Opinion Editorials
Posted by Storymoja Africa on November 9, 2009
I am going to begin this week’s reading by sending you all to an article that I thought was quite interesting. Please read it and keep the information you gather in mind as you submit your artistic pieces in future. Also feel free to share any such material that you find and feel would be useful to this writing community. So here: 40 Tips to make your Writing hit its mark.
Now, that we have that out of the way, let’s discuss something that should be discussed. Not all writers are fiction writers. Sometimes even fiction writers have to writer opinion editorials, otherwise sometimes called op-eds. The reasons for writing op-eds might vary, from needing your writing to earn income, to just expressing your opinion about something you care about. So let’s get to the important stuff.
What is an Op-ed?
An Op-ed is an opinion piece through which writers express their views on a timely issue. Right now, the issues burning the Kenyan air are: The Mau Forest, The Post-Election Violence, IDPs, Gay Relationships and The Passat Debate. The opinion piece is drafted and submitted to a publication’s editorial board for review. Publications here in Kenya include The Daily Nation, The Standard, The Star. Add a few more names from the East African Region to your list. And there is nothing wrong with submitting Op-eds to papers outside of the country and continent.
How do I get an Op-ed placed?
Op-ed editors tend to look for articles that cover subjects and make arguments that have not been articulated elsewhere in their publications. Editors also look for timeliness, ingenuity, strength of argument, freshness of opinion, clear writing and newsworthiness. Personal experiences and first-person narrative can be great, particularly when they humanize and/or bring a larger idea or issue to life.
Each publication has individual guidelines for submitting an Op-ed. A quick call or email to the editorial page editor of a publication can clarify what the rules are for an individual outlet. Depending on the publication, these guidelines can also be found online. Generally speaking, Op-ed guidelines tend to include the following:
• Should Be Approximately 750 Words. The opinion piece stands a better chance of publication if it makes its argument quickly and compellingly, backing it up with evidence.
• Should Avoid Jargon. Remember that you are speaking to an audience that may not be as familiar with the issues of community pharmacy as you or your members are.
• Should Be Exclusive. A publication is more likely to publish an opinion piece if the editor knows the same piece will not be appearing in a competitor’s. In fact, many newspapers will require the writer to guarantee exclusivity for a two-week period.
• Should Include Contact Information. Editors will need your contact information to verify authorship and/or sentiments expressed in the piece. It’s best to provide your email address along with your work and cell phone numbers.
Do you have any more ideas with regards to this topic that you would like to share with us? Storymoja will reward one reader every month, for your participation in our Writer’s Blog. All you have to is either send us a piece of your work or comment on and rate the posts.
And now to this week’s reading:
What would you do for love? How far would you go? A Shameful Sacrifice by Nixon Mateulah.
And then here is a letter to our far cousin who lives in the White House. Dear Mr. President by Denis kabi
Does it ever get better? It will get better by Sandra Mushi.
A new day has dawned for one young man. But what is the price for it? Black Tie Affair by Stanley Mitoko.
lastly, we go to the land of hopes and aspiration and the harsh reality that kills dreams. Green Card by Peter Yieko Ndiwa.
Thank you very much for sharing your work, and for commenting on other writer’s pieces. Please continue sending your ideas about how to make your weekly reading more fun to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. And remember, all stories published on the Storymoja Blog will be eligible for the Crown of Story of the Week. The stories are posted every Monday. Please critique and vote for the story you believe should wear the crown. At the end of the week, the votes will be tallied and the story with the most votes will posted on the Storymoja Website as the Story of the Week on the Friday of the same week. To have your story in this weekly process please send it to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke before Friday at 4pm.
Have a wonderful and creative week!
Alexander said
Hm. This is an occasion where a controversial discussion could really become fruitful. There are so many diverging aspects that I would like to present:
- The op-ed as the “easier” temptation. It feels so smooth and easy, to jot down a fiery op-ed. “Dixi et salvavi animam meam.” But is a good piece (e.g. Makau Mutua) really so easy? Or in reality even more difficult than a good thorough feature? What makes up a very good op-ed?
- Pride and prejudice. Nuff said.
- Many papers have a rather “closed shop” of opinion columnists and do not or rarely accept outsiders in this field. Your long feature article about the history, decline and rehabilitation of Nairobi Dam might stand a much higher chance of being printed.
- Editors often quite purposedfully promote hate-mongering, bigotted, narrow-minded, or plain stupid (Rasna Warah) type of op-eds, because they prefer controversy and strife before quality. You certainly known some opionion columnists who seem to be ALWAYS wrong, regardless of what they write about. Surprise: your feeling is right, they really are. That is _why_ the editors prints it, and rubs his hands… Do you really want to fit in here?
Storymoja Africa said
Well, I do agree that some opinion eds tend to border on narrow-minded and at time just plain bad, however, there is a very strong need for Kenyan writers to be aware of the options they do have, and then make informed choices. In the words of a very smart publisher I know, ‘The Kenyan literary scene will develop in a much better direction when writers stop looking at writing as a *hobby* and think of it as a Profession’, therefore getting the right kind of training and pursuing it with professional ethics and dignity. And that does not have to take away from the creativity at all, instead it should build it up even more.
Our Man In America said
As someone who writes and reads a lot of opinion pieces, I’d like to add one important tip: Avoid attacking the author’s character. Very often we see writers go for the authors throat, rather than the author’s work. Remember the word “criticism” can come from two words — “criticize” and “critique.” Great opinion writers avoid the former, for it requires minimal skills. For example, all you need is a mouth, or in this case a paper and a pencil, to call someone “pumbavu” (a moron).
“Critique” on the other hand, requires critical thinking, good research to back arguments, and the ability to write a killer sentence. You can hate a painter because he is arrogant, but still give his creation high marks.
Storymoja Africa said
Well said, OMIA. It is very easy to confuse the two. But recently, I have come across persons who absolutely infuriate me in person, but whose style of writing is clear, well-thought out and creatively woven, so yes, it is important to be able to separate the author from his work.
Alexander said
The opposite is far more frequent. Abysmally bad writers, oozing stupidity and prejudice through every pore; but when you address this, the usual defence comes reliably: “he is such a nice and charming guy – she is really a good and progressive one.” Y’know? I don’t care a fuck. Verba prout sonant.
Alexander said
OMIA: a literary review or theatre critique – which is what you describe – is not the same as a newspaper opinion piece. Both genres are related in some ways, but it will serve to keep them apart.