How to Write a Cover Letter

Here are a few tips and examples of how to write a cover letter. In the old days, really not that long ago, it was customary to send a cover letter with your short story or poetry submission. For 100s of years it was customary to send a cover letter, but writers are following tradition less and less. Not sending a cover letter can seem a little arrogant on the part of the writer. It’s not that your work doesn’t speak for itself, it’s just that editors are still people. Editors like hellos and goodbyes as much as anyone. Simply, it’s a good idea to include a cover letter with our work.

On the other side, editors do not want long-winded letters that tell them your life history. Writing a cover letter is very easy and very quick if you follow a simple formula. For the last 30 years, before writers abandoned the cover letter, the form was pretty simple. It was as follows:

I. Greetings,
II. Words about the magazine
III. Words about the work
IV. Words about you
V. Salutation.

Dear Editor,

It was customary at one time to find the name of the editor and address the letter to that person, but in today’s world that’s a long shot. So at least start the letter “Dear Editor,” if you do not know the editor’s name. If you know the editor’s name, by all means use it, and use the last name only.

Dear Dr. Green

If you know a specific title use that too. Here is an example of a quick cover letter.

It’s just that simple. It’s so nice as an editor to read something where the person took 2 mins to say hello and goodbye. It’s nice to feel like I’m a person and not a poetry processing machine. Here is another example:

Really writing a cover letter is very easy. Being that you are sending the same work over and over, you can create a form letter and just change the first paragraph. It will take you minimal time.

As an editor, I like it when I get a little note from the writer. As a matter of fact those with cover letters get first consideration around here. If your work is sent by email, the cover letter is the start of the email, it is not attached. Please don’t send me another attachment on top of the 4 attachments you are sending. My life is about attachments anyway. I mean I dream of that little paperclip symbol sometimes, and the dream isn’t pleasant. So start the email with the cover letter. Remember, editors are people. Think of it this way, if you were stopping by the office to drop off your work would you simply through a floppy disc at the editor and then leave or would you stop and have a few words with him?

If you have built up resentment directed at editors, please don’t take it out on me. Buy a stress ball. Do something else, but be nice to your editors.

Just some friendly advice.