You don’t need a byline to channel a columnist’s energy. The secret sauce is finding your “thing”—one topic you can talk about with obsessive detail. It could be vintage watches, local hiking trails, or why every restaurant in your town uses too much cilantro.
Editorial: Some ground rules for letters and guest columns - The
Write like you talk. The best columns read like a transcript of a smart, slightly irreverent conversation. Read your draft out loud. If a sentence trips you up, chop it. Aim for clarity, not complexity.
Embrace a strong, consistent viewpoint. Don’t try to please everyone. A column that makes half your readers nod and the other half grumble is doing its job. Contrarian takes—respectfully argued—are gold.
Structure is simple: a hook in the first paragraph, a middle that builds your case with anecdotes or facts, and a punchy closing that lands like a button on a jacket. No loose threads.
A Cultural Tour of the Column World
British newspapers practically invented the “celebrity columnist.” From Julie Burchill’s fiery rants to Caitlin Moran’s hilarious feminism, UK columns are often louder, sharper, and more polemical than their American cousins.
In Japan, the “shasetsu” (editorial column) is a formal, often philosophical essay on society. It’s considered high art. Meanwhile, in India, columnists like Shashi Tharoor mix political analysis with literary flourishes, proving the form can be both brainy and breezy.
Modern digital columns have evolved too. Heather Havrilesky’s “Ask Polly” at The Cut reads like a private therapy session. The format survives because it adapts—it now lives on Substack, in newsletters, and even as podcasts.
Parts Of A Newspaper Column at Zane Morrison blog
