Have your say and be published online
In the box above, write a letter clearly explaining your point of view about a current issue or something you feel strongly about.
You can write about any theme you like or write on the suggested starter theme, but letters must be 100-250 words in length.
Your letter will be submitted to the editor for a chance to win great prizes and be published online for others to view.
One 'Editor's Choice' and four highly commended entries will be chosen each month and posted online. Each month the winner of the 'Editor's Choice' letter will receive a prize to the value of $100. Four highly commended winners will also receive prizes to the value of $50 each. All will be posted online.
Tips for writing your letters
- Use formal language
- Introduce the theme
- State the issue - problems and solutions
- Offer your point of view
- Develop your ideas with examples
- Provide facts and opinion
- Analyse the information
- Evaluate the situation
- Give a conclusion - state what you think should happen
- Be persuasive
Getting started
Looking for inspiration? Check out the Letters to the Editor section of your newspaper where members of the public tell us what they think. Who do you agree with? Disagree with? Or write on this month's theme.
This month’s theme: Reflections on the All-Whites
Things to think about:
• Who are the New Zealand All Whites?
• The All Whites didn’t win a game at the Football World Cup, so what’s the big deal?
• Why are we having a street parade to welcome the All Whites back to NZ?
• What do you think are the most important attributes of a top soccer player?
• Do you need to be good looking like Ronaldo, to be recognised and adored by fans?
• Should professional football players be paid huge salaries? Why / why not?
• What does a country like South Africa gain from hosting the Football World Cup?
• Has the football World Cup inspired you or your friends to start playing soccer? Why / why not?
• Who was your favourite player/team and why?
Things to think about:
• Who are the New Zealand All Whites?
• The All Whites didn’t win a game at the Football World Cup, so what’s the big deal?
• Why are we having a street parade to welcome the All Whites back to NZ?
• What do you think are the most important attributes of a top soccer player?
• Do you need to be good looking like Ronaldo, to be recognised and adored by fans?
• Should professional football players be paid huge salaries? Why / why not?
• What does a country like South Africa gain from hosting the Football World Cup?
• Has the football World Cup inspired you or your friends to start playing soccer? Why / why not?
• Who was your favourite player/team and why?
From the Editor
Last month’s topic was our New Zealand role models. Students were asked to consider what makes a person a good role model and is there a common set of criteria that these people seem to follow? Do role models display the same attributes? There was also the question: do you personally have a responsibility to be a good role model to others?
Last month’s topic was our New Zealand role models. Students were asked to consider what makes a person a good role model and is there a common set of criteria that these people seem to follow? Do role models display the same attributes? There was also the question: do you personally have a responsibility to be a good role model to others?
This has been an interesting time for us at Letters B He@rd as not one of the winning letters this month wrote on the suggested topic but looked instead at a myriad of other issues that they personally, were passionate about.
Isn’t it great that you don’t have to write on the suggested theme topic; it is just to get the thought processes rolling. Remember be persuasive, don’t just give us facts, craft a persuasive argument so that we can’t help but agree with you. Keep your thoughts logical and sequential and finish really well.
Isn’t it great that you don’t have to write on the suggested theme topic; it is just to get the thought processes rolling. Remember be persuasive, don’t just give us facts, craft a persuasive argument so that we can’t help but agree with you. Keep your thoughts logical and sequential and finish really well.
We look forward to receiving more letters from our budding writers out there.
Please edit your work carefully and check the word count before sending off your entries.
Read the latest winning letters
Read past winning letters
Read the latest winning letters
Read past winning letters
