Suggestions for getting an op-ed published?

[OrwellwasRight]

Since there are so many published writers around here, does anyone have any specific tips?

The issue is not sitting down and writing them. When I decide I want to write one, I do.

And the issue is not being a "bad writer." Writing is the major function of my day job. In grad school I won various awards for my writing and was selected to TA a writing course. I have no illusions that my skills couldn't improve (of course they could); I'm just saying that I'm not being rejected because my pieces are non-sense or barely literate.

What I am looking for are suggestions on tone or approach that might help increase my chances of being published. Or perhaps certain papers might be willing to give unknown pundits like myself a chance? Should I always name and quote some article from the particular paper to which I am submitting my work? Are certain days of the week better?

I have written three different pieces so far; each was rejected by two different papers.

A major obstacle I am having is that the way the papers operate (they say that my piece must be exclusively submitted to them and that they have 5 days to reject it), by the time I get the second submission, the piece already beginning to get "stale."

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Blower]

1. Hmm, I have had two letters published in the NYT

Just write them well, and short. Both letters I wrote got published in the NYT!

If you want me to run your story on my website, let me know.

Op-Eds tend to be based on reputation...

Dan
aka Blower

www.libertywhistle.us

[OrwellwasRight]

2. Thanks.

I'll send it to you if I get rejected from the paper I currently have it submitted to. :hi:

[Blower]

3. I can help edit too.

My site gets picked up by government, military, and financial sites.