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How would you get a novel, timely and topical idea with U.S. national political overtones into the media and rapidly?
Like you, when I sit down the words that I write are not in the pen before I pick it up.
Over a just completed 36-hour blur a 1500 word opinion piece titled "The Ruling Class" emerged from my keyboard. It describes how rules and definitions are central to the U.S. Democratic National Party’s Presidential nominee selection process and raises logic issues about the impact of this on their pending decision. My confidants say that “this clearly breaks new ground in a fresh and thought provoking way and in a manner they would never have considered." However, I have never written or published anything political, ever.
So now I am in a real quandary and would appreciate advice on next steps, if any?
If you would like to read this piece just contact me through LinkedIn and provide an email.
Good Answers (1)
I agree with the cutting, but 250 is for a letter to the editor. Go 500-750 for an op-ed. Submit the shorter (250) version as comments on (relevant) posts on high-profile blogs and you may get asked to expand on your ideas, as a happened to a friend of mine on the Huffington Post. At the same time, submit it to every daily paper you can think of. If it causes a ripple at a smaller one, it'll get picked up elsewhere. Don't overlook the weeklies either (www.aan.org) if you're not having success with the dailies.
Finally, like everything else, work your connections. Do you know someone highprofile who could co-author with you? Or who could put your piece at the top of an editor's pile to look at?
For the dailies, if you can add as timely a hook as possible (i.e. something that happened *yesterday* or *today* when you send it out, you'll increase your attractiveness.
Lastly, make sure someone has copyedited it for you.
More Answers (4)
I work in book publishing so I'm not an expert in this particular area. However, what does come to mind is a) the "New York Times" or "The New Yorker" depending on writing style, or b) "MoveOn.org" if your view is more to the "left" of center. I would also consider finding out what the hottest political blog is right now [via Technorati's list?] that is focusing on related subject matter and commenting there. Good Luck!
Clarification added 3 months ago:
Technorati has a link to Blogger Central where you can find a list of the top 100 ranked blogs. "BoingBoing.com" might also be useful.
Jacques J.J. S
SumSera.com - web write marketing
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Send it to: www.stophernow.com :-)
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Tim L
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Cut your 1,500 words down to 250 words and submit it to your local newspaper. The NYT and New Yorker do not publish 1,500-word political op-eds by unknown writers.
I'd second the motion to submit to a blog, but reiterate cutting the piece by at least a third. No one has the patience to read pieces that long online.
The articulate support of your confidants is enviable, but what they think doesn't matter: what matters are the thoughts of the editor or doorkeeper of wherever you submit this piece.
I'd suggest reading political media as widely as possible (newsletters, blogs, small magazines, etc.) and find a small, accessible outlet with views sympathetic to your own. Submit your piece according to their guidelines, and then start your next piece.
Good luck!