cover letter fiction submission

The Perfect Cover Letter: Advice From a Lit Mag Editor

Today’s guest post is from Elise Holland, co-founder and editor of 2 Elizabeths , a short fiction and poetry publication.

When submitting your short-form literature to a magazine or journal, your cover letter is often the first piece of writing an editor sees. It serves as an introduction to your thoughtfully crafted art. As such, it is significant, but it shouldn’t be intimidating or even take much time to write.

As editor at 2 Elizabeths , I see a variety of cover letters every day; some are excellent, and others could stand to be improved. There are a few key pieces of information to include, while keeping them short and sweet. In fact, a cover letter should only be a couple of paragraphs long, and no more than roughly 100-150 words.

A little research goes a long way

Seek out the editor’s name, and address the letter to him/her, as opposed to using a generic greeting. Typically, you can find this information either on the magazine or journal’s website, or in the submission guidelines.

Read the submission guidelines thoroughly. Many publications will state in their guidelines the exact details that need to be included in a cover letter. With some variation, a general rule of thumb is to include the following:

• Editor’s name (if you can locate it)
• Genre/category
• Brief description of your piece
• If you have been published previously, state where
• Whether your piece is a simultaneous submission (definition below)

Terms to Know

The term simultaneous submission means that you will be sending the same piece to several literary magazines or journals at the same time. Most publications accept simultaneous submissions, but some do not. If a publication does not accept them, this will be stated in their guidelines.

Should your work be selected for publication by one magazine, it is important to notify other publications where you have submitted that piece. This courtesy will prevent complications, and will keep you in good graces with various editors, should you wish to submit to them again in the future.

The term multiple submission means that you are submitting multiple pieces to the same literary magazine or journal.

Cover Letter That Needs Work

Dear Editor, Here is a collection of poems I wrote that I’d like you to consider. I have not yet been published elsewhere. Please let me know what you think. Bio: John Doe is an Insurance Agent by day and a writer by night, living in Ten Buck Two. He is the author of a personal blog, LivingWith20Cats.com. Best, John Doe

What Went Wrong?

John Doe didn’t research the editor’s name. A personal greeting is always better than a simple “Dear Editor.” Additionally, John failed to include the word count, title and a brief description of his work.

There is no need to state that John has not yet been published elsewhere. He should simply leave that piece of information out. (Many publications, 2 Elizabeths included, will still welcome your submissions warmly if you are unpublished.)

John included a statement asking the editor to let him know what he/she thinks about his work. Due to time constraints, it is rare that an editor sends feedback unless work is going to be accepted.

Unless otherwise specified by the magazine or journal to which you are submitting, you do not need to include biographical information in your cover letter. Typically, that information is either requested upfront but in a separate document from the cover letter, or is not requested until a piece has been selected for publishing.

Cover Letter Ready to Be Sent

Dear Elise, Please consider this 1,457-word short fiction piece, “Summer.” I recently participated in the 2 Elizabeths Open Mic Night, and am an avid reader of the fiction and poetry that you publish. “Summer” is a fictitious tale inspired by the impact of a whirlwind, yet meaningful, romance I experienced last year. In this story, I gently explore the life lessons associated with young love, with a touch of humor. This is a simultaneous submission, and I will notify you if the piece is accepted elsewhere. Thank you for your consideration. Kindest Regards, John Doe

What Went Right?

In this letter, John includes all pertinent information, while keeping his letter clear and concise. In his second sentence, John also briefly states how he is familiar with the magazine. While doing this isn’t required, if done tastefully, it can be a nice touch! Another example might be: “I read and enjoyed your spring issue, and believe that my work is a good fit for your magazine.”

I hope these sample letters help you as you send your short works to magazines and journals for consideration. While you’re at it, I hope you will check out 2 Elizabeths ! We would love to read your work.

Elise Holland is co-founder and editor of 2 Elizabeths , a short fiction and poetry publication. Her work has appeared in various publications, most recently in Story a Day . Through 2 Elizabeths, Elise strives to create value and visibility for writers, through writing contests , events , and more!

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Love this! The letter is short and to the point, and covers all the necessary information. Great tips! I always worry that the only publishing credit I have is the winning entry in a short story contest through the local paper. Should I mention that? And writing conferences I’ve attended?

As Elise says, it’s OK if you’re unpublished. Don’t worry about it. But feel free to mention your winning entry. If the writing conferences would likely be known to the journals’ editors, you might mention one or two.

[…] recently wrote a full article on the perfect cover letter, here. Check it out for clear, simple instructions, along with sample […]

[…] publication. Her work has appeared in various publications, most recently in Story a Day, and at JaneFriedman.com.  Through 2 Elizabeths, Elise strives to create value and visibility for writers, through writing […]

Thanks for the concise and useful information! I’ve heard that it’s also a good idea to include a sentence or two that makes it clear that you are familiar with the kind of work the magazine has published in the past. Is this generally advised, or would you consider it nonessential unless specified in the submission guidelines?

Written Samples

15 sample cover letters for book submission.

As an author, few things are more exhilarating than the prospect of submitting your book to publishers.

However, crafting the perfect cover letter can be a challenge.

A well-written cover letter is your opportunity to showcase your writing skills, introduce your book, and capture the attention of potential publishers.

Sample Cover Letters for Book Submission

In this article, we present fifteen sample cover letters that demonstrate various approaches to creating a compelling submission package.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a first-time author, these examples will provide inspiration and guidance as you embark on your publishing journey.

Sample Cover Letter One

Dear [Publisher],

I am excited to submit my novel, “The Moonlit Path,” for your consideration. This 80,000-word contemporary romance follows the story of Lila, a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads in life. As she navigates the challenges of love, family, and self-discovery, Lila embarks on a journey that will change her forever.

With its relatable characters and emotionally resonant themes, “The Moonlit Path” will appeal to fans of authors such as Jojo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks. I believe this novel has the potential to captivate a wide audience and leave a lasting impact on readers.

As a published author with a strong track record in the romance genre, I am confident in my ability to promote this book and engage with readers. My previous novels have received critical acclaim and have been featured on bestseller lists.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss “The Moonlit Path” further with you.

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter Two

I am writing to submit my non-fiction book proposal, “The Art of Mindful Living,” for your review. This 50,000-word guide explores the principles and practices of mindfulness, offering readers practical strategies for incorporating mindfulness into their daily lives.

With the growing interest in mindfulness and its numerous benefits, “The Art of Mindful Living” is poised to resonate with a diverse readership. The book’s accessible language, real-life examples, and step-by-step exercises make it an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to reduce stress, improve well-being, and cultivate a more present and fulfilling life.

As a certified mindfulness instructor with over a decade of experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this project. My extensive teaching background and engaging writing style ensure that the book will be both informative and enjoyable to read.

I have enclosed a detailed proposal, including a table of contents, sample chapters, and a marketing plan. I am confident that “The Art of Mindful Living” will be a valuable addition to your catalog.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to the possibility of working with you to bring this important book to readers.

Best regards,

Sample Cover Letter Three

I am thrilled to submit my young adult fantasy novel, “The Enchanted Medallion,” for your consideration. This 75,000-word adventure follows the story of Aria, a teenage girl who discovers a mysterious medallion that transports her to a magical realm. As Aria uncovers the secrets of her past and the true power of the medallion, she must face dangerous challenges and make difficult choices to save both her world and the enchanted realm.

