A Good Opinion Piece is More Than a Personal Stance
Opinion pieces have a rightful place in communication and getting your message across. But they’re not always the best tool for the job. Writing a compelling opinion piece is no easy task – it requires a clear idea, a solid structure, and a good dose of courage. It’s not something to dive into lightly.
A truly impactful opinion piece takes flight beyond the opinion section. It sparks further discussion – whether in news articles, on social media, or through follow-up commentaries. So why do so many opinion pieces fail to make that kind of impact?
Before you decide to write one, there are two key questions you should ask yourself:
1. Will the people I want to reach actually find and read this?
There’s no shortage of opinion pieces out there. Whether and how long yours stays on the front page of a news portal depends on whether it’s timely, clearly opinionated, and resonates with readers at that moment. Even the most avid news consumers can’t keep up with every opinion platform or read every article that catches their eye. That’s why you need to identify your core audience. Who are you trying to reach and inspire to take action? Once you’ve defined that, ask yourself: Will that audience come across this piece? Do they even read opinion articles?
2. What is the only one key message or argument I want to get across?
As the name suggests, an opinion piece should express a clear opinion on something. It should ignite something in you as the writer—and in your readers. That spark comes from a strong central idea, your main thesis. If the piece lacks a backbone to build the rest of the argument around, it will be difficult to write and even harder to read.
Opinion Pieces Aren’t Social Media Posts
People often confuse two different formats: opinion pieces and social media posts. The latter can be emotional, fragmented, and driven by the moment, more like a short remark than a structured argument. An opinion piece, on the other hand, calls for deeper analysis, a clear structure, and a sense of responsibility. If your writing fails to connect with the reader – fails to offer them something thought-provoking or inspiring – it won’t have any real impact.
A strong opinion piece doesn’t begin with a paragraph explaining why the author decided to write it. It starts with a story or a fact that makes the reader stop and think: “This affects me, too.”
“A strong opinion piece doesn’t begin with a paragraph explaining why the author decided to write it. It starts with a story or a fact that makes the reader stop and think: “This affects me, too.””
A Good Opinion Piece Needs a STORY
Even the strongest argument falls flat without a compelling story to back it up or bring it to life. Why? Because facts alone don’t persuade people, stories do. Stories allow readers to see themselves reflected in the narrative. They draw people in. That story could be a personal experience, something you witnessed, or a deep dive into a particular situation that gets the reader thinking.
So to sum up: the term “opinion piece” itself points us in the right direction. You need two key elements – a clear opinion and a story to support it. A story with an opinion.
