Introducing Letters

At Medium, we are building a new kind of media product — one centered around conversation and reaction, one where audience engagement is not an afterthought, but something fundamentally new and participatory at its core. The benefits of writing on Medium — into a thriving network, being connected to many others — have always been a big part of what we’re all about. But we’ve been missing an important ingredient, which we’re adding today: continuity.

We’re very excited to announce the launch of a new feature for Publications. We’re calling it Letters. We think it’s valuable, especially in today’s world of endless information streams, to remember the act of letter writing as an intimate form of communication.

So what is a Letter?

It’s a way of connecting with your publication’s followers and starting a conversation.

It’s delivered to the inboxes of all the people who follow your publication.

It’s also a post, so it can be recommended, highlighted, built upon, and have a life of its own.

Followers will have the option to unsubscribe from your publication’s Letters directly from their inbox and on their publications management page. Remember, too much of a good thing is often too much ☺

You still only need to write when you have something to say. But now, it can be delivered directly to your publication’s followers.

After all, there’s a certain intimacy in the inbox.

As an editor, you’ll see a new option in the dropdown on your publication page called “Letters.” When you send your Letter, not only will it be delivered to all the inboxes of your followers, but it will also be published as a post in your publication — consumable by anyone on the web and in our iOS app.

Letters have the potential to provide what blogs used to through RSS subscriptions. With this, we’ve now made Publications truly a place for people to follow your work and get updates on your ideas, thoughts, and stories. We’d love for you to try it and let us know what you think at yourfriends@medium.com.