With its vivid world-building, complex characters, and thrilling plot twists, “The Enchanted Medallion” will captivate young adult readers who enjoy fantasy adventures. The novel’s themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the power of choice will resonate with a wide audience.

As an avid reader and writer of young adult fiction, I have a deep understanding of the genre and its readers. I am committed to promoting this book through social media, author events, and other marketing initiatives.

Thank you for taking the time to consider “The Enchanted Medallion.” I am excited about the opportunity to share this enchanting story with readers and look forward to discussing the novel further with you.

Sample Cover Letter Four

I am pleased to submit my historical fiction novel, “The Silken Thread,” for your review. Set in eighteenth-century France, this 90,000-word tale weaves together the lives of two women from different social classes: Élise, a young seamstress, and Madame Renée, a wealthy noblewoman. As their paths intertwine, both women must confront the challenges of their era and the secrets that threaten to unravel the delicate fabric of their lives.

Rich in historical detail and emotional depth, “The Silken Thread” will appeal to readers who enjoy immersive, character-driven narratives. The novel’s exploration of class, gender, and the enduring power of friendship will resonate with a broad audience.

As a historian with a passion for storytelling, I have conducted extensive research to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the novel’s setting and characters. My previous works have been praised for their attention to detail and ability to transport readers to another time and place.

Thank you for considering “The Silken Thread.” I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this novel with you further and am excited about the possibility of sharing this compelling story with readers.

Sample Cover Letter Five

I am excited to submit my science fiction novel, “The Quantum Conspiracy,” for your consideration. In this 85,000-word thriller, Dr. Liam Callahan, a brilliant physicist, stumbles upon a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the world of quantum computing. However, when his research falls into the wrong hands, Liam finds himself at the center of a global conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of reality.

With its blend of cutting-edge science, high-stakes action, and thought-provoking ideas, “The Quantum Conspiracy” will appeal to fans of authors such as Michael Crichton and Blake Crouch. The novel’s exploration of the ethical implications of advanced technology and its impact on society will engage readers and spark meaningful discussions.

As a scientist with a background in quantum physics, I bring a unique perspective and level of authenticity to this story. My ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging prose sets this novel apart from others in the genre.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am confident that “The Quantum Conspiracy” will captivate readers and leave them eager for more. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this novel with you further.

Sample Cover Letter Six

I am writing to submit my memoir, “Uncharted Waters: A Journey of Self-Discovery,” for your review. In this 70,000-word narrative, I share my personal story of navigating life’s challenges, overcoming adversity, and ultimately finding my true purpose.

Through a series of poignant vignettes and introspective reflections, “Uncharted Waters” offers readers a candid and inspiring glimpse into the human experience. The memoir’s themes of resilience, self-acceptance, and the power of perseverance will resonate with a wide audience, particularly those seeking inspiration and guidance in their own lives.

As a professional life coach and motivational speaker, I have a strong platform and a dedicated following. My ability to connect with audiences and share my story in a compelling and relatable way has been proven through my successful speaking engagements and workshops.

Thank you for considering “Uncharted Waters.” I believe this memoir has the potential to make a profound impact on readers and look forward to the opportunity to share my story with a broader audience.

Sample Cover Letter Seven

I am thrilled to submit my mystery novel, “The Whispering Shadows,” for your consideration. In this 80,000-word whodunit, Detective Evelyn Parker must unravel a series of perplexing murders that have left the quiet town of Millfield in a state of terror. As she delves deeper into the investigation, Evelyn discovers a web of secrets and lies that threaten to consume her and everyone she holds dear.

With its atmospheric setting, complex characters, and surprising twists, “The Whispering Shadows” will appeal to fans of classic mystery novels and contemporary psychological thrillers alike. The novel’s exploration of the dark underbelly of small-town life and the toll of secrets on the human psyche will keep readers engrossed until the final shocking revelation.

As an avid reader and student of the mystery genre, I have crafted a story that pays homage to the classics while introducing fresh and innovative elements. My ability to create suspense, develop multi-dimensional characters, and weave intricate plotlines sets this novel apart from others in the genre.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am excited about the opportunity to share “The Whispering Shadows” with mystery enthusiasts and look forward to discussing the novel further with you.

Sample Cover Letter Eight

I am writing to submit my science fiction short story collection, “Futures Unbound,” for your review. This 60,000-word anthology features twelve thought-provoking tales that explore the limitless possibilities of the future and the human condition.

From a world where emotions are bought and sold to a society where genetic engineering has created a new class divide, “Futures Unbound” takes readers on a journey through the uncharted territories of tomorrow. Each story is a unique and imaginative exploration of the challenges, triumphs, and moral dilemmas that await us in the years to come.

As a lifelong fan of science fiction and a writer with a passion for pushing the boundaries of the genre, I have crafted a collection that will appeal to both hardcore sci-fi enthusiasts and readers who appreciate well-written, thought-provoking literature. My stories have been praised for their originality, emotional depth, and ability to challenge readers’ assumptions about the world and our place in it.

Thank you for considering “Futures Unbound.” I believe this collection has the potential to make a significant contribution to the science fiction genre and look forward to the opportunity to share these stories with a wider audience.

Sample Cover Letter Nine

I am excited to submit my contemporary romance novel, “Love on the Horizon,” for your consideration. In this 75,000-word story, Olivia Bennett, a successful but unfulfilled corporate lawyer, takes a much-needed vacation to a small coastal town, where she meets the charming and mysterious Jack Sullivan. As Olivia and Jack navigate the challenges of their budding relationship, they must confront the ghosts of their pasts and decide whether their love is strong enough to weather the storms of life.

With its heartwarming romance, witty dialogue, and relatable characters, “Love on the Horizon” will appeal to readers who enjoy emotionally satisfying love stories with a touch of humor and drama. The novel’s themes of second chances, personal growth, and the power of love will resonate with a wide audience.

As a published author in the romance genre, I have a proven track record of creating stories that captivate readers and leave them wanting more. My ability to craft compelling characters, engaging plotlines, and emotionally resonant moments sets my writing apart from others in the genre.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am confident that “Love on the Horizon” will be a welcome addition to your romance catalog and look forward to the opportunity to discuss the novel further with you.

Sample Cover Letter Ten

I am writing to submit my young adult fantasy novel, “The Dreamweavers,” for your review. In this 80,000-word tale, twin siblings Aria and Liam discover that they possess the rare ability to enter and manipulate dreams. As they learn to harness their powers, they become entangled in an ancient conflict between the Dreamweavers and the Nightmares, malevolent entities that feed on fear and despair.

With its imaginative world-building, fast-paced action, and themes of sibling bonding and self-discovery, “The Dreamweavers” will appeal to young adult readers who enjoy immersive fantasy adventures. The novel’s exploration of the power of dreams and the importance of facing one’s fears will resonate with readers of all ages.

As an educator and a passionate advocate for young adult literature, I have a deep understanding of the genre and its audience. My ability to create relatable characters, engaging storylines, and meaningful themes sets this novel apart from others in the category.

Thank you for considering “The Dreamweavers.” I believe this novel has the potential to captivate young readers and inspire them to dream big and face their fears. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the story further with you.

