Writing the Perfect Cover Letter for Your Literary Submission
- Dec 23, 2024
- 8 min read
A well-crafted cover letter inevitably sets the tone for your literary submission, offering editors a glimpse into your professionalism, personality, and passion for your work. While your submission should speak for itself, a thoughtful cover letter adds essential context and can help your application stand out.
It’s worth noting that literary magazine cover letters differ from the query letters you’d write for a consumer magazine—your piece for a lit mag is already complete, which simplifies things a bit. But in many ways, they follow similar principles.
This advice reflects one editor’s perspective and is tailored to prose, but I’d wager it hits on key elements most editors appreciate in a cover letter. Take what resonates with you, leave the rest, and make it your own.
Do's for Literary Magazine Submissions
ALWAYS ADRESS THE EDITOR BY NAME
Take the time to find the editor’s name—we promise, it’s well worth the effort. Yes, it might require some digging, and yes, you’ll need to personalize each submission even if you’re sending work to 94 different literary magazines. But it’s an investment that pays off. A letter addressed personally to an editor fosters an immediate connection and goodwill. On the other hand, a letter that starts with “Dear Editor” risks heading straight for the rejected pile.
If you’ve exhausted all efforts to find the editor’s name—including reaching out to the main contact inbox to confirm these details—then it’s acceptable to use a salutation like "To the Editorial Team" or "To the Editor" followed by a colon. These options are far better than the dreaded "Dear Editor."
ACKNOWLEDGE SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS, IF APPLICABLE
Always mention if your work is a simultaneous submission. It’s common practice to send your piece to multiple magazines at once, and most publications are perfectly fine with this—as long as you’re upfront about it.
Why is this important? Editors meticulously curate their issues, balancing selected pieces with care. If your work is accepted elsewhere and they weren’t informed, it can throw their plans into disarray, leaving them scrambling for a replacement. This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s considered unprofessional and can harm your reputation in the literary community. In tight-knit circles, failing to manage expectations could result in your name being flagged among other magazines.
If a magazine specifically states “no simultaneous submissions,” respect their guidelines. Submit exclusively and wait for their decision, or skip that magazine entirely if the timeline doesn’t align with your goals. Taking a gamble and ignoring this rule is strongly discouraged.
INCLUDE AN ACCURATE WORD COUNT
Providing an accurate word count is a simple but essential step. Most word processors, like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, make this easy—just use the Word Count tool. For added precision, omit the title and your contact information from the count. If your piece was prepared on a typewriter or a program without this feature, know that a standard manuscript page formatted to industry standards typically contains 250–325 words.
READ THE MAGAZINE YOU ARE SUBMITTING TO
Take the time to familiarize yourself with the magazines you’re submitting to. Read their recent issues to get a sense of their tone, style, and preferences. This ensures your work aligns with their vision and avoids wasting time—for both you and the editors—on submissions that don’t fit their genre or focus.
In your cover letter’s second paragraph, reference specific pieces or explain why you’ve chosen this particular magazine. Doing so demonstrates intentionality and shows editors that your submission is thoughtful and tailored, rather than part of a broad, impersonal effort.
CRAFT A LEAN, WARM BIOGRAPHY
In your third paragraph, craft a concise, professional biography with a warm tone. Highlight any key publications, awards, or relevant degrees to establish your credibility.
If you’re new to publishing, no problem! Share a brief overview of your education or background and mention that this is your first submission. Many magazines take pride in discovering fresh, emerging voices, so being a newcomer is often seen as a strength, not a drawback.
STAY ORGANIZED WITH A SUBMISSION TRACKER
Maintain a spreadsheet to track your submissions. Record the title of your piece, the magazine, the submission date, and any responses or follow-ups. This practice helps you avoid double submissions and ensures you don’t miss opportunities—such as when a magazine declines your current piece but encourages you to submit another. Staying organized maximizes your chances of success.
PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD
Proofread! Have your cover letter reviewed by an editor or a trusted writer friend. Just like with any of your work, getting another set of eyes on it can help catch errors, typos, or issues with clarity. If that’s not an option, at the very least, get a good night’s sleep and revisit your letter with fresh eyes before hitting the submit button. A little extra attention can make all the difference!
Don'ts for Literary Magazine Submissions
DO NOT USE OVERLY FANCY TEMPLATES AND FORMATTING
Keep your cover letter simple, clean, and professional. Don’t get carried away with colorful templates, spots for photos, or flashy graphic design elements you might find in Microsoft Word or Canva. While these may look attractive, they’re not suitable for a literary submission. Stick to basic, readable formatting and follow the magazine’s guidelines.
DON'T BE IMPERSONAL
One more time for the folks in the back: "Dear Editor" is not recommended. Make every effort to find the editor’s name. Use the same resourcefulness and attention to detail that brought you to this point to craft a cover letter that reflects your talent. Show the editor that you care.
AVOID OVERCONFIDENCE
Statements like “This is the story you’ve been waiting for” or “You’re going to want to publish this” can come across as presumptuous, even if intended as a joke. Keep your tone gracious and humble.
DON'T OVERLY SUMMARIZE YOUR STORY
In Paragraph 1, stick to the facts—title, genre, and word count. Let your submission speak for itself.
DON'T SUBMIT BLINDLY
In your second paragraph, if you don’t have personal experience with the magazine to reference, either take the time to read a few pieces or skip this paragraph entirely. Submitting without any familiarity with the magazine’s content or ethos is not recommended.
