Add the date of your submission below the header.
Add the magazine’s contact information below the date.
Leave three extra lines after your closing so that you have room to sign your name.
Tell the editor what you’ve sent in a short enclosure line (Encl: manuscript and SASE). SASE stands for self-addressed stamped envelope. We’ll get to that later, but for now, know that when you send submissions by post that you must include a stamped envelope for her reply.
Cover Letter Examples
A cover letter sent by e-mail:
Dear Ms. Bailey:
I’m submitting my 100-word flash fiction story, “Everyone Says So,” for your consideration. I am sending you this story because I read in your writers’ guidelines that you’re looking for writing that bridges the gap between dream and reality.
My work has been published in The Literary Review, 34thParallel, and Poor Mojo’s Almanac(k), among many other journals.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Fabulous Writer
An e-mail cover letter sent from a new writer:
Dear Mr. Daniels:
Please consider the following 700-word short story, “Ferris Wheel,” for your publication.
This story is based on my own memories of growing up in a small resort town. I think it would fit well alongside the other nostalgic pieces you print in American Short Fiction.
Thank you for your time and for considering “Ferris Wheel.” I have attached the completed manuscript, per your request.
Sincerely,
Fabulous Writer
A cover letter sent by snail mail:
Fabulous Writer
Your address here
And here
Your e-mail
Your website
Your phone number
December 3, 2018
Jane Doe, Editor
Blue Collar Review
P.O. Box 11417
Norfolk, VA 23517
Dear Ms. Doe:
I am sending you my 552-word essay, “Me and I Pack a Suitcase,” for consideration in Blue Collar Review. As you will see in this humorous piece, packing for a trip is hard enough without your subconscious getting in the way.
In addition to placing in three national humor-writing contests, my work has been published recently in Raising Arizona Kids magazine, Sasee, and Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine.
Thank you for your time and for considering “Me and I Pack a Suitcase.” I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Fabulous Writer
Encl: Manuscript and SASE
(Remember: After printing your cover letter, be sure to sign it.)
THE PITCH LETTER (SELLING ARTICLES)
If you’re interested in selling articles, the following is a brief overview of what you need to know about approaching editors. Writers with an expertise or interest in any subject can write articles. I write articles for the writing community these days, but there was a time in the past when I pitched “how-to” articles in the parenting market.
Writing articles can be a great way to add bylines to your résumé. Some writers sell articles as a way of generating (extra) income. Others write articles to promote their book projects. Sometimes a writer working on a novel or a memoir does research that turns out to be interesting enough to share in his books as well as in an article. If you have a hobby or work in an industry where you’ve become an expert in something, why not share what you know with the world?
Articles are sold differently than short stories and essays. Earlier in this book, we talked about the difference between essays and articles. Let’s review that now. Articles are factual pieces of writing on a topic. They are written in third person with an informational tone.
You don’t write an article before you sell it (though you could). Instead, you come up with a great idea for an article and pitch it to an editor. If she likes your idea, she’ll give you a contract for the article, and then you will write it.
A pitch letter is the kind of query you’ll use to entice that nonfiction editor. Pitch letters are usually just called “query letters.”
To pitch articles effectively, you need to match your idea with the right magazine. There are thousands of commercial and trade magazines publishing all kinds of articles. You’ll find great opportunities in some of the same places you’ll find essay and story markets, especially Writer’s Market, Writer’s Digest, and Duotrope.
Read a copy of a magazine to see if your article idea fits their vibe. Really study it. Look at who the magazine’s advertising is geared toward. Would your article idea appeal to those same people? Also, check the magazine’s website for a media kit. The media kit will give you demographic information about the people who read the magazine.
All magazines that work with freelance writers will have writers’ guidelines available to you online. Read the guidelines carefully, and craft your pitch accordingly. For example: If the editor is looking for articles between 800 and 2,000 words, make sure you pitch something in that range.
Journals require you to know your topic well. Emphasize your expertise on a subject in your pitch. You may need to do a lot of research for your article, and that’s fine. You might consider interviewing other experts for your article to increase the expertise factor.
What Goes Into a Pitch Letter?
The pitch letter for an article is short and formal, containing your idea in specific terms. A pitch letter has the same basic format as other cover letters: block-style body with a space between paragraphs. Search the masthead for the appropriate editor to query. The big difference between this type of letter and the one you’ll write for short stories and essays is in the body. Instead of a general Hi, this is my finished piece letter, the pitch letter is a sales tool. You’re putting your idea in front of an editor and hoping he’ll buy it for the magazine.
First, you need a hook. A great opening will entice the editor to read your whole idea. It might even become the title of your piece. Sum up your idea in one sentence.
Next, you need to explain—in one paragraph—what the focus of the article will be. Let the editor know if the article will inform, educate, inspire, and/or entertain.
The next paragraph is where you add specifics. Tell the editor your proposed word count and where you think it will fit in the magazine. Perhaps you’ll interview someone or combine your article with photos. Include that here.
Last, give your qualifications for writing the article. This is the place to tell the editor about your prior writing credits. The most important thing here is to demonstrate that you are the perfect person to write this article. This means that your prior writing credits are great, and you should mention them (especially if they support your authority on the subject). Don’t worry if your credits are in a different area of writing or if you don’t have any bylines yet. Convince the editor that you’re an expert by experience. If you’re writing an article about competitive running and you’ve entered races across the country, say that in your pitch letter. It will prove your credibility.
Example of a Pitch Letter
Editor’s name
Publication name
Editor’s address
Dear Editor (insert real name),
There are thirty-two no-kill pet shelters in the state of Arizona, but only one that provides massage therapy for incoming animals—Labor Of Love Rescue.
Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, Labor Of Love Rescue has spent the past decade providing a safe refuge for severely neglected and abused animals. Along the way, they have earned a reputation for rehabilitating dogs and cats that society had given up on. Donna McGuire, a certified massage therapist, leads the inspiring team of volunteers.
I propose writing a piece on Labor Of Love Rescue for your Making a Difference department. After years of reading this heartening column, I believe your readership would appreciate the uniq
ue mission at Labor Of Love Rescue. Donna McGuire has already agreed to let me interview her and has offered access to their facilities for additional information.
The piece would run about 800–1,000 words and would include photographs. I am one of the many people who have adopted a wonderful pet from Labor Of Love Rescue. I am also a member of PETA.
Thank you for your consideration of this article. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Your Name,
Address
Your e-mail, phone #
SOME TOPICS TO WRITE ABOUT & WHERE TO QUERY
ANIMALS: Birding World, Catster, Equine Journal
ART AND ARCHITECTURE: Art Papers, Metropolis, Modernism
ASSOCIATIONS: AAA Living, American Educator, Kiwanis
ASTROLOGY AND NEW AGE: Fate Magazine, Whole Life Times, Witches & Pagans
AUTOMOTIVE: Autoweek, Rider, RoadKing
AVIATION: The Autopilot, Flying, Pipers Magazine
BUSINESS AND FINANCE: Business Traveler, Fortune, Profit
CAREER, COLLEGE, AND ALUMNI: Career Options, Harvard Magazine, Woman Engineer
CHILD CARE AND PARENTAL GUIDANCE: Family Fun, Homeschooling Today, Today’s Parent
CONTEMPORARY CULTURE: Broken Pencil, Commentary, The Futurist
DISABILITIES: Abilities, Arthritis Today, Kaleidoscope
ENTERTAINMENT: Flick, In Touch Weekly, Sound & Vision
ETHNIC AND MINORITY: AIM Magazine, Filipinas, Italian America
FOOD AND DRINK: Draft, Vegetarian Journal, Wine Spectator
GAMES AND PUZZLES: Chess Life, Games, Poker Pro
GAY AND LESBIAN: The Advocate, Echo, Instinct
GENERAL INTEREST: National Geographic, Parade, Reader’s Digest
HEALTH AND FITNESS: Climbing, Men’s Health, Shape
HISTORY: Civil War Times, History Magazine, Wild West
HOBBY AND CRAFT: Antique Trader, Classic Toy Trains, Kitplanes
HOME AND GARDEN: Better Homes and Gardens, Country Living, This Old House
JUVENILE: Boys’ Life, Highlights, Ladybug
MILITARY: Air Force Times, Proceedings, Soldier Of Fortune
MUSIC: Bluegrass Unlimited, Chamber Music, Symphony
NATURE AND ECOLOGY: Birdwatching, Ocean, Outdoor America
POLITICS: Church & State, The Progressive, The Progressive Populist
RELIGION: America, Catholic Digest, Guideposts
RETIREMENT: AARP The Magazine, Mature Living, Christian Living in the Mature Years
RURAL: Farm & Ranch Living, Hobby Farms, Range
SCIENCE: Ad Astra, American Archaeology, Scientific American
SPORTS: Bowhunter, Adventure Cyclist, Sailing World
TEEN AND YOUNG ADULT: Cicada, Listen, Seventeen
TRAVEL: Camping Today, MotorHome, Pathfinders Travel
WOMEN’S: Complete Woman, Country Woman, Family Circle
YOUR TURN: WRITE A COVER LETTER
It’s time to try your hand at writing a cover letter. Select one of your polished pieces and the list of magazines you plan to approach. Begin by finding the editor’s name—hunt through the masthead, and direct your cover letter to the most appropriate person. Introduce your writing in the first paragraph, and put your credentials in the middle paragraph. Then wrap up your short letter with a word of thanks.
Check the writers’ guidelines again. Did the editor ask you to include a third-person bio? If so, create a short bio and slip it into the space where your credentials would go. Preface the bio with the phrase “My third-person bio.”
If your cover letter will be sent via snail mail, be sure to add the additional contact information and leave a big space after your closing so that you can sign it once you’ve printed the page.
Here’s what our friends Joan, Samantha, and Hershel came up with. This first example is from Joan, who will be submitting one of her essays to Ellipsis. She has a small connection to Westminster College, where the magazine is headquartered, so she’s said something about that in her cover letter. There were several editors listed on the Ellipsis website. Joan decided to address her cover letter to the current editor-in-chief: Alaa Al-Barkawi. The writers’ guidelines also stated that her cover letter should include her address, telephone number, and e-mail address, even though she’ll be submitting her manuscript electronically. She’s added that information below her salutation.
Dear Mr. Al-Barkawi:
I’m submitting a 2,500-word essay, “Kayaking My Way Back Home,” for your consideration. My father was an administrator at Westminster College for three years during my childhood. I can still picture the white bark of the birch trees on High Hill.
I am a member of the Alabama Writers’ Group and a lifelong reader.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Joan Holloway
5555 State Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85331
(555) 555-5555
[email protected]
This next example is from Samantha. Samantha plans to submit one of her essays to Hunger Mountain. She was able to identify the prose editor, Jedediah Berry, so she’s decided to direct her letter to him. She doesn’t have a reason for submitting her essay to Hunger Mountain beyond the fact that her essay feels like an authentic match, so she’s expressed that in the first paragraph. The magazine has asked for a third-person bio, which she included in the second paragraph. The editors have requested all submissions be sent by e-mail with an attached manuscript, which Samantha has acknowledged in the last line.
Dear Mr. Berry:
Please consider the following 800-word essay, “Think Like A Dog; Travel Like A Cat,” for publication in Hunger Mountain. I think it would be a good fit with the other humor and travel pieces you print.
My third-person bio: Samantha Beet is an an avid traveler who hates luggage. She has an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College where she volunteers as a mentor during the summer program. She is working on her first book, a memoir about her teenage years in Madagascar. You can visit Samantha online at www.samanthabeettravels.com.
Thank you for your time and for considering “Think Like A Dog; Travel Like A Cat.” I have attached the completed manuscript, per your request.
Sincerely,
Samantha Beet
This one is from Hershel, who plans to send one of his stories to Apex. He’d like to see his work in a print magazine, and Apex is a beautiful, well-respected option. Luckily, it’s also the perfect fit for one of his stories. The Apex writers’ guidelines state that they do not accept simultaneous submissions, so he’s decided to add a line to his cover letter that shows his acknowledgement of this. He doesn’t mind giving Apex an exclusive read because the writers’ guidelines also said that they respond to all submissions within thirty days. He’s fine with that length of wait if it means he might land among the pages of Apex.
Dear Mr. Sizemore:
I am sending you an 1800-word story, “It’s About the Girl,“ for consideration in Apex. I enjoy the stories I read in your magazine. “Waste,” by Mary Elizabeth Burroughs, was a recent favorite.
I’m a prolific writer, working on my first short-story collection. My story “The Way He Walks” earned second place in the Hudson Valley Writer’s Contest last fall.
This is an exclusive submission. Thank you for your time and for considering “It’s About the Girl.” I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Hershel B. Langdon
17
FORMATTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
Before sending your story or essay out the door, you’ll need to properly format your work. Formatting includes setting your title where it belongs, adding a header, and making sure that your spacing is properly executed throughout. In any business, there is a