How to Write an Op-Ed That Editors Will Publish

To write an op-ed, pick one clear argument tied to something in the news, state it in your first paragraph, support it with two or three pieces of evidence drawn from your own expertise, acknowledge the strongest counterargument, and end with a specific call to action. Keep it within the outlet’s word limit, write in plain language, and submit it exclusively to one publication at a time following its published guidelines.

A published op-ed is one of the most credible things that can appear when someone searches your name. This guide covers how to choose the argument, how to structure the piece, how submission works, and how to use the result without overselling it.

What an op-ed is, and why it matters for reputation

An op-ed (originally “opposite the editorial page”) is an opinion article written by someone outside the publication’s staff. Unlike a news story, it’s openly your view, under your byline. Unlike a paid advertorial, an editor chose it on its merits.

That combination is why op-eds carry weight. Readers see that a publication judged your argument worth printing. Search engines often rank opinion pieces on established news and trade sites well for the author’s name, and the author bio usually links or refers back to you. For executives, founders and professionals, a small number of well-placed op-eds can do more for credibility than dozens of posts on your own blog.

It’s one part of a broader thought leadership effort, not a substitute for it. One op-ed is a moment; a steady record of sensible, useful public arguments is a reputation.

Choose an argument only you can make

Most rejected op-eds fail before the first sentence is written. The topic is too broad, the argument is too obvious, or the writer has no particular reason to be the one making it. Before you write, answer three questions:

1. What’s the news hook? Op-ed editors want pieces that connect to something people are already talking about: a proposed law, a court decision, a local controversy, a new report, a seasonal event. An argument with no hook can work for trade publications, but it’s much harder at news outlets.
2. What’s your actual position? Write it in one sentence. “Our city should require landlords to post inspection results online” is an argument. “Housing is complicated” is not.
3. Why you? Your experience should make the argument more credible or more original. A pediatric nurse writing about school vaccination rules, a restaurant owner writing about a proposed delivery fee cap, a cybersecurity lead writing about breach disclosure: each brings something a staff columnist can’t.

If your one-sentence position would draw a shrug from someone who disagrees, sharpen it. Good op-eds take a stand that some readers will push back on.

Know the norms before you write

Every outlet sets its own rules, and they’re usually published on an “opinion submissions” or “contact the editors” page. Read them first. Common norms include:

• Word limits. These vary by outlet. Many newspapers ask for somewhere in the range of several hundred words, and some trade and online publications accept longer pieces. Write to the limit you’re given, not a general rule.
• Exclusivity. Most publications expect that you haven’t submitted the same piece anywhere else and haven’t published it on your own blog or LinkedIn. Submit to one outlet at a time. If you don’t hear back within the time the outlet states, send a short note withdrawing it before offering it elsewhere.
• Original work. The byline should be yours and the ideas should be yours. Editing help is normal. If someone else drafted it for you, understand the outlet’s policy; some explicitly require the named author to have written it. Keep your notes and drafts, since AI content detectors can wrongly flag human writing.
• Disclosure of conflicts. If you have a financial or professional interest in the issue (you sell a product affected by the law you’re arguing about, you’re paid by a group with a stake in it), expect to disclose it, and do so up front. Editors often print that disclosure in your bio line.
• Fact-checking. Many outlets ask for sources for factual claims. Keep a list of links to back up every number and statement.
• Editing rights. The publication will usually edit for length, clarity and style, and may write its own headline. You can ask to review substantive changes, but the final call is theirs.

How to structure an op-ed

Op-eds follow a fairly predictable shape because it works for readers skimming a busy page. Use it as a starting skeleton.

1. The lede (1 to 2 short paragraphs). Grab attention with a concrete scene, a surprising fact you can source, or the news hook itself. Then state your argument plainly by the end of the second paragraph.
2. Why it matters now. Explain what’s at stake and who is affected. Tie it to the hook.
3. Evidence (2 to 3 points). Each point gets a short paragraph or two. Mix your firsthand experience with verifiable facts from credible sources. Your experience is what makes the piece yours; the facts are what make it hold up.
4. The counterargument. Name the strongest objection fairly and answer it. This is where many drafts fall down, and it’s what separates persuasive writing from a rant.
5. The ending. Finish with a specific ask: what should a lawmaker, a company, a school board or ordinary readers do? Circle back to the image or fact from your lede if it fits.

Keep paragraphs short. Avoid jargon, acronyms without explanation, and anything that reads like a sales pitch. If your company name appears in the body at all, it should be because the argument needs it, and even then, once is plenty. Your bio line does the introducing.

Write it, then cut it

Most first drafts run long and bury the point. A simple editing pass:

• Read the first two paragraphs alone. Could a stranger say what you’re arguing? If not, rewrite them.
• Cut every sentence that restates the previous one.
• Replace abstractions with specifics: “a dozen families on my block” instead of “many residents”.
• Delete hedges like “arguably” and “it could be said that”. Make the claim or drop it.
• Check every factual statement against your source list.
• Read it aloud. Anything you stumble over, a reader will too.