AVOID SHARING UNNECESSARY, PERSONAL DETAILS
In your third paragraph, keep your bio professional. Editors don’t need to know your marital status, pet ownership, favorite foods, or hobbies. However, if you have a unique situation—such as “I was raised in Malaysia, earned a degree in Criminology at the Sorbonne, and now live in Honolulu working for the State Department”—feel free to include it. Brief, relevant personal details can humanize you and make you memorable, but this is entirely optional.
By steering clear of these common pitfalls, you’ll present yourself as professional, thoughtful, and intentional—qualities that editors are sure to appreciate.
1. Start Strong with a Polished Introduction
Begin your cover letter with a professional salutation, addressing the editor or submissions team by name whenever possible. If the name of the judge or editor reviewing your work has been provided, omitting it from your cover letter can be a serious oversight—one that will likely be noticed by the individual or panel assessing your submission.
Now, this is where the challenge begins. While brevity is key, your cover letter should also make you stand out. Show your confidence. Show your skills. Be a human, not a robot. This means using strong, engaging narrative language that showcases your skills as a writer while adhering to the format of a professional cover letter. This is your opportunity to demonstrate both your creativity and professionalism—qualities editors are looking for in every submission.
To highlight this, let's review the following examples.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE 1
Dear Editor, I am excited to submit my story, “The Solace of Shadows,” for consideration. This piece explores themes of grief and resilience, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and the relationships that shape us.
or
Dear Ms. Whitford, I am excited to submit my story, “The Solace of Shadows,” for consideration. This piece explores themes of grief and resilience, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and the relationships that shape us.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE 2
To the Editorial Team: I am overjoyed to submit my best piece of writing yet for consideration in the 6th Annual Emerging Writer Award. The Solace of Shadows is a deeply introspective piece rooted in my personal lived experiences in grief, and the resilience required to make it through.
or
Dear Ms. Whitford: I am overjoyed to submit my best piece of writing yet for consideration in the 6th Annual Emerging Writer Award. The Solace of Shadows is a deeply introspective piece rooted in my lived experiences with grief, and the resilience required to make it through.
2. Customize Your Letter
You should have immediately noticed several key differences between the two examples provided above. Once you've crafted your perfect introduction, now it's time to customize your letter to show that you’ve actually taken the time to read the magazine you are submitting to, or at the bare minimum, that you understand the kind of work they publish.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE 1
I’ve been reading XYZ Magazine since you guys dropped your first issue in 2019, and I’ve been waiting for a chance to throw my writing into the mix and maybe shake things up a bit.
INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE 2
As an avid reader of XYZ Magazine since its inaugural issue in 2019, I have long looked forward to the opportunity to submit my writing, inspired by [Editor-in-Chief's Name] mission to inspire meaningful change.
3. Provide Context Without Overloading
In the body of your letter, offer a brief description of your submission without summarizing your entire submission. Highlight its themes, tone, or unique qualities, but avoid summarizing the entire piece—let your work speak for itself. If your submission aligns with a specific theme or series the publication is curating, mention it here.
CONTEXT EXAMPLE 1
This story was inspired by my time volunteering at a rural hospice center, and the story seeks to capture the quiet strength of those navigating profound loss in their lives. I believe it complements your publication’s focus on stories that celebrate human resilience and cultural diversity.
CONTEXT EXAMPLE 2
While volunteering in community hospice centers in rural Nicaragua, I was deeply struck by the resilience of those facing loss—a universal experience that proved to transcend language and resounded through words left unspoken. I am confident The Solace of Shadows will resonate with your readers.
4. Share Relevant Background and Achievements
Include a concise overview of your writing background, focusing on achievements or experiences relevant to the publication. Mention previous publications, awards, or writing credentials, but keep it brief. If you’re a newer writer, emphasize your passion and dedication instead.
BACKGROUND & ACHIEVEMENTS EXAMPLE 1
My work has appeared in in a shot story publication and was shortlisted for the XYZ Emerging Writers Award. When I’m not writing, I teach creative writing workshops and mentor aspiring authors in my community.
BACKGROUND & ACHIEVEMENTS EXAMPLE 2
My work was featured in Small Stories Quarterly in April of 2023, and I was recognized as a finalist for the XYZ Emerging Writers Award in 2021. Beyond writing, I lead creative writing workshops and mentor aspiring authors, striving to uplift and inspire the next generation of writers.
5. End with Gratitude and Professionalism
Close your letter by thanking the editor for their time and consideration. Express enthusiasm for the opportunity to share your work and include a polite note about availability should they have questions or need additional materials.
CONCLUSION EXAMPLE 1
Thank you for considering my work. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story with your team and would be happy to provide additional materials or answer any questions you might have. I look forward to hearing from you.
CONCLUSION EXAMPLE 2
I am grateful for the opportunity to share my work with XYZ Magazine and would be happy to provide any additional insight should it be required. I appreciate your time and consideration.
6. Keep It Concise and Error-Free
Your cover letter should be concise, no longer than one page. Be sure to review the organization's specific formatting requirements, particularly regarding single or double-spacing. While manuscripts and writing samples are typically double-spaced, cover letters are often permitted to follow their own formatting requirements. Finally, proofread your letter thoroughly to eliminate typos or errors—a polished, error-free cover letter reflects your professionalism and attention to detail.
The Bottom Line
A strong cover letter enhances your literary submission by offering editors context, insight, and a glimpse into who you are as a writer. Think of it as your handshake—a vital gesture of professionalism and confidence, especially when you’re not there in person to make an impression yourself. By following these guidelines and customizing your letter for each publication, you’ll leave a lasting positive impression and boost your chances of success.
Remember, your story is the centerpiece—but a thoughtful, well-crafted cover letter serves as the ideal introduction to your work.
Comments