Sample Cover Letter Eleven

I am thrilled to submit my historical fiction novel, “The Painted Veil,” for your consideration. Set in the 1920s, this 90,000-word story follows the life of Evelyn Ashford, a young aristocrat who finds herself drawn into the glamorous and treacherous world of London’s art scene. As Evelyn navigates the complexities of love, ambition, and the expectations of her social class, she must confront the secrets and scandals that threaten to tear her life apart.

With its lush historical detail, complex characters, themes of self-discovery, and the price of fame, “The Painted Veil” will appeal to readers who enjoy immersive, emotionally resonant historical fiction. The novel’s exploration of the role of women in the art world and the changing social landscape of the 1920s will engage readers and provide a fresh perspective on a fascinating era.

As a historian and a lifelong fan of historical fiction, I have conducted extensive research to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the novel’s setting and characters. My ability to weave historical facts with compelling storytelling sets this novel apart from others in the genre.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am confident that “The Painted Veil” will transport readers to a world of beauty, passion, and intrigue, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the novel further with you.

Sample Cover Letter Twelve

I am writing to submit my mystery novel, “The Final Deception,” for your review. In this 85,000-word thriller, Detective Lucas Novak must solve the murder of a prominent businessman whose death uncovers a web of corruption and deceit that reaches the highest levels of power. As Lucas races against time to unravel the mystery, he must confront his demons and the ghosts of his past that threaten to derail the investigation.

With its intricate plot, gritty atmosphere, and complex characters, “The Final Deception” will appeal to fans of hard-boiled detective fiction and psychological suspense. The novel’s exploration of the dark underbelly of power and the toll of secrets on the human psyche will keep readers engrossed until the final shocking revelation.

As a former police detective and a lifelong fan of the mystery genre, I bring a unique perspective and level of authenticity to this story. My ability to create suspense, develop multi-dimensional characters, and craft intricate plotlines sets this novel apart from others in the genre.

Thank you for considering “The Final Deception.” I believe this novel has the potential to become a classic of the mystery genre and look forward to the opportunity to share it with readers who crave intelligent, thought-provoking suspense.

Best regards ,

Sample Cover Letter Thirteen

I am excited to submit my science fiction novel, “The Enigma Protocol,” for your consideration. In this 90,000-word techno-thriller, Dr. Evelyn Cross, a brilliant computer scientist, discovers a mysterious code hidden within the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence. As she races to decipher the code and uncover its origins, Evelyn becomes entangled in a global conspiracy that threatens the very future of humanity.

With its blend of cutting-edge technology, philosophical questions, and high-stakes action, “The Enigma Protocol” will appeal to fans of science fiction that pushes the boundaries of what is possible. The novel’s exploration of the implications of artificial intelligence and the nature of consciousness will engage readers and spark meaningful discussions about the future of technology and its impact on society.

As a computer scientist with a passion for science fiction, I bring a unique perspective and level of authenticity to this story. My ability to create compelling characters, thought-provoking scenarios, and scientifically plausible plotlines sets this novel apart from others in the genre.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am confident that “The Enigma Protocol” will captivate readers and leave them pondering the mysteries of the universe long after they turn the final page. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this novel with you further.

Sample Cover Letter Fourteen

I am writing to submit my young adult contemporary novel, “The Gravity of Us,” for your review. In this 75,000-word story, high school senior Harper Evans must navigate the challenges of first love, family expectations, and the pressures of college applications while coming to terms with her own identity and place in the world.

With its relatable characters, authentic voice, and themes of self-discovery and the power of human connection, “The Gravity of Us” will appeal to young adult readers who crave stories that reflect their own experiences and emotions. The novel’s exploration of the challenges and triumphs of growing up and finding one’s place in the world will resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

As a high school teacher and a passionate advocate for young adult literature, I have a deep understanding of the genre and its audience. My ability to create authentic, multi-dimensional characters and emotionally resonant storylines sets this novel apart from others in the category.

Thank you for considering “The Gravity of Us.” I believe this novel has the potential to make a profound impact on young readers and provide them with a story that speaks to their hearts and minds. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the novel further with you.

Sample Cover Letter Fifteen

I am thrilled to submit my historical romance novel, “The Heart’s Whisper,” for your consideration. Set in the rolling hills of nineteenth-century England, this 80,000-word tale follows the story of Lady Elizabeth Fairfax, a young woman torn between duty and desire. As Elizabeth navigates the treacherous waters of London society and the expectations placed upon her, she must choose between the life she has always known and the passionate love she has discovered with the enigmatic Lord Henry Cavendish.

With its lush historical detail, smoldering romance, and themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of choice, “The Heart’s Whisper” will appeal to readers who enjoy emotionally satisfying love stories set against the backdrop of a bygone era. The novel’s exploration of the role of women in nineteenth-century society and the challenges of following one’s heart will resonate with readers and provide a fresh perspective on a classic genre.

As a lifelong fan of historical romance and a meticulous researcher, I have crafted a story that pays homage to the beloved tropes of the genre while introducing new and exciting elements. My ability to create compelling characters, emotionally charged scenes, and historically accurate settings set this novel apart from others in the category.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am confident that “The Heart’s Whisper” will transport readers to a world of passion, intrigue, and timeless love, and I look forward to the opportunity to share this story with romance enthusiasts everywhere.

Crafting the perfect cover letter for your book submission is an essential step in capturing the attention of publishers and convincing them to take a closer look at your work.

By showcasing your unique voice, highlighting the strengths of your story, and demonstrating your understanding of the genre and its audience, you can create a compelling submission package that sets your book apart from the competition.

Remember, a well-written cover letter is your opportunity to make a strong first impression and convince publishers that your book is worth their time and attention.

By studying the sample cover letters provided in this article and adapting them to your own unique story and style, you can create a submission package that will help your book stand out in a crowded market and increase your chances of finding the perfect publishing partner.

When You Write

How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission

Editors see mounds of bad cover letters. A lot of new writers submit short stories with little or no guidance and end up submitting cover letters that are either overenthusiastic or lacking the necessary information.

What you must know is that cover letters for different genres follow different sets of rules and etiquette. For example, an editor doesn’t expect you to write a cover letter for short fiction in the same format you would craft a query letter for a novel submission.

A cover letter is not a platform for you to brag about yourself or your writing accolades. There’s nothing that annoys an editor more than a cocky newbie.

Your cover letter is, most often than not, the first thing an editor sees and you have to be on point to create a strong first impression. Some editors that I have interacted with said that they read the cover letter after reading your short stories, and they admit that some cover letters convince them to go back to the story and reevaluate it.

Luckily for you, I have compiled tips on just how to go about crafting a good cover letter that can make a ‘strong first impression’ and influence the editor’s aftertaste after savoring your stories.

Research and… Research

In all the posts that I have made on cover letters, I have emphasized the importance of finding out the publisher’s/organizer’s guidelines.

Every organizer/publisher has a specific set of rules for short story cover letters, and knowledge and application of these guidelines raises the chances of your submission getting accepted.

You should research the publisher’s inclinations. Some publishers, or should I say most, won’t accept adult stories. They may not disclose these attitudes in their Ts and Cs, but an exploratory look at their published works can reveal what kind of genre they love to publish.

