Ah, the editorial, to editorialize or to cast one's opinions upon the public, or those who aren't too quick to skip over the L&O pages. While I'm heartily in favor of expressing one's opinions, they should not give way to the absence of clear and concise messages.

First of all, some editorials are just too darn lengthy. This tends to occur when the writer goes on and on before making his or her point clear, ot stresses the original point by adding unnecessary fluff or rhetorical statements. If a writer cannot make his or her point within the required or desired word limit, then the writer should consult an editor for help, or at least reconsider the point he or she is attempting to make.

Another slip up is citing sources. Sure, listing a bunch of sources may make the writer look more credible, but it may also make him or her look just as incredulous. It may be presumptous, though likely, that the reader assumes the writer knows something about the subject he or she is writing about, otherwise he or she wouldn't be writing about it. One of the basic rules in writing is 'write what you know.' And when the writer must tackle an unknown subject, then research is a must, though citing sources, as expected with most research, is unnecessary with opinion pieces of this sort.

Alas, the utmost pittance of editorial errors is certainly composing a piece that is devoid of meaning. Rants, at times credible, are usually just that, nothing short of passionate mental diarrhea put to paper. Some editorials may possess meaning but either contain too many points not fully developed or content not arranged in a fashion understandable to the reader. This makes it next to impossible for the reader to discern the piece's meaning, and if that task is thwarted in any way, then not only does the piece lose credibility but so does the writer and the publication as well. In that sense, writers must know ahead of time their subject, what they want to say and how they hope to say it. If not and they're already writing, I'd say back to Square One they go.

Ergo, writing editorials is no easy task, as one can see. There's more to it than simply writing down passionate emotions; it involves channeling those emotions into a clear, concise voice suitable for print that takes into account the desired length and style requirements put forth by the publication. However, once that baby hits the press, it's no longer just about the writer and his or her emotions; then it's about how that subject relates to everyone, and not everyone will react the same, nor think the writer a literary genius for the newfound insight.

So, remember that the next time you have something to say; and think about how you're going to say it.

Copyright © 2003-2004, Talia M. Wilson
published in Cooper Point Journal, Nov. 20, 2003

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