4 Tips for Writing Opinion Pieces People Want To Read
It can be difficult to know whether a piece of writing you create will connect with audiences or change minds until it’s already published and people are reading it. Here are four tips for writing opinion pieces people want to read.
1. Write What You Know
A general rule of writing is to write what you know. For example, someone like Dr. Jason Campbell, who works in the medical field, would be best suited to writing opinion pieces related to that field in some way. However, this doesn’t mean you can only write about your specific personal experiences. Do some research. Talk to different people. Make an effort to learn new things so you can be more informed in your writing.
2. Submit To Appropriate Publications
When you decide to write an opinion piece, consider what publications would be the best choices for submission. You should take your subject matter and your experience level into account. For example, the New York Times accepts a wide variety of topics and genres, but amateur writers’ submissions are highly unlikely to be chosen for publication. By contrast, a fashion magazine may accept a first-time submission, but only a submission that fits the magazine’s niche and publication requirements.
3. Make an Effort To Connect
The goal of an opinion piece is to connect with the reader. You can do this in a number of ways, selecting a strategy and tools that will best support your subject and your opinion. Some good writing conventions for easily connecting with your audience include the use of short sentences and paragraphs and active voice, the avoidance of jargon and the inclusion of specific details, points and recommendations. An opinion piece tends to be a relatively casual type of writing, so you can feel more free to write in a more casual, friendly or humorous tone if you so choose. Take advantage of this to include some aspects of creative writing in your piece.
4. Show Audiences Why They Should Care
The most important aspect of an opinion piece is getting audiences to understand and care about your point of view, even if they don’t end up agreeing with it. You can do this most effectively by showing, rather than telling, your readers why they should care and why the subject of your piece matters. When you write an opinion piece, think about how an uninformed or uninterested reader would react to your piece. Try not to be too argumentative or dismissive of the reader. Instead, find ways to appeal to readers and their sensbilities, as well as ways to convince the reader to care. You should also make an effort to show your audience the causes and effects of the things you write about, utilizing vivid imagery, rather than simply telling the audience about dry facts.
Ultimately, you should write opinion pieces that you would want to read about subjects that you’re passionate about. Chances are, there will be an audience for it somewhere, full of those who agree with you and those who may be swayed by your opinion.