Tips on Creating a Perfect Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission

A good cover letter for a short story submission should be:

Short and Simple

Cover letters for short fiction always have to have the conciseness element. It should be short and simple but compelling enough; it has to signal to the editor that you’re at least a refined writer.

Courteous and Direct

It is unprofessional to send a cover letter that is copied and pasted from previous submissions. The cover letter should address the editor or publishers and must contain information relevant to that particular submission.

Professional

Although a good cover letter is supposed to be courteous, it doesn’t have to get too personal. The editor doesn’t really care if you know their name (although it’s okay to address them by their name if they suggested so), but the contents of the cover letter must remain professional.

How to Address a Cover Letter

It is advisable to leave niceties and go straight to business. I have read a couple of blogs by real editors, and they all agree on one thing: go straight to business.

If you’re going to make multiple submissions to different recipients, you have to make sure you don’t put too much effort into ‘playing the nice newbie’ and just focus on making the cover letter a contextually right letter.

What should be in a cover letter?

I didn’t want to ramble on about something I didn’t know anything about, so I decided to give you a list of things that Neil Clarke (a real-life editor from Clarkesworld Magazine) wants to see in your cover letter for short stories:

• State whether you are previously published or not.
• If you’re submitting work that you did not author (maybe you’re the author’s agent or something), you have to state it in the cover letter. You have to explain the working arrangement with the author or if you’re translating.
• And if you state that you are submitting a translation, you should say whether the story was originally published and where, in what language, and whether the original author or whoever holds the rights on the original has given you the permission to translate and publish.
• If you are submitting a reprint, the cover letter should state this and any restrictions placed on the reprint.
• If your short story doesn’t fit in one of the categories that the publisher has listed, the cover letter must explain what type of genre it is.

The cover letter also needs to contain a short bio, the story’s word count, title, and a brief description of the short story (not summary), among other things.

Publishers and editors have unique preferences, so you’ll find what ‘unique’ things they want in your cover letter.

Don’t Put These in Your Cover Letter

Going back to Neil Clarke’s preferences (most of which are shared by most editors), these things shouldn’t be in a cover letter:

• Bank or PayPal details.
• Mailing address or phone number (This might not be the case for all editors/publishers). In Clarke’s case, the mailing addressing should be on the first page of the story.
• A summary of your short story.

But I said in the previous section, every editor and publisher has their own preferences.

Don’t Say These in Your Short Story Cover letter

Cover letters rarely influence editors’ opinions of a story, but some things can annoy an editor. Although they’re likely not going to reject the story because of some ‘little things’ in your short story’s cover letter, it’s wise to stay on the safe side.

Confidence is good, but you don’t have to be arrogant. For instance, you don’t have to say “I’m the modern-day Charles Dickens.”

And… you know it’s so ‘amateur hour’ when you say, “This is the best story you’ll ever read.” Trust me, it’s not. Editors have read thousands of stories and it’s better to let them ‘choose’ which is the best they’ve ever read.

Even though it’s bad to sound cocky in your cover letter, it’s equally damning to show low self-esteem. So, in your cover letter, you have to avoid writing things like ‘how desperate you’re’ or ‘how many times your story has been rejected.’ Those won’t help your case at all!

Formats and Submission Guidelines

If you haven’t found this out already, some publications put so much emphasis on the format of short story submissions. Some publications will give you specifications for font size, line spacing, margins, etcetera. It’s either you format everything the way they tell you to, or it’s an instant REJECTION for you!

However, some publications don’t go that far, but most of them let you know that If you don’t follow their pocket-size guidelines, you might as well just keep your story to yourself.

Outside the typing window, there are other formatting issues that you have to be aware of. Things like file type (e.g., PDF, RTF, Word Doc, etcetera.) and the means of submitting (e.g., email, or through the publication’s website). A few old guards still require writers to submit stories in print—yes, inconveniently, through the postal service.

The submission guidelines may extend to the manner of attaching documents (and the number of those attachments). Hopefully, the publications you’re submitting to allow you to submit attachments (which is the most likely nowadays).

Sample Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission

There are more than a thousand ways you can write your cover letter for a short story submission. In case you don’t have the littlest idea of how to go about it, I have written a very brief cover letter.

Note : This is a sample and cannot be used as a blueprint for any short fiction submission. Well, you could use it if you think it’s okay; I mean, it’s not bad.

Dear Maggie (if you don’t know their name, just put their professional title like Editor), Please consider this 2000-word story, “Dying Good,” for publication in the Sun Dance Magazine . I believe this short fiction piece is exactly the type of story that the Sun Dance typically publishes. “Dying Good” is a tale of betrayal, anger, and—ultimately—redemption. It follows a man on his journey from the gallows of degeneracy to salvation. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Ed Halfords.

This cover letter is exactly 67 words (without that bracketed explanation) and even if you were to add some details, which is a likely thing, it wouldn’t be anywhere near 150 words. In such a short piece, you can put all the required information and still avoid taking much of the editor’s time.

Final Words on Cover Letters for a Short Story Submission

You shouldn’t have to worry about writing an out-of-this-world cover letter when submitting your short story. That will only make the process seem like a very challenging task—but, in all honesty, it isn’t. I believe that I covered all the ‘life-saving’ tips that you can use to make your story submission a seamless task.

I’m not an editor (well, not by profession), but I did my research and contacted some ‘editor friends’ of mine before I got down to write this post.

As long as you do your research, keep your cover letters for short stories short, and always stick to the point, omit anything else, your short story is ready for submission!

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How to Write a Proper Short Story Cover Letter

As an editor I see a lot of bad cover letters. I can’t help but think folks are following some bad advice out there, so I wrote a thing that might help. It’s long and it’s a little ranty and cranky (because I’ve seen a lot of bad cover letters in the last month), but I hope it will also be helpful.

Note that this advice is specific to genre magazines and anthologies and short fiction. Novel submissions play by a different set of rules, and there may be a slightly different etiquette in literary submissions and other genres. But, if you write and submit science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories, the following essay is for you.

How to Write a Proper Short Story Cover Letter

The most important fact to remember about cover letters is this: the best cover letter in the world is not really going to help you sell your story.

An impressive list of awards and pro credits might–on a rare occasion–entice a slush reader who’s already on the fence about a submission to bump it up to the editor. An editor or first reader might delve a little deeper into the story before they give up because your previously listed sales have demonstrated a certain level of competency. But, beyond that, the story is going to sink or swim on its own.

However, a bad cover letter is at least as likely–perhaps more likely–to undermine your chances. It can clue in the editor that you’re new and inexperienced or, worse yet, that you’ve settled for being published in mediocre markets. (More on that below.) And if you manage to really put a foot in your mouth, you may end up with whoever is reading the story actively rooting against you.

The cases where the cover letter will sway things either way are rare. Some of the industry’s top editors wisely ignore cover letters altogether; they read the story first so whatever you put in the cover letter doesn’t pre-bias them either way. But not all editors do that. And since a good cover letter is really easy to write, why not give yourself that tiniest extra edge?

Let’s begin by talking about some of the most common mistakes one finds in cover letters. I write this at the tail end of a month-long submission window where my associate editors and I received nearly 640 submissions. Although the letter below is 100% fake, virtually every mistake and problem it features showed up in one or more of the cover letters I saw this month alone .

