Open letters are rapidly becoming a popular method for advocating change. Not only do they comfortably fit into modern-day social media spheres, allowing for widespread circulation, but they also a way to draw the attention of officials or important figures, who you might not be able to easily contact otherwise.
There are generally two types of open-letter:
1. An unaddressed letter aimed at a large number of people. For example, an open letter calling on all climate change activists to recognise X or take action about Y.
2. The more common use of open letters however, is a letter that is directed at a specific person or organisation, but is intended to be read publicly. For example, a journalist writing an open letter addressed to their local MP, and it is published in a newspaper so that it gathers the attention of many people.
You don't have to be a professional journalist or activist by any means to write an open letter, that's what makes them so powerful.
Initial Questions to Ask Yourself
These questions are important for establishing the basics of your open letter.
1. Who is reading your letter?
Sometimes taking too broad or general an approach in the hope of attracting more attention can actually cause you to lose the interest of valuable readers. By identifying the typical reader you are hoping to attract, you can alter the tone and language of your letter to best appeal to them. As an obvious example, you wouldn't want to draw the support of young students by filling your open letter with convoluted and difficult to understand language, this may draw the attention of adults, but you have missed the demographic you were hoping to gain the support of.
2. What is your letter about?
It shouldn't take paragraphs to reach the point of your letter. Readers should be able to understand what you are discussing within the first few sentences. The more concise you make your point, the easier it is to write a letter with impact, and one that doesn't lose it's momentum. Open letters can certainly address multiple points, but these should ideally all relate to something you can summarise from the beginning. For example, you can write an open letter about many different failings of your local council, but the reader should know from the start that the core issue is the inadequacies of the council, which you can then go into detail on.
3. What are you looking to achieve?
The nature and language of your open letter will change based on it's purpose. An open letter advocating change may written in a motivational manner, while an open letter holding a public figure accountable may be more straight forward and matter of fact. Deciding on the nature and intended purpose of your open letter will allow you to write in an appropriate style that helps the content of your letter flow.
Some General Tips
Once you have the basic idea of your open letter sorted, its important to make sure your writing doesn't bore or annoy your readers. A good open letter will leave its readers feeling educated, or motivated to support the cause of the letter.
1. Keep it short and focussed
Whether scrolling through Instagram or flicking through a newspaper, people tend to skim-read until something stands out to them. More often than not, a three page essay will be off-putting, so open letters should aim to be short and concise. As discussed earlier, the main cause or objective of the open letter should be established within the first few sentences. Two or three arguments should be more than enough if you letter is compelling. The more direct a letter is, the better the chance of it standing out and getting more attention.
2. Avoid writing in a negative tone
People like to be educated on important issues. People don't like to feel like they are being scolded by a condescending prat. To avoid this common pitfall, avoid writing with a preaching or sanctimonious tone. Your readers (probably) won't be children, so assume your reader is your equal. If appealing to a large group of people, instead of directing it at a specific person, avoid using an aggressive tone that will make the reader feel attacked. Open letters can of course be very blunt and honest, but if readers feel they are being blamed, instead of invited to help solve the issue, they will quickly turn their attention elsewhere.
3. Offer solutions
A common criticism towards writers of open letters is that they are of just looking to complain or point the finger. This criticism is easily negated by making your letter solution-oriented, and offering ways to change or improve the issues at hand. Of course, we don't need to have an immediate solution to justify whether we can say something is bad or not, and if you aren't sure of a solution don't be afraid to say that! Simply saying you are hoping find a solution or looking to them for their recommendations is already opening up the conversation towards change. A solution focussed open letter will also majorly reduce any feelings of hostility, it can change a letter from sounding like an attack, to sounding like an opportunity to engage in healthy dialogue.
4. Conclusion
Even when writing about the darkest of issues in an open letter, concluding with misery and despair is more likely to turn your reader away. Either by offering solutions as discussed above, or even just finishing with a small amount of hope and optimism, you will positively affect the reader's final thoughts on your letter. To illustrate, you'd much rather read a post on ways to tackle climate change, than a post declaring our inevitable demise via melted icebergs, it's the same principle with open letters. Acknowledging problems and issues within society doesn't have to be a negative thing. Shine it in an optimistic light and readers will carry that optimism too, pessimism gets you nowhere.
A Final Note
Open letters are a fantastic tool to use when advocating for change, but be aware of possible backlash. When publishing a open letter directed at a specific individual or organisation, say a politician and their shortcomings, you open yourself up to the same level of scrutiny that you put across. While this may be tolerable by some, others may find it upsetting to deal with attacks on their character or ideas, which in the day and age of internet trolls, are often far more extreme and unnecessary than the original comments in your letter that they are "responding" to.
Always make sure when undertaking any form of public writing, you are prepared for possible backlash or negativity, and always prioritise your mental well-being above anything else.
- This article was written by Caitlin Daly
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