Then ask someone who doesn’t work in your field to read it. If they’re confused by a term or a leap in logic, the editor will be too.

How to submit an op-ed

Submission is usually simpler than people expect, but the details matter.

1. Pick the right outlet. Match the topic to the audience. A local zoning argument belongs in the local paper or a regional news site. An argument about software procurement belongs in a trade publication. Aim high if you have a truly national argument, but don’t overlook outlets your actual audience reads.
2. Follow the outlet’s process. Some use a web form, others an email address. Use what they ask for.
3. Paste the text into the body of the email unless told otherwise, and keep attachments out.
4. Write a short cover note: the headline, a sentence on the argument, why it’s timely, why you’re the one writing it, the word count, a statement that it’s exclusive to them, and any conflicts of interest.
5. Include a one or two sentence bio and your phone number, since editors often need to reach you fast.
6. Wait for the outlet’s stated window, then follow up once or withdraw it politely and move to the next outlet.

Here’s an illustrative cover note:

Subject: Op-ed submission: The county’s new permit rules will slow down small builders. Dear Opinion Editor, I’d like to submit the op-ed below (about 700 words) arguing that the county’s proposed permit changes, up for a vote next Tuesday, will add months to small residential projects without improving safety. I’ve run a small building firm here for over a decade and have been through the current process many times. The piece is exclusive to you. I should disclose that my firm would be directly affected by the rule. Thank you for considering it. Maria Chen, owner, Chen Home Builders, (555) 555-0142

Note the disclosure in the cover note. It costs nothing and protects you.

A worked example

This is an illustrative scenario, not a real client.

A regional hospital’s chief nursing officer wants to be known as a thoughtful voice on staffing. When the state legislature schedules hearings on a nurse-to-patient ratio bill, she sees her hook.

Her first draft argues that “staffing is a complex issue that needs balanced solutions.” A colleague points out that nobody could disagree with it. She sharpens it: the bill’s fixed ratios would force rural hospitals to close beds rather than hire, so the legislature should fund recruitment before mandating ratios. That’s a position some readers will dislike, and one her experience supports.

She opens with a real (non-identifying) night on her unit, states the argument in the second paragraph, gives two pieces of evidence from public workforce data and one from her own hospital’s recruiting experience, then fairly answers the strongest objection: that without mandates, hospitals won’t act. She checks her hospital’s media policy, discloses her role in the cover note, and submits to the state’s largest regional paper. It’s published during hearing week with a headline she didn’t write, and it becomes one of the top results for her name.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing a press release in disguise. Editors reject pieces that exist to promote a product or company. The argument must stand on its own.
• Submitting to several outlets at once. If two accept it, you’ll have to withdraw from one and you may not be welcome back.
• Ignoring the word limit. An editor with limited space won’t do heavy cuts for you.
• Hiding a conflict of interest. It’s a credibility problem waiting to happen.
• Using a ghostwriter without checking the outlet’s policy. Some publications require that the named author wrote the piece. Know the rule before you submit.
• Attacking people personally. Argue with ideas and decisions. Personal attacks read poorly and can create legal risk; if you’re unsure whether a claim about a named person is fair comment, talk to a lawyer before submitting.
• Missing the moment. A piece tied to a vote next week is useless the week after. Write fast when the hook is live.

After it’s published

A published op-ed keeps working if you give it a home. Share it on your professional profiles with a sentence about why you wrote it. Add it to the press or media section of your website and to your executive bio as a byline credit. Don’t republish the full text on your own site unless the outlet’s terms allow it; linking to it is safer and sends readers to the more credible source.

Expect some pushback, especially on contested topics. Respond to thoughtful critics courteously, ignore trolls, and don’t argue in the comment section. If the piece was edited in a way that introduced a factual error, contact the editor politely with the correction.

Over time, a handful of op-eds on reputable sites builds exactly the kind of independent, authoritative content that helps people form an accurate picture of you when they search. If you’re trying to strengthen or rebalance what appears for your name, our personal reputation management service can help plan which outlets and topics will do the most good. For the wider picture on getting coverage, see our guide on earned media.

Frequently asked questions

How long should an op-ed be?

It depends on the outlet. Many newspapers set limits in the range of several hundred words, while some trade and online publications accept longer pieces. Always check the specific outlet’s submission guidelines and write to their limit.

Can I submit the same op-ed to multiple publications?

Generally no. Most outlets expect exclusive submissions and won’t publish something that has appeared or is under consideration elsewhere. Submit to one outlet, wait for its stated response window, then withdraw politely before trying the next.

Do op-ed writers get paid?

Some outlets pay contributors and many don’t. Either way, you should never pay a publication for an op-ed to run. If a site offers to publish your opinion piece for a fee, it’s sponsored content and should be labeled as such.

Can someone else write my op-ed for me?

Editing help is normal, but policies on ghostwriting vary, and some outlets require the named author to have written the piece. Check the outlet’s rules. At minimum, the ideas and the argument should be genuinely yours.

What if my op-ed is rejected?

Many outlets don’t reply to pieces they decline. After the stated response window, withdraw it and try another suitable outlet, updating the hook if the news has moved on.