So You Wanna Be a Published Wordsmith? Your Guide to Conquering the Dallas Morning News' Inbox (Humorously)
Ever felt like your shower musings on Dallas' ever-expanding dog park network deserved a wider audience? Perhaps you have a burning opinion on the city's latest traffic cone placement strategy (seriously, who even designs those things?). Well, fret no more, my friend, because you hold the key to unleashing your inner Voltaire (or at least your inner sassy neighbor): a letter to the editor of the Dallas Morning News!
But hold on there, Roy Rogers, before you start scribbling your grocery list on a napkin and calling it a day. There's a bit more to this rodeo than meets the eye.
Wranglin' Those Words: The Art of the Short and Sweet
First things first, the Dallas Morning News is a fan of brevity. Think of it like Twitter for intellectuals (or at least those who can spell "intellectual" without autocorrect). They prefer your masterpiece to be a lean, mean, fighting machine of 200 words or less. That's right, folks, you gotta condense your Pulitzer-worthy prose into the size of a haiku.
Pro Tip: Channel your inner Hemingway and focus on one strong point. Don't try to solve world hunger and fix the DART system in one fell swoop.
Lassoing the Right Topic: What Makes the Cut?
Now, not just any ol' thought will do. The Dallas Morning News editors are like picky cows – they only graze on the choicest pastures of public interest. Here are some prime topics to consider:
- A recent article that fired you right up (or down, depending on your stance).
- A burning local issue that needs addressing (like the mysterious disappearance of all the decent breakfast tacos).
- A wacky observation about life in the Big D (seriously, why are there so many squirrels that defy the laws of physics?).
Remember: Keep it relevant, keep it respectful (even if you're arguing against a particularly stubborn traffic cone), and keep it interesting.
Hog-tying the Submission Process: The How-To
Alright, so you've got your topic, you've sharpened your wit, and you're ready to unleash your masterpiece on the unsuspecting public. Here's how to get that letter movin' and groovin':
- Head on over to the Dallas Morning News website and find their handy dandy "Submit a Letter to the Editor" form. It's probably hidden somewhere amongst all the serious news and award-winning journalism (don't worry, it's there, I promise).
- Fill out the form with your information. This isn't the CIA, but they do like to know who the brilliant mind behind the letter is (and maybe make sure you're not a rogue squirrel with a vendetta against traffic cones).
- Paste your letter into the designated space. Proofread that sucker like your life depends on it (because, let's face it, local fame kind of does).
- Hit submit and cross your fingers! Now comes the waiting game, which can feel longer than a Texas summer.
Bonus Tip: If you see your letter in print, do a little victory dance. You, my friend, have officially become a Dallas Morning News wordsmith extraordinaire!
So there you have it, folks. With a little bit of wit, a dash of brevity, and a whole lot of moxie, you too can conquer the Dallas Morning News' inbox and become a published wordsmith (or at least a semi-famous letter writer in your local paper). Now, get out there and start wrangling those words!