Without further ado, here’s a terrible cover letter:

Clueless Writer 123 Main Street Cleveland, OH 44101 216-555-1212 [email protected] Attn: Mrs. Jane Smith, Editor Dear Mrs. Smith, I’m submitting my short story “Traveling Back in Time to Kill Hitler” to be considered for publication in your magazine, Time Travel Tales . It is formatted in Standard Manuscript Format and saved as an RTF file as per your guidelines. It is an original story not previously published anywhere and it is not on submission elsewhere. This story is about a pair of scientists who invented a time machine and decided to to travel back to 1905 and kill young Hitler while he’s trying to make it as an artist in Vienna. They wrestle with the moral dilemma of killing a man before he committed any crimes as well as with the potential pitfalls of a scientific paradox his death would cause. In a surprise twist ending, they decide not to kill Hitler and go home. I am a graduate of DeVry University where I earned my MFA. I then studied physics at Phoenix University Online and earned a PhD. My thesis was on time travel paradoxes. I’m also a Taekwondo black belt, and an award-winning cat breeder. I’ve been previously published in For the Luv Review , Cat Breeder Quarterly , Obscure magazine, The Poetry Diges t, Daily Movie Reviews website, and the comments section of the Cleveland Times . This manuscript is a disposable copy. Sincerely, Clueless Writer

Let us now examine this bit by bit:

Clueless Writer 123 Main Street Cleveland, OH 44101 216-555-1212 [email protected] Attn: Mrs. Jane Smith, Editor

1985 called and it wants its business correspondence formatting back. Your contact information should appear at the top of your manuscript, and while there are still a small handful of markets that ask you to include it in the cover letter as well, most don’t. Unless they specifically ask for it, don’t duplicate it in the cover letter, and certainly don’t include “Attn:” or “From the desk of” lines they may have taught you about in eleventh grade typewriter class. The first line of your cover letter should be the salutation.

Dear Mrs. Smith

At the very least, this should be addressed to Ms . Smith because she’s the editor and not merely an extension of her husband. If you know who the editors are, generally address the most senior editor at the market. Dear Ms. Smith or Dear Jane Smith would do nicely. But, really, Dear Editor(s) will do just as well. You could even go with my personal favorite (and a form of address I’ve actually seen in my slush pile): Gentlebeings . If you use any of these, you avoid the possibility of misgendering your correspondent, misspelling their name (Shvartsman here; I know a thing or two about that), and maybe sidestep the effort of trying to decipher the hierarchy of a specific market.

Most editors won’t care, but unless you’ve communicated with the editor in the past and they signed their e-mail to you with their first name, it’s marginally better to avoid addressing them by their first name (aka Dear Jane. ) For the record though, “ Dear Alex ” is fine by me.

I’m submitting my short story “Traveling Back in Time to Kill Hitler” to be considered for publication in your magazine Time Travel Tales . It is formatted in Standard Manuscript Format and saved as an RTF file as per your guidelines. It is an original story not previously published anywhere and it is not on submission elsewhere.

The same rule applies to cover letter as does to fiction: don’t overwrite. Before you include any specific bit of information, ask yourself: is this necessary and relevant?

Jane Smith knows that the name of her magazine is Time Travel Tales . She can reasonably make an assumption that you’re sending the story to be reviewed for publication there. If Time Travel Tales asks that you format your story in SMF (Standard Manuscript Format) and does not accept reprints or simultaneous submissions, then she will assume your story is neither a reprint nor a simultaneous submission, because you’re a human being who is capable of reading and processing information stated in her guidelines.

Which brings us to my personal favorite: writers letting me know that they formatted the manuscript in RTF or DOC or whatever, as specified in the guidelines. First, again, I know which formats are requested in my own guidelines. And second, I can see your file right there . Either you formatted it correctly, in which case I don’t need a reminder as I will not be awarding you a gold star for this since we aren’t in kindergarten, or you sent me a PDF, ZIP file or some other strange beast I didn’t ask for, and then we have a different problem altogether.

This story is about …

If you follow any advice at all from this text, let this be it: Do not summarize your story in your cover letter. Let me repeat that.

Your Story.

In your cover letter.

This practice likely comes from the world of novel query letters where you do have to summarize your book in a few paragraphs. However, this need does not translate to short fiction. Virtually every editor I know hates when authors do this with a passion.

We want your story to speak for itself. We don’t want any sort of a preview, a summary, or anything else that will spoil it in some way. In fact, when I see a sentence that opens with “This story is about” I immediately skip to the next paragraph. So please, do yourself a favor and don’t include one.

Once in awhile, a market will actually ask you to include a summary. And while I don’t really get how this is helpful to them, always abide by what the guidelines say over what I write here.

Having said this, it can occasionally be helpful to include the story’s genre and length, especially for markets that review different genres. It may help the editor assign it to the right reader or to budget proper amount time to review it themselves. So it’s perfectly okay to say “Please consider my dark fantasy story” or “Enclosed is a steampunk flash fiction story of 900 words.) Just don’t get into the details of plot and sure as hell don’t tell the editor how wonderful and great your story is.

There’s one other notable exception to talking about your story in the cover letter, and we’ll cover it in the next section. Or, perhaps you can spot it in the next paragraph yourself.

I am a graduate of DeVry University where I earned my MFA. I then studied physics at Phoenix University Online and earned a PhD. My thesis was on time travel paradoxes. I’m also a Taekwondo black belt, and an award-winning cat breeder.

Generally, you should not include your non-writing related accomplishments in the cover letter unless your experience directly correlates to what the story is about. In our example, the author is absolutely right to mention their physics background and their thesis. It is directly relevant to the story they are submitting and to Time Travel Tales as a market. The other tidbits, however, should not be included unless the author is presenting a story about a Taekwondo tournament or about breeding cats.

So yeah, if you’re a NASA scientist mention that in your space exploration story. If you’re a history professor, this will be relevant if you’re writing historical fantasy. If you write a story set in Japan and you have lived in Japan for a few years, you can mention that. But your advanced degree in Windchime Studies is likely not helpful when trying to sell a cyberpunk story.

Then there’s my personal pet peeve, and that’s authors mentioning their MFA (a creative writing degree) in their cover letters. To me, this is an equivalent of saying “trust me, I write good” and is not relevant to your story, unless it happens to be about an MFA program. In fact, seeing this in a cover letter almost always correlates to something I can quit reading after a page because the writing is subpar.

Which is not to say MFAs are bad, or writers with MFAs are bad. It’s just that the good writers with MFAs do not generally feel the need to include this particular accomplishment in their cover letters.

The other thing that is perfectly okay (but unnecessary) to include are your professional writing association memberships: SFWA, HWA, and the like. Instead, focus on including your publishing credits and awards or achievements in creative writing, if any.

I’ve been previously published in For the Luv Review , Cat Breeder Quarterly , Obscure magazine, The Poetry Diges t, Daily Movie Reviews website, and the comments section of the Cleveland Times .

First of all, let me say that listing no publishing credits if you don’t have them will never hurt you. It’s even okay to say you’re a new/unpublished writer. Really! Every editor I know loves discovering new talent and loves being the first to publish someone, or first to publish someone in a pro venue. No one is going to hold a lack of past credits against you.

