Amy Adams is partnerships director for Progress Iowa and has worked with a variety of Iowa-based grassroots organizations for the past eight years. She is a wife and mother of three living in rural northeast Iowa. 

In today’s digital world, it can be easy to feel like our voices get lost in the noise. But one simple, powerful tool still cuts through and makes a real impact: the letter to the editor.

For the past seven years at Progress Iowa, we’ve worked to support and amplify the voices of Iowans through storytelling. And one of the most powerful and easy ways to speak up is through a letter to the editor. Letter writers lift up the issues that matter most, from education and reproductive freedom to climate justice and fair taxes.

Why write a letter to the editor? Because it works. The opinion section is one of the most-read parts of any newspaper, both in print and online. It’s a free way to educate your neighbors, influence public opinion, and show lawmakers what real Iowans care about. Political staffers and elected officials pay attention to local papers; they’re listening, whether we’re calling for change or standing up for progress.

Who can write a letter to the editor? You. No fancy titles or policy expertise required. Just your experience, your values, and your voice. If you’ve lived it, that’s expertise.

What makes a good letter? Effective letters are grounded in shared values and driven by clear calls to action. Start by naming what you believe in: whether it’s access to affordable health care, strong public schools, or clean water for every community. Then name the problem, or identify the villain: who or what is standing in the way of that value? Add a personal example or real-world impact to bring your point home. Your lived experience is your expertise. Our stories connect us, and they persuade us.

Avoid getting caught up in facts and figures. A couple of those can be handy, but the real-world impacts of the issue you seek to address are what readers will remember. Finally, share a solution and tell readers what they can do next. Is there a call to action? Tell readers what to do. 

Here’s a basic framework to follow:

• Lead with a value.
• Name the problem/identify the villain.
• Give an example or personal story.
• Offer a solution or call to action.

Letters are most effective when they’re timely and concise, usually around 150-200 words. Know your local paper’s submission guidelines, and if your letter isn’t published within two weeks, follow up with the editor. Get to know your local newspaper editors. Support local news. Our small and mid-sized towns are fortunate to have local newspapers. 

Your voice, your story, and your ideas matter—because when we speak together, we’re stronger.

Amy Adams, Progress Iowa, amy@progressiowa.org