How to Write a Cover Letter for a Literary Journal Submission
Published about 19 hours ago • 2 min read
I have been known to be guilty of writing really lazy cover letters.
If you're submitting to a literary journal, your cover letter isn't the place to charm anyone. It’s not where you show off your style. It’s not where you explain what the piece is “about” or where you talk about what was going on in your life when you wrote it. No one is reading your cover letter to be moved.
The cover letter is admin. It's there to confirm that you're not going to waste their time, that you can read and follow directions. One paragraph. No more. No less.
I am guilty of the less.
The formula is very simple. You need: the editor’s name (if you have it), the title of the piece, the form (fiction, essay, poem, hybrid, etc.), a sentence if needed about simultaneous submissions, and if the journal hasn’t asked for a separate bio, your credentials go here. One paragraph. One.
Save these in a document, use one of them, and stop wasting time:
Example 1: Clean and Standard
Dear [Editor’s Name or “Editors” if unknown],
I’m submitting my [short story/essay/poem] “Title of Piece” for your consideration. This piece is approximately [word count] and is submitted simultaneously. I am the winner of [ fancy contest name] I’ve published work in [Journal Name], [Journal Name], and [Journal Name]. Thank you for considering my work.
Best, [Your Name] [Email]
Example 2: If They Ask for a Bio Elsewhere or You Nave No Credits to Share (Yet)
Dear Editors,
Please find my [poem/short story/essay], “Title of Piece,” attached for your consideration. The piece is submitted simultaneously. Thank you for reading.
Best, [Your Name] [Email]
That’s it. You can save the template and plug in your title and info each time. Do not get carried away expanding on this. Do not start explaining what the piece means to you. Do not include family members, pets, or where you like to write. That’s for your author bio, and only if they ask for one. If they don’t? Then this is the only thing they need to know.
Submitting is part of the work. It can open up new doors. A solid cover letter won’t get you published, but a sloppy one can make it easier to pass. Once you’ve written a version that does the job, keep it on hand so it stops being work every time you send something out. The goal is to keep sending –so the work can find its home.
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