NPR

Former New York Times Editor On Writing To Get Someone's Attention — And Maybe Changing Their Mind

Former editor Trish Hall has written a new how-to book, "Writing to Persuade: How to Bring People Over to Your Side." She joins host Lisa Mullins to talk about the book.
"Writing To Persuade" by Trish Hall. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

As a former editor, Trish Hall has seen a lot of bad submissions to the New York Times Op-Ed page.

She’s now written the how-to book, “Writing to Persuade: How to Bring People Over to Your Side.” Hall joins Here & Now‘s Lisa Mullins to talk about the book.

Times’ Op-Ed Pieces Mentioned On Air

Book Excerpt: ‘Writing to Persuade: How to Bring People Over to Your Side’

by Trish Hall

For almost five years, as the person in charge of Op-Ed for The New York Times, I was immersed in argument, in passion, in ideas. I oversaw a dozen editors who read submissions from both the august and the unknown, all eager to be heard. Two assistants, looking for gems, pored over the hundreds of unsolicited manuscripts that arrived each week. I too read

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Floods In Southern Brazil Kill At Least 75 People Over 7 Days
Massive floods in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 75 people over the last seven days, and another 103 were reported missing, local authorities said Sunday.
NPR2 min read
Mystik Dan Wins The Kentucky Derby By A Nose
In a close finish, Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby by a horse's nostril over Sierra Leone. Contenders waited with bated breath in the seconds before the official decision was made. The thoroughbred had entered the race with 18-1 odds — a longshot c
NPR2 min readWorld
Ukraine's Zelenskyy Calls God An "Ally" Against Russia In Orthodox Easter Message
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians in an Easter address to be united in prayer and called God an "ally" in the war with Russia.

Related Books & Audiobooks