WRITE A LETTER →
CHANGE THE CONVERSATION.
Our local newspapers are one of the few places where an ordinary citizen’s voice can still reach thousands of neighbors—and the people who represent them.
You don’t need to be a foreign-policy expert. And you don’t need to write the perfect letter.
You can have an impact by writing something true, short, personal—and yours.
✍️ THE 20-MINUTE LETTER
1. Start with your reason.
Begin somewhere human.
My son served in the Army… I remember watching Iraq unfold… As a veteran… I’m a Republican who voted for President Trump… I opposed the bombing of Iran from the beginning… I supported the initial military action, but I don’t support sending American troops… I’m a parent who doesn’t want another generation sent into an open-ended war…Different starting points are welcome.
2. Make ONE argument.
You have 150–200 words. You don’t have to explain the Middle East. Choose the concern that matters most to you.
American lives
What would justify putting American service members into a ground war in Iran?
Military realities
What risks would U.S. ground forces face in a modern battlefield shaped by drones, missiles, surveillance, and other technologies?
Escalation
Wars create consequences leaders cannot completely predict or control. What risks of further escalation concern you most?
Mission
What specific, achievable objective would require American ground troops? How would we know when that objective had been achieved?
National interest
Would further escalation serve the interests of the United States? What costs, obligations, and risks should Americans consider?
Economic consequences
How could additional war, energy disruption, or broader instability affect American households, businesses, and communities?
Veterans & military families
What do we owe the people asked to fight—and the families who live with the consequences?
Diplomacy
What possibilities for negotiation, mediation, ceasefire, or de-escalation should be pursued before expanding the war?
3. Make the ask unmistakable.
Say plainly what you want America’s leaders to do.
No U.S. boots on the ground in Iran. Stop the escalation.
Then stop. You don’t have to solve everything.
BUILD YOUR LETTER
Here’s the recipe:
Why does this matter to you?
What do you want your neighbors to understand?
Add one verified fact if it strengthens your argument.
What do you want America’s leaders to do now?
Bring it back to the value at stake.
Want some help shaping your letter?
You can use an AI assistant as an editor and writing partner without giving up your own voice.
Start by jotting down what you want to say—even fragments and bullet points are fine—then copy the prompt below.
The best letter starts with your ideas. Read the draft carefully, change anything that doesn’t sound like you, and verify factual claims before submitting.
WRITE FROM WHERE YOU STAND
You don’t have to sound like every other letter writer. We hope you won’t.
People can reach the same conclusion for very different reasons. Which ideas matter most to you?
Shared conclusion. Different reasons. Your voice.
WHY LETTERS?
Letters to the editor put citizens’ concerns into a community’s public conversation. They can be read by neighbors, journalists, community leaders, and people who vote.
One letter can reach thousands of people.
Letters appearing in communities across a state or around the country can make visible concerns that political leaders, journalists, and other citizens might otherwise never see.
Americans are paying attention.
FIND YOUR NEWSPAPER
Your letter needs somewhere to land.
Local print and online newspapers are a good place to start. Depending on where you live, you may also have nearby regional or statewide publications that accept letters from readers in your area.
We’ve created a prompt you can give to an AI assistant to help find current submission opportunities near you.
Before using it, replace [ZIP CODE] with your ZIP code.
Different AI assistants may find different publications. For the broadest search, try the same prompt in two.
A FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU SEND
How many newspapers should I send my letter to?
Start with the publication that most directly serves your community. You can also consider other local, regional, and statewide publications for which you’re legitimately part of the readership.
Check each publication’s rules before submitting. Requirements concerning exclusivity, frequency, geography, or previously submitted or published material can vary.
There is no universal percentage by which multiple versions of a letter must differ. Where appropriate, adapting the opening, local reference, or emphasis can make the letter more relevant to each publication’s readers.
What if they don’t publish my letter?
That’s normal. Newspapers often receive more letters than they can publish, and decisions can depend on space, timing, topic, local relevance, and what else the editor has received.
A letter that isn’t published isn’t a failed act of citizenship. You noticed something, thought about it, found your words, and spoke publicly.
Check the publication’s rules, consider another appropriate outlet, and keep going.
Should I send my letter to my members of Congress, too?
You can. A letter to the editor and a message to an elected official do different things. An LTE enters a public community conversation; a constituent message communicates directly with an office.
If you send your letter to an elected official, add a short note saying that you’re a constituent and clearly state the action you want the office to take.
Do I have to use my real name?
Newspapers generally require identifying and contact information so editors can verify authorship. Requirements vary, so check the specific publication’s instructions before submitting.
Should I respond to another letter or article?
You can. Referring briefly to something the newspaper recently published can give your letter an immediate connection to its readers.
Make your own point rather than spending most of your limited word count summarizing someone else’s.
What if I don’t know enough about Iran?
You don’t need to claim expertise you don’t have. Write about what you genuinely know and care about: military service, family, economic security, previous wars, diplomacy, fiscal responsibility, humanitarian concerns, or what you believe government owes people before asking them to fight.
If you include factual claims, verify them.
BEFORE YOU HIT SEND
- Is this mostly in my own words?
- Did I make one primary argument?
- Did I explain why I care?
- Can I substantiate my factual claims?
- Did I avoid insulting people who disagree?
- Did I clearly say what I want?
- Am I within the newspaper’s word limit?
- Did I include the contact information the newspaper requires?
SEND IT.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be yours—and sent.
THEN TELL US WHAT HAPPENED
Every submission helps us understand how far this effort is reaching.
