Newspapers often welcome contributions from freelancers. Most newspapers across the country are downsizing their staffs, which is good news for freelancers hoping to get a foot in the door.

The most important thing is to read your local newspaper regularly to get a feel for the kinds of articles they accept. Pay attention to what they write about and the style of their writing. Editors want writers who are invested in the community and care about local journalism.

Newspapers typically use outside contributors to write about religion, food, gardening, and fitness. Some also welcome profiles about local personalities and athletes.

Another way to break into a newspaper is to submit unpaid pieces, such as letters to the editor and editorials. Choose your subject carefully and maintain a balanced and professional tone. This is the way for editors to become familiar with you.

Here are some additional tips I learned in forty-five years of working for major metropolitan newspapers:

• Make sure your first paragraph, also called the lead, includes “the five W’s” — who, what, when, where, and why. The “when” should include the exact date and time, and the “where” includes a complete address.
• Every person mentioned in the article should have a first and last name, even children.
• Never use italics, all-caps, or exclamation points for emphasis.
• In newspapers, space is gold and unnecessary words are slashed. Avoid adjectives and adverbs. If size or age is important to your article, use exact numbers if possible. Instead of “the new store will be quite large,” say, “the new store will be over 20,000 square feet.” Instead of “the cemetery is very old,” say “the cemetery has graves dating to the 1700s.”
• Avoid bias. Write in a matter-of-fact manner that lets the reader form his ore her own opinion about the subject.
• Most newspapers go by “the three-source rule” that requires each article to mention at least three sources. Ideally the writer will interview three people. For example, if you are writing an article about vegetable gardening, you might talk to 1) the owner of a local garden center, 2) an individual who is a gardener, and 3) a representative of your county extension office.
• Write in third person. Well-known columnists sometimes write in first person, but it’s not recommended for newcomers.
• Ask which format the editor requests for submissions. Most prefer that you submit your article as a Word document attached to an email.
• Use AP style. Word count varies, but shorter is usually better. Don’t use exclamation marks.
• Most editors are swamped with emails, so add a subject line that can help them quickly determine what the email contains, such as “letter to the editor” or “gardening article.”

Keep these tips in mind, and we’ll soon be reading your column in the newspaper.

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Beth Gooch worked as a newspaper copy editor and digital producer for the Memphis Commercial Appeal for forty years and now works for the online Daily Memphian. She borrows details from quirky, interesting crime articles she has edited for the paper and weaves them into suspense stories. The twist? In Beth’s novels, the witness might be a drone. Come along for the ride with fast-paced stories about people who overcome obstacles and learn the value of prayer and trusting God even when everything seems to be falling apart.