It’s also perfectly fine if you’re new and you only have a couple of token credits to your name. Although I advise authors not to submit anywhere that pays less than semi-pro rates, that’s a different topic and a couple of token credits won’t hurt you. There are two things that can hurt you, however:

First, listing a ton of credits that are all lower on the totem pole than the place you’re submitting to. When a pro editor sees a list of twenty non-paying or token-paying markets they won’t be impressed. In fact, this will have the opposite effect as the editor might assume that you either can’t write work publishable at better venues or, worse yet, you’ve settled for the minor leagues and aren’t seriously trying to improve your writing. Either way, you’ve just pre-biased the editor/first reader against your work. So, even if you have 20+ small credits, only list three or four of them.

In fact, even if you have 20+ professional credits, only list three or four of them anyway. Name-dropping your top 3 markets is better for establishing your bona fides than name-dropping your top 10 markets.

The second way to torpedo your chances is to mix in your non-fiction credits with your fiction credits to make the overall list more impressive. It’s cool if you wrote an article for Clarkesworld , had a poem published in Strange Horizons or a book review at Apex magazine. You can even include those credits in your cover letter if you really want to. But if the editor thinks you’re intentionally trying to obfuscate things by bundling them with your actual fiction credits with statements like “I’ve been published at For-the-Luv Review , Obscure magazine, and Clarkesworld ” they will notice that one of these things is not like the others, use their Google-fu, and then they will raise an eyebrow.

This manuscript is a disposable copy.

This is a thing I actually saw in a cover letter this year.

Back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and the price of return postage for a stack of typewritten pages was cheaper than the cost of photo-copying an extra set, some authors wanted their rejected manuscripts back. Magazines required that these authors include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) either way, and enough postage if you wanted your precious pages back (coffee stains optional.) If you didn’t want them back, it was expected to mention in the cover letter that the manuscript copy you included was disposable. In fact, I remember doing this as recently as a couple of years ago, until F&SF became the last of the respectable genre ‘zines to stop requiring print submissions.

Fast forward to today. All submissions are electronic. (Some venues still accept print subs, but if you’re reading this, you probably aren’t among the authors who avail themselves of this option.) So, what is the point of adding this line to the cover letter? None, other than blindly following conventions from the bygone era.

To summarize, your cover letter should be short .

In e-mail cover letters include story title, genre (if applicable), length, and any relevant credits/awards. Consider including word count in email header as this may be helpful to the editors as they often choose to read stories based on how much free time they have available.

In webform that already makes you fill in the basic info, stick to credits/relevant info; no need to repeat info from the form’s fields.

Optimal cover letter for Clueless Writer submitting to Time Travel Tales would be:

Dear Editor, Please consider “Traveling Back in Time to Kill Hitler” (SF, 3000 words). My short fiction has appeared in For the Luv review and Obscure magazine. I have a physics PhD from Phoenix University Online. My thesis was on time travel paradoxes. Thank you. Sincerely, Clueless Writer ClulessWriter’sHomepageURL.com

It’s simple, it’s basic, and it highlights the relevant accomplishments this writer has.

This is the actual cover letter I currently use:

Dear Editor Name, Please consider Story Title (SF, 2000 words). I’m the winner of the 2014 WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction and a finalist for the 2015 Canopus Award for Excellence in Interstellar Writing. Over 80 of my short stories have appeared in Nature, Galaxy’s Edge, Intergalactic Medicine Show , and other venues. Thanks very much in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Alex www.alexshvartsman.com

If anything, I feel like mine is on the longish side. Note the URL at the end of the letter. If they really care about my other credits or just want to make sure I’m not unhinged lunatic who writes 3000-word rants about cover letters on his blog (Ahem!), they can click through. But, chances are, they won’t. Because this cover letter has, hopefully, done its job of introducing me briefly and will not get in the way of the story .

Which is, really, all you can ask of an optimal cover letter. #SFWAPro

If you found this post useful, please consider checking out some of my fiction, such as Explaining Cthulhu to Grandma or Eridani’s Crown .

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 9th, 2016 at 6:58 pm and is filed under Craft of Writing . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

9 Responses to How to Write a Proper Short Story Cover Letter

Small note: I once heard a couple of editors at a con disparaging cover letters with a generic “Dear Editors”. Maybe they were the exception; but after that, I always do the research to include the editor’s name.

I’d say there’s an exception to most of what I’m saying above. 🙂 Knowing the name of the head editor is nice and one should use it, but if it’s unclear, “Dear Editor” is preferable to getting it wrong. And some markets, like Strange Horizons , actually prefer this salutation.

This was very helpful! I have notice there are some exceptions, but usually those markets say so directly on their website or even include examples of what they think are good cover letters. Shimmer even tweets regular complaints about submissions that don’t follow their guidelines.

The one thing that surprised me in this was you saying that it might be better to have no credits than a long list of non-paying ones. Usually after a story gets 4 or 5 paid rejections, I down grade to “whatever market take sim subs and look like the might like the story” regardless of pay. I might be more selective for here on out. I need to be more persistent with paid markets.

What I suggest is only listing your best credits. If you happen to have a lot of small market credits that’s okay, but don’t list more than 3 or 4 of them as it will not impress the editors (for the reasons I discussed above.) Also, downgrading your submission to token venues after only 4-5 rejections may be too fast. I’ve sold stories to pro or higher-tier semi-pro venues even after 20+ rejections. It only takes one editor who will love the story to find it a home!

Sage advice, sir. Sage advice…thanks.

One other caveat: I edit for a number of different venues, and it helps me immensely when the cover letter specifies the name of the publication submitted to. Obviously, this is not necessary via submissions managers or e-mail addresses in the form of “editor@____mag.com.”

Good point. I suppose this depends on the method of the submission. If it’s a web form tied to a specific magazine/project, one probably doesn’t need to name the venue, but if it goes to the editor’s e-mail address then it might be helpful.

Unless I have a good relationship with the editor, my standard opening is:

——–

Dear [NAME],

Attached please find “[STORY]” (approximately [COUNT] words) for your consideration for [MARKET].

I paste it in, edit it, double check to be sure I edited right, and move on to my recent/top credits in the next paragraph. It saves me from having to think too much.

I read the cover letter last. It has now switched from something that might put me off a story to something that might encourage me to give it a second chance.

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How to Write a Cover Letter for a Literary Journal, Magazine, or Publication

A cover letter is your chance to create a positive first impression for the editors and readers who are reviewing your work. An unprofessional (or even a long-winded) cover letter can warrant unenthusiastic consideration of your work.

However, a concise and well-written cover letter encourages editors to begin reading the submitted poem, manuscript, or short story proper. As Michelle Richmond, publisher of Fiction Attic Press, writes , “It might surprise you to know that the most forgettable cover letters are often the best.” And if you’re submitting to Adroit , it might be a good idea to review our cover letter guidelines here .

Here’s an example of an efficient and entirely fictitious cover letter that works, with footnotes to explain what to incorporate into your cover letters. A caveat: Different publications may have different requirements for their cover letters. Don’t assume that our template will work everywhere. That being said, this is a solid starting point.

