cover letter for short story

KEL COLEMAN

author • editor • possibly a dragon

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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Letter Templates & Example

10 Impressive Cover Letter Examples for Short Story Submission

Hey fellow writers!

Are you an aspiring short story writer looking to get your work published? Well then, you’ll definitely need a killer cover letter to accompany your submission. But, writing a cover letter can be a daunting task and sometimes, you might not even know where to start.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We have compiled some cover letter examples for short story submission that will help you get started and show you what works and what doesn’t. You can use these examples and edit them as per your need.

Remember, your cover letter is your first impression on the editor, so you want it to be the best it can be. It’s your chance to show them who you are as a writer and why your story is worth publishing.

So, go ahead and check out our cover letter examples for short story submission. We’re confident they will help you craft the perfect cover letter that will make your work stand out!

The Best Structure for Cover Letter Examples for Short Story Submission

Submitting a short story can be a nerve-wracking experience. You’ve spent countless hours crafting your story, and now it’s time to send it out into the world. But before you hit send, it’s important to make sure that your cover letter is as polished as your story. Not sure where to start? Here’s the best structure for cover letter examples for short story submission.

First, start with the basics. Include the name of the publication you’re submitting to, the title of your story, and your contact information. It’s also a good idea to personalize your greeting by addressing the editor by name, if possible.

Next, move on to a brief summary of your story. This should be no more than a paragraph or two and should give the editor a sense of what your story is about. It’s important to be clear and concise here, as the editor may be reading hundreds of submissions.

After your summary, it’s time to talk a bit about yourself. This doesn’t need to be a long bio, but you should include any relevant writing experience or publications. If you don’t have any past publications, that’s okay! Simply mention why you enjoy writing and what inspired you to write this particular story.

Finally, it’s time to wrap up your letter. Thank the editor for their time and consideration, and let them know that you look forward to hearing back from them. It’s also a good idea to include a sentence about your availability in case the editor has any questions or wants to discuss your story further.

Overall, the best structure for cover letter examples for short story submission is one that is clear, concise, and professional. Keep in mind that the purpose of your cover letter is to get the editor excited to read your story, so make sure that your letter is engaging and well-written. Good luck!

Cover Letter Examples for Short Story Submission

Recommendation for publication.

Dear [Editor’s name],

I am excited to submit my short story [Story Title] for publication in [Journal/Magazine Name]. The engaging plot and character development make this story a perfect fit for your publication.

[Paragraph 1] This story follows the journey of [Character name], who [brief plot summary]. With twists and turns throughout, the reader is engaged until the very end. I believe [Journal/Magazine Name] readers will thoroughly enjoy this piece.

[Paragraph 2] As an experienced writer with several published works, I understand the importance of a good fit between writer and publication. This is why I think my writing style, which is [briefly describe writing style and how it fits your submission], is perfect for your readers.

Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to the opportunity to share my work with your readers.

Best regards, [Your Name]

Request for Feedback

I am writing to submit my short story [Story Title] for your consideration and feedback. As an aspiring writer, I am always looking to improve my craft, and I believe your expert feedback can provide valuable insights.

[Paragraph 1] This story follows the journey of [Character name], who [brief plot summary]. With twists and turns throughout, the reader is engaged until the very end. I believe there is ample opportunity for growth and improvement in this piece, and I would appreciate your guidance.

[Paragraph 2] As a reader of [Journal/Magazine Name], I admire the quality of work that you publish. Your feedback, both positive and constructive, would be an incredible learning experience for me.

Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to hearing back from you and incorporating your suggestions into my writing.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Request for Partial Payment

I am writing to submit my short story [Story Title] for your consideration and to request partial payment under your guidelines. I have read and understand your submission requirements for payment and am happy to meet all the necessary criteria for eligibility.

[Paragraph 1] This story follows the journey of [Character name], who [brief plot summary]. With twists and turns throughout, the reader is engaged until the very end, and I believe it will be a great addition to your publication.

[Paragraph 2] As a professional writer, I take great pride in my work, and it would be an honor to have my writing published in [Journal/Magazine Name]. I understand that partial payment is offered under certain circumstances, and I meet all the requirements. Therefore, I am requesting payment of [Amount] as stipulated in your guidelines.

Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Request for Exemption from Submission Fee

I am submitting my short story [Story Title] for your consideration and am requesting an exemption from the submission fee. I have read and understand your guidelines, and my submission meets all the necessary criteria for fee exemption.

[Paragraph 2] As a writer with a limited budget, the submission fee poses a financial burden that I am unable to afford at this time. I assure you that I meet all the criteria for fee exemption, including [briefly list your eligibility criteria as per the submission guidelines].

Thank you for considering my submission and exemption request. I appreciate your support for aspiring writers.

Re-Submission of Revised Short Story

I am submitting my revised short story [Story Title] for your consideration. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback on my original submission, which helped me to enhance the strengths of my piece.

[Paragraph 1] This revised version of the story follows the journey of [Character name], who [brief plot summary]. With improved character development and a more engaging plot, I believe this version better showcases my writing strengths and is a better fit for your publication.

[Paragraph 2] As someone who values quality feedback, I appreciate the time and effort you took to review my previous submission. Incorporating your feedback has improved the quality of my writing, and I believe it will help the story resonate with readers.

Thank you for considering my re-submission. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Recommendation for Award Consideration

Dear [Award Committee Chair’s name],

I am excited to submit my short story [Story Title] for consideration for [Award Name]. The engaging plot, strong character development, and vivid imagery make this story a true literary gem.

[Paragraph 1] This story follows the journey of [Character name], who [brief plot summary]. The plot twists and character development are masterfully crafted, keeping the reader engaged until the very end. As an accomplished writer with several published works, I believe this story ranks among my best and is worthy of consideration for the [Award Name].

[Paragraph 2] Winning this award would be a dream come true, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered. I appreciate the time and effort that goes into judging submissions for [Award Name], and I have great respect for the judges’ discernment.

Thank you for considering my submission for the [Award Name].

Request for Expedited Review

I am writing to submit my short story [Story Title] for your consideration and request an expedited review. The unique plot and engaging characters make this a must-read story, and I am excited to hear back from you as soon as possible.

[Paragraph 2] I understand the volume of submissions you receive, and I appreciate any effort to expedite the review process. As a writer, I am eager to receive feedback and hope to hear back from you soon.

Thank you for considering my submission, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Cover Letter Tips for Short Story Submissions

Submitting a short story can be an exciting and daunting process. Along with the submission itself, you’ll need to provide a compelling cover letter that captures the editor’s attention. Here are some tips for creating a cover letter that will make your submission stand out:

• Address the editor by name: Research the publication and the editor’s name to make your letter more personal. Addressing the editor directly shows that you have taken the time to do your homework and are serious about your submission.
• Introduce yourself: Briefly introduce yourself and mention any relevant writing experience or publications. This helps establish your credibility and shows that you have a track record of writing.
• Summarize your story: Provide a brief summary of your story, highlighting the unique angle or selling point. This gives the editor a taste of what they can expect from your submission and helps them understand why it would be a good fit for their publication.
• Mention your writing style: If you have a specific writing style that sets you apart, mention it in your letter. For example, if you write in a particular genre or have a distinct voice, let the editor know. This helps them get a sense of your tone and writing style.
• Thank the editor: Use the closing paragraph to express gratitude for the editor’s time and consideration. Sign off with your name and contact information.

Remember, your cover letter is your chance to showcase your writing skills and make a memorable impression on the editor. By following these tips, you can create a compelling cover letter that will increase your chances of getting your short story published.

FAQs for Cover Letter Examples for Short Story Submissions What should be included in a cover letter for a short story submission?

A cover letter for a short story submission should include a brief introduction, the title and word count of the story, a short synopsis, any relevant publication credits, and a professional closing.

Is it necessary to mention the word count of the short story in the cover letter?

Yes, it is crucial to mention the word count of the short story in the cover letter. Many publishers have specific guidelines for story lengths, and by mentioning the word count, you can ensure that your story is considered for publication.

Can I mention my personal information, such as age and gender, in the cover letter?

No, it is not necessary to mention your personal information, such as age and gender, in the cover letter. Your writing should stand on its own merit, and your personal demographics do not affect the quality of your work.

What type of language should I use in the cover letter?

You should use a formal and professional tone in the cover letter. Avoid using overly casual language or slang. Additionally, you should proofread your cover letter to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors.

Should I mention any prior publications in the cover letter?

