Should I list upcoming publications in a short story cover letter?
Asked by: Nikki Nichols
What goes in a short story cover letter?
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.
What should an author cover letter include?
The cover letter should explain why your work is perfect for their journal and why it will be of interest to the journal’s readers. When writing for publication, a well-written cover letter can help your paper reach the next stage of the manuscript submission process – being sent out for peer review.
How do you write a cover letter for a novel manuscript submission?
Some other useful tips
- Address your cover letter by name. Avoid clichés such as ‘Dear sir/madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’. …
- Use more formal language throughout the letter.
- Have a logical and readable structure.
- Thank the publisher for their time.
- Sign off gracefully – e.g. ‘Yours sincerely’ – before your name.
How do you address a cover letter to a literary magazine?
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.
How do you format a short story manuscript?
How to format a short story manuscript
- Set the margins for your manuscript to 1 inch (2.5cm) on all four sides. …
- Align to the left; the right-hand side should remain ragged.
- Use 12 point Times New Roman for the entire manuscript. …
- Black text on white pages only. …
- Indent each paragraph by half an inch (1.25cm).