Editors’ Advice
When assessing whether or not to run your piece or someone else’s, editors question:
Authority: What imbues your opinion with credibility? Suppose you don’t already have an established name, relevant affiliation, or recently published book. Do you have a personal connection to the issue that gives you genuine insight not available to most others?
Timeliness: How recent is the content? Editors get many submissions daily, so they prefer newer pieces. Responding quickly to a major story on the same-day or providing unique context for an upcoming event can help you stand out.
Quality of writing: Clarity is essential, and if your piece is lively and engaging too, that can sometimes compensate for other weaknesses. Before submitting, get feedback from someone outside your field or communications staff member to ensure it’s accessible.
Originality of perspective: Editors want their pages to have impact; they want their own and others’ reactions to be “Ah – I didn’t know that!”
Most common mistakes: If your writing is original and timely but runs long at 1,000 words and is filled with complex jargon, it may not be worth your effort. Editors often don’t have the time to edit lengthy or hard-to-understand pieces.If your writing is original and timely but runs long at 1,000 words and is filled with complex jargon, it may not be worth your effort. Editors often don’t have the time to edit lengthy or hard-to-understand pieces.
Receive too much: on foreign affairs, international politics, and from business and advocacy group authors whose submissions are too often self-interested, as opposed to providing context for bigger picture issues of broader concern.
Looking for more: on science, especially pieces exploring the nexus of science and health, or the impact of medical technology; on art, especially pieces that are surprising, provocative and will inspire discussion and debate.
Regarding scholars: Scholars have a reputation for being slow to respond to timely issues, but once you’re seen as a trusted and reliable source, editors may call you to solicit a piece in advance of an upcoming event or expected decision. Real-world experience is also seen as good complement to research, so look for ways to cite on-the-ground examples.
Responsiveness: If they want it, they’ll often respond right away, but you can follow up by email or voice mail to flag the submission, in case it got overlooked, and/or offer a deadline (e.g. “Given the timeliness of my piece, please let me know by the end of the day; if you’re not going to find space for it, I’d like to submit it elsewhere.”)