Dear Peter LaBerge, Chris Crowder, Heidi Seaborn, and Adroit readers, 1

Please consider my poem, “No Regrets.” 2 I’ve been a long-time fan of Adroit , and I particularly enjoyed Jennifer Tseng’s “ First Son ” from Issue 27. 3

This is a simultaneous submission. If “No Regrets” is accepted elsewhere, I will withdraw it immediately. 4

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. 5

Sincerely, Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit is a senior majoring in statistics and comparative literature at the University of Vermont. Their work has previously been published in Winter Tangerine and Vagabond City . Some of their other work can be found online at peterrabbit.wordpress.com. 6

1 Referencing editors’ names shows that you’ve done your research and adds a personal touch to what may be a copy-and-pasted cover letter. For your convenience, I’ve linked the Adroit masthead here . If you truly can’t find information about the editor, consider using “Dear Editors,” “Dear Readers,” “To whom it may concern:” or “Dear [Journal].”

2 Short and simple. Your first sentence should convey why you are writing this cover letter. If you’re submitting a short story, editors will often want to know the word count. Also include the category or genre of the piece.

3 Referencing a piece or two previously published by a literary journal shows editors that you’ve done your research. Editors can assume that you’re familiar with what kind of work they publish, and that will set their mind at ease. Of course, don’t fake it. If you have a truly personal connection with the editor, feel free to add it. But make sure it’s not as inane as “I noticed that we both have a dog! I love dogs.”

4 Simultaneous submissions are submitted to multiple journals at the same time. It’s a common practice accepted at many journals, but individual journals might have different requirements. Always include information on simultaneous submissions as a matter of professional courtesy.

5 Simple, courteous, and a good lead to the actual content.

6 Many journals, like Adroit , will ask for a short bio. Include some general details about your current occupation, your training or education, and some of your most recent publications. It’s important to emphasize that editors will keep reading even if you haven’t had any publications or if you aren’t formally pursuing a creative writing degree (whether graduate or undergraduate), so don’t feel like you’ve got to conjure up some accolades or fluff. You probably want to leave out superfluous details like your job as a babysitter in sixth grade or your last sandwich order.

There you have it. A quick but professional way to open your submission to a literary journal, magazine, and publication. You seem human, but you are first and foremost a writer. And writers want their work to be read and published. Good luck!

Thank you for visiting The Adroit Journal . For more writing-geared content, be sure to sign up for updates using the form below!

Darren Chang

Darren Chang is an undergraduate student at Cornell University, where he participates in intercollegiate policy debate, writes a column for the Daily Sun, and devours large quantities of ice cream. Academically, he is interested by the intersection of different cultural perspectives, especially Asian American and disability scholarship. You can also catch him reading memoirs and autobiographies, playing ping pong, and laughing at memes of his home state of Indiana.

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How to write a cover letter for short fiction submissions

First and foremost, my experience with cover letters is based on a couple years of submitting stories to magazines and is limited to speculative fiction magazines and anthologies. My way isn’t the only way. Also, every magazine is different and if you take nothing else away from this: read the submission guidelines from top to bottom to see if they have any cover letter preferences. Again, please read submission guidelines. It will make everyone’s life easier and significantly improve your chances of getting that coveted acceptance letter. Okay, on to cover letters…

How to write a cover letter for short fiction submissions:

First, don’t overthink it. Cover letters don’t need to be creative or even particularly well-written. Most magazines openly admit they don’t care much about the content of your cover letter; after all, it’s your story they’re buying. Second, there are only FOUR components to 90% of cover letters: greeting, info about the story, your publication history, and closing.

1. Greeting

Some cover letter instructions mention headers with your name, address, email address, and phone number. That seems to be going out of fashion and a lot of magazines either explicitly or by omission do not want all of that personal information during the submissions process. (If your story is accepted, they might ask for it then.) For the greeting itself, I recommend looking up the editor’s name and addressing them specifically. DO NOT assume titles like Mr. or Mrs; just use their full name. If there is more than one editor-in-chief, you can put all of them. Some editors have a preference for how they’re addressed, so look for that in their submission guidelines. (Edit: These days, I often just put Dear [Magazine Name] editorial team. It’s simple, and I like that it covers all the staff who work hard on the magazine.)

2. Information about your story

Next up is the title of your story, the word count rounded to the nearest hundred, whether it’s a simultaneous submission (check the guidelines to see if they accept submissions still waiting on a response from another magazine), and whether it’s an original or a reprint.

3. Your publication history

If you haven’t had any stories published, don’t sweat it. You can omit this section or say something simple like, “My fiction has not previously been published.” A lot of magazines are excited about publishing new authors. If you have had your work published, you can list up to three or four places your fiction has been published. You can also mention if you have any relevant education, like an MFA, or associations you’re a member of, like SFWA .

A quick Best or Warmest regards or even the old classic, Sincerely, will do here.

Here’s an example of a cover letter:

Dear Keisha Mann and Mike Garcia, Please consider “Songs of Death” (5700 words). It has not previously been published. My short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in FIYAH, Diabolical Plots, and Anathema: Spec from the Margins. I appreciate your time and consideration. Best regards, Kel Coleman

Sometimes editors will ask for additional information, like your email address, background information that can provide context on your story, pronouns, or demographics with which you identify. This is especially true if the submissions call is limited to a specific demographic or they’re looking to offset reader bias by taking into account, upfront, any experiences the author has that the slush readers (often the first people who read and comment on your submission) and editors may not. A cover letter with some of those additional components may look like this:

Dear Made-up Magazine editorial team, Please consider “Songs of Death” (5700 words). This is a simultaneous submission and I will notify you immediately if it is accepted elsewhere. I am a member of SFWA and my short fiction has appeared in FIYAH, Anathema: Spec from the Margins, and other fine publications.

I am Black and queer. I appreciate your time and consideration. Best regards, Kel Coleman (they/them)

And that’s basically how you write a cover letter. Seriously, don’t overthink it or spend an inordinate amount of time on it.

How to query a short fiction magazine or anthology after you’ve submitted a story:

Has it been a million years since you submitted your story (aka a few months)? Is it past the estimated response time stated in the guidelines or perhaps the publisher posted on Twitter saying they’ve cleared all of their submissions? Then it’s time to query!

If you’re like me, you feel awkward about this, but you shouldn’t. As long as you’ve waited for the estimated response time to pass and you are polite, no reasonable magazine will mind a check in.

Example of a query letter:

Hello, I wanted to inquire about the status of my submission of “Songs of Death”, submitted on June 1st, 2021. Thank you for your time. Best, Kel

Simple as that. Editors are busy busy people and I don’t think you can ever go wrong just getting to the point, as long as you are polite about it. I don’t know if this is the “right” way to query, but I searched online for the proper way to no avail. I finally asked an experienced author I knew and used some of what they suggested to craft my letter.

Hope you found this post helpful! Happy submitting!

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These are some guidelines for writing a cover letter. For information about what kinds of stories we're looking for, see our fiction guidelines .

• Address it to "Editors".
• List up to three previous publication credits if you have them. It's okay if you don't have any.
• Mention experience you have that is directly relevant to the story (we'd particularly like to know if you are writing about your own culture or profession, for instance).
• Address it to "Sirs" or use titles like Mr./Ms./Mrs./Miss.
• Summarize or pitch your story, or include praise for your work.
• Include information about you that isn't relevant to the story.

