a literary magazine instead.
📖 Related: St Sabina Chicago IL: Why This Church Is Way More Than Just a Place of Worship
The Anatomy of a Piece That Actually Runs
Don't use a five-cent word when a five-cent word will do. Wait, that's not right. Don't use a ten-dollar word when a simple one works better.
Start with a "lede." This is your opening hook. It should be punchy. Maybe it’s a personal anecdote. Maybe it’s a shocking statistic that makes the reader drop their coffee. After the lede, you need a "nut graph." This is the paragraph—usually the second or third—that basically says, "Here is exactly why I am writing this and why you should care right now." If I have to hunt for your point, I’m going to stop reading.
Evidence matters. You can’t just say "everyone is unhappy." You need to cite a specific study from the Pew Research Center or a recent Gallup poll. But don't overdo it. This isn't an academic paper. If you include a bibliography, the editor will laugh while hitting delete. Just weave the source into the sentence. "According to a 2024 study by MIT researchers..." is plenty.
The Pitch: Don't Be a Ghost
The email you send to the editor is just as important as the piece itself. Maybe more.
- Subject Line: Keep it simple. "OP-ED SUBMISSION: [Catchy Title]."
- The Hook: Tell them who you are and why you're the right person to write this. If you're a doctor writing about healthcare, mention the MD. If you're a parent writing about school lunches, mention your kids.
- The Length: Aim for 600 to 800 words. Anything over 1,000 is usually an automatic "no" unless you’re a former President.
- Exclusivity: This is the big one. You cannot send the same piece to five different papers at once. It’s a huge breach of etiquette. Send it to your top choice, give them 48 to 72 hours, and if you don’t hear back, send a polite "moving on" email before pitching the next place.
Common Mistakes That Scream "Amateur"
I see people making the same blunders constantly. One big one is "throat-clearing." This is when you spend the first three paragraphs giving "background information" before you get to the point. Stop it. Dive into the deep end. Your readers are smart; they’ll catch up.
Another mistake? Being too balanced. This might sound weird, but an op ed is supposed to have an opinion. It’s in the name! If you’re saying "on the one hand this, but on the other hand that," you’re writing a report. Pick a side. Be bold. Be provocative. Even if people disagree with you, they’ll keep reading because you’re making a real argument.
Also, watch your links. Don’t embed 50 hyperlinks like a Wikipedia page. Pick the three or four most critical ones. Editors hate cleaning up messy formatting. Use plain text. No fancy fonts. No PDFs. Just paste the text directly into the body of the email. It makes their lives easier, and happy editors are editors who say "yes."
Identifying the Right Outlet
Don't just aim for the Times. Honestly, sometimes a local paper like the Des Moines Register or the Seattle Times is a much better move. They have a more dedicated audience for local issues, and you’re way more likely to get accepted. Plus, those local pieces often get picked up by national aggregators or even the AP.
Think about your audience. If you’re writing about a technical breakthrough in silicon chips, Wired or The Wall Street Journal's tech section makes sense. If you’re talking about the emotional toll of caregiving, try The Atlantic or even a major lifestyle blog. Match the "vibe" of the publication.
The Mystery of the "Ghost" Rejection
So, you did everything right. You had a peg. You had a nut graph. You kept it under 700 words. And you still got rejected. Why?
Sometimes, it’s just bad luck. Maybe they published a piece on the exact same topic yesterday. Maybe the editor had a bad lunch. Maybe they’re holding space for a big-name columnist. Don't take it personally. Most successful op-ed writers have a "rejection rate" of about 80%. The trick is to keep moving. Take that rejected piece, tweak the intro to make it fresh, and send it somewhere else immediately.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Submission
- Find your "Why Now": Before you write a single word, ask yourself: Why does this need to be published today instead of next month? If you don't have a clear answer, find a new angle.
- Write the Lede First: Spend half your time on the first 50 words. If they aren't magnetic, the rest of the piece won't matter.
- Check the Guidelines: Every paper has a "submissions" page. Read it. If they say "no attachments," don't send an attachment. Following instructions shows you're a professional.
- The "So What?" Test: Read your draft aloud. After every paragraph, ask "So what?" If the paragraph doesn't answer that question or move the argument forward, cut it.
- Draft a Bio: Keep it to two sentences. Who are you, and why do you have the authority to speak on this? "Jane Doe is a civil engineer with 20 years of experience in bridge safety" is perfect.
When you're submitting an op ed, you're participating in a long-standing democratic tradition. It’s about more than just seeing your name in print; it’s about contributing to the public conversation. It takes a thick skin and a lot of persistence, but when that piece finally hits the front page and people start sharing it, all the "no"s and the silences feel worth it. Get your draft ready, check your links one last time, and hit send. The world needs more original voices.
Next Steps for Success: * Audit your current draft: Strip away any introductory fluff and ensure your main argument appears within the first 150 words.
- Build a target list: Identify three publications that align with your topic, starting with the most prestigious and moving toward more niche or local outlets.
- Draft your pitch email: Keep it under 200 words, focusing heavily on your "news peg" and your specific expertise.
- Set a follow-up calendar: If you haven't heard back in three days, send a "moving on" notice and immediately pitch the next outlet on your list.