Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 1798
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Cover Letter
A cover letter is the letter to the editor / publisher that accompanies a manuscript. In times of electronic submissions, this would go into the body of the email you're sending in submission.
Some publishers tell you what they want included in the cover letter - you'd find that in the guidelines. You should also follow tthose guidelines very carefully.
I usually put in a greeting (take care to hunt down the editor's name, it's important to get that right), I mention the magazine or the website (if you read the magazine, you could drop a word about the issue you read, unless it's too old), and I put in a little info about myself as writer. An editor probably won't be interseted in your hobbies, unless they have to do with the story you're sending in, for example.
I don't have publishing credits (yet!), but those would be listed in the cover letter as well, as last point.
If I'm sending in a printed manuscript, I also mention that I don't want it returned, in other words, it's a "disposable manuscript". (It's too difficult for me to get stamps of many different countries. Yay for electronic submissions!)
Do not talk about the story in the cover letter. That's important, because it looks like pimping - and in conclusion that means you're not convinced of the quality of your story.
Also, avoid saying things like "I hope you'll enjoy the story." That looks like fawning. It's better to thank the editor for the opportunity he or she is offering you.
I hope this helps you write a great cover letter.
--- - Firlefanz
Writing: "Kiera und der Gauklerjunge" - novel
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4/27/2007, 12:46 pm
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tryingtowrite
Mini-NaNo Winner
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Registered: 03-2007
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Re: Cover Letter
Thanks.
---
I'm not just staring out the window...I'm working!
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4/27/2007, 1:07 pm
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Ray Oceanweaver
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Registered: 04-2003
Location: England, UK
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Re: Cover Letter
quote:
Firlefanz wrote:
I usually put in a greeting (take care to hunt down the editor's name, it's important to get that right)
What do you do if there are two or more editors? Do you put down both names, pick one randomly, or neither?
--- Rachel
~The optimist fails as badly as the pessimist, just has a better time of it~
Wings of Rapture - For Writers of Erotica and Romance |
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7/3/2007, 9:05 am
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Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 1798
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Re: Cover Letter
Check the guidelines closely.
Often the editors share the work, and only one will look at one genre. Or one is the story editor, while the other does the poetry.
If you can't find anything, simply address it to both.
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7/3/2007, 12:58 pm
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