Sample Cover Letters

Cover letters should be brief and simple. Here are a few examples of good cover letters. Feel free to use any of them as a template for your own letter.

Very Basic Cover Letter:

Dear Editors,

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons . Thank you.

Sincerely, A. I. Robotsky

Cover Letter with Credits:

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons .

My fiction has appeared in Asimov's , Clarkesworld , and the Zloty Press anthology The Zloty Chronicles .

Thank you, A. I. Robotsky

Cover Letter with Credits and Experience:

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons . It's about robot factory workers, and I am a robot who has spent 5 years working in factories.

Cover Letter with Experience:

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons . It's about Czech robots, and I was built in Prague. Thank you for your time.

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How to Craft the Perfect Literary Cover Letter

If you are a fiction or nonfiction writer and plan to submit a short story or personal essay to a literary magazine, your handshake and introduction of yourself and your work comes by way of a literary cover letter.

A literary cover letter is a short professional letter, typically only a few paragraphs. It is designed to introduce the piece you are submitting for publication, say why you have chosen to submit it to this particular publication, and share a bit about your writing background.

Rather than go in cold, your literary cover letter is your congenial foot in the door. It’s meant to briefly pave the way for your work by giving a bit of your personality and some foundational info to the editor that they’ll hold in mind when turning to the first line of your work.

Because of this, as it can make or break an editor’s deciding whether to accept your work, your cover letter has got to represent all the best parts of you.

Why Do You Need A Literary Cover Letter?

Even though ideally your work should stand on its own merit, a writer is entwined with their work. As a result, that human introduction to your piece is industry standard for all literary magazine submissions. Whether you’re submitting a a single haiku, a 25-page long short story, a personal essay or anything in-between, it’s got to be introduced by you first.

How the Perfect Literary Cover Letter Should Look

The template.

Think about how you’d dress for a job interview, and apply that crisp shirt and polished shoes metaphorically to your cover letter template.

Go to Microsoft Word and find “letter” in templates, or use a platform like Canva, where you can find clean pre-made templates that can be saved as PDFs.

• Your address, email, phone
• The literary magazine’s address, email, phone
• The editor’s name
• Warm professional greeting
• The title of your work, the word count, and the genre.
• Mention of the work being a simultaneous submission if you have also sent it out to other magazines.
• Why you have chosen to send your work to this magazine/editor.
• Your background/bio that is relevant to your writing (where possible).
• Warm, solicitous closing
• Your name and signature

Formatting Specs

The following are industry-standard formatting practices for crafting your literary cover letter:

• A common easy-to-read font (no cute fonts or script) like Times New Roman, Courier, or Garamond
• 1” margins all around
• White background with black letters
• 1.5 line space paragraphs with an additional space between the paragraphs

*Don’t have a digital signature? Here’s how you make it:

• Sign your name on a white piece of paper
• Take a picture of it
• Send the picture to yourself
• Save it on your computer as a JPEG
• Position your mouse at the spot where you would like the signature to go in your cover letter Word doc., and click
• Go to the toolbar –> Insert–> Picture–> Picture from file. Choose your JPEG and there you go!

*If you decide to turn your Word doc into a PDF later on, make sure you do that only after you’ve inserted your signature.

*Need proper formatting details for your manuscript ?

How to Craft the Perfect Literary Cover Letter: The Dos and Don’ts

Bear in mind that any time you submit your work for publication, you are up against hundreds or even thousands of other writers- writers who have carefully rendered their short stories, poetry, and personal essays with heart and soul just as you have.

The little things you do in your literary cover letter that are gracious, intelligent, and clear and the things you don’t do that will undermine your efforts will help your work along measurably.

• Always address the editor by name . Yes, this requires some legwork. Yes, you have to do this for every single submission even if you’re sending out to 94 different literary magazines. Such is life, but it’s an investment. Any letter that speaks to the editor by name engenders a relationship and establishes goodwill right off the bat. Any letter that starts with “Dear Editor” may as well walk its own self right into the rejected pile.

Why do they care?

If an editor feels your work is right for their magazine, both because it fits in with their magazine’s ethos as well as would work nicely for a particular issue, they will present your work to their editorial board and argue why they should publish your piece in their upcoming issue. Once the issue is in place, it’s a delicately balanced Jenga tower.

You can only publish your piece with one literary magazine (most all of them require non-exclusive first rights) so if your work is accepted elsewhere and you haven’t warned the other magazines that they might have to pull yours out of their issue, it not only throws their balance off and makes them have to scramble to find another that’s similar, but it’s considered bad manners to not have managed that expectation in the first place.

If you do not tell them it’s a simultaneous submission, and it is accepted by one of the many magazines you submitted to, when you alert the other magazines, at the least, they will never consider your work again, and at the most, they may share your name with other magazines so they will know to avoid you as well. (It’s a small community)

And if the magazine in its submission guidelines says “no simultaneous submissions allowed”?

Then you either have to respect this and patiently wait to be rejected or accepted by them before sending your work elsewhere, not submit to that magazine, or play your odds (which is not recommended).

If your work has been prepared on a typewriter or a program that does not have a word count feature, you can know that each page of your manuscript (if formatted to industry standards) will be between 250-325 words/page.

*And to avoid embarrassing yourself and wasting everyone’s time by submitting to a magazine that only takes a certain type of piece or genre that’s not what you submitted.

In your second paragraph, reference those pieces and/or any reason you have approached this particular magazine. This will show the editor you’re not simply spraying your work all over but have been intentional with your submissions.

If you have not ever published or have no particular literary experience yet, it’s perfectly fine to give a bit about your education or background and say “This is my first submission” in lieu of publications or awards. Being an emerging author won’t count against you; in fact, many magazines delight in being the ones to discover new voices!

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• Proofread! Have your cover letter proofread by an editor or writer friend. Like you would do for all your work, ensure it gets in front of another person’s eyes so they can catch any errors, typos, or issues of clarity.
• Avoid a Cluttered Letter Template or Unique Formatting : Don’t get fancy with your template or go off-roading with your formatting. Keep it simple and clean. Follow the guidelines. There are loads of templates in Microsoft Word and Canva that are colorful, have spots for your photo, and graphic design elements and such pretty fonts, but avoid the temptation to be splashy.
• Don’t be impersonal : Once more for the back row: “Dear Editor” is not recommended.
• Avoid sounding anything but gracious and humble:  “This is the story you’ve been waiting for,” or “You’re going to want to publish this story,” kind of sentiments, whether meant in earnest or in jest, tend not to land well.
• Don’t summarize your story or talk about it in any way : in Paragraph 1, stick with the facts.

*Sending blindly without at least skimming the magazine or reading about it online is not recommended.

*Note: if you wish to write something brief about your personal life, or you have a unique situation such as, “I was raised in Malaysia, went to the Sorbonne where I received my degree in Criminology, and I now live in Honolulu with my husband and two children and work for the State Department,” that’s OK and humanizes you nicely (plus, it sets you apart in the editor’s memory). Totally up to you.

By following these steps, keeping your literary cover letter brief, clean, professional but warm, you’re sure to have the perfect paper handshake that will prep any editor for wanting to read (and eventually publish!) your work.

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