Yes, you should mention any prior publications in the cover letter. If you have previously been published in literary magazines or other publications, it can add to your credibility as a writer.

Can I make changes to the cover letter after submitting my short story?

No, you should not make any changes to the cover letter after submitting your short story. The cover letter is your first impression to the publisher, and making edits or changes can reflect poorly on your professionalism.

Is it acceptable to include a bio in the cover letter?

Yes, it is acceptable to include a short bio in the cover letter. However, the bio should be brief and relevant to your writing experience and accomplishments.

Wrapping It Up

So there you have it, folks – some cover letter examples for short story submission! By now, you should have a better understanding of how to approach your cover letter, and what to include and avoid. We sincerely hope that this article has been helpful to you in some way, and if you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out. And of course, don’t forget to visit us again soon for more articles on writing, publishing, and all things bookish. Thank you for reading!

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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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The Proven Method Of Writing Short Story Cover Letters

Welcome to this guide on how to write a cover letter for a short story, as well as for pieces for magazines, journals, publishers and presses , complete with examples that have been proven to work in the past. 

The task of writing a cover letter can sometimes feel tougher than writing the actual story. Luckily, guidance is plentiful and having studied that guidance, I’ve put together a quick guide complete with examples.

At this early stage, it’s important to highlight that cover letters differ depending on whether it’s a short story, or a longer piece, such as a novel—submission requirements are more substantial for the latter.

For short stories, the best guidance I’ve encountered comes from Alex Shvartsman, well-respected editor and writer of sci-fi and fantasy. Check out his guidance in full here

How To Write A Cover Letter For A Short Story

Here are some of the highlights:

• If you know the name of the editor, address the cover letter to them. For instance, ‘Dear Mr Gamgee’. If in doubt, just use ‘Dear Editors’.
• Keep it simple. The editor is about to read your story, you don’t need to tell them the ins and outs of character and plot. Let them discover it themselves. And if you explain it badly, you may put them off reading it altogether.
• If it’s not relevant, don’t include it. If you’ve got a law degree, nice work, but what has it got to do with the story? If your story is a legal drama, then that’s a different matter.
• List some of your most notable publishing accomplishments. If you don’t have any, that’s fine! As Shvartsman says: “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.”

A Proven Example Of How To Write A Cover Letter For A Short Story

So, the examples. This is a cover letter I used for a short story called Noodlin ’, published by Kzine in May 2019.

_______________

Richie Billing

12 Hobbiton Lane, The Shire, Middle Earth

T: 07458228888

E: [email protected]

W: https://richiebilling.com/

Dear Editors,

I attach for your consideration ‘Noodlin”, a fantasy story around 2,800 words in length.

My short fiction has featured in Aphelion Webzine, Alien Pub Magazine and Far Horizons, and non-fiction in Authors Publish Magazine.

I appreciate you taking the time to consider my submission.

All the very best,

If, for instance, I was sending this story to a few publishers (AKA a simultaneous submission), it’s wise to tell them you’re doing so. An example may look something like this:

I have submitted this story to other publishers. Should it be accepted elsewhere I will, of course, inform you without delay.

For the avoidance of doubt, the text should not be bold. I’ve merely done so for easier reference.

The address and other details are very much optional provided you include them all on the first page of your manuscript. A true letter would feature this information in such a style, or it could be justified to the right of the page. However, in this modern age your submission email usually comprises the cover letter and with that the format’s a bit different. With emails, I usually put all this info at the very end, after my signature.

How To Write A Cover Letter For A Novel

So that’s the practice for short stories, what about novels?

Publishers may ask for a short summary of the novel in the cover letter. How short depends on the publisher—they may ask for detail, they may ask for a mere sentence.

A standard accompaniment to the cover letter is a synopsis—what your story is about , i.e. the premise, the point of it; the characters, their emotional journey and the conflicts they face; the intended market, and; where it aligns in that market, for instance, comparing it to Lord of the Rings. The length is generally limited by publishers to one page. Invest a good amount of time in your synopsis. Make every word count. Read it aloud. Refine it until you can’t say it any better. The synopsis helps an editor form their impression of your story so try and make the best one you can .

More Help On Writing Cover Letters and Getting Published

For more help and guidance on how to write a cover letter, I’ve included links to some guides you may find useful below:

• List of fantasy publishers
• List of fantasy magazines and journals
• List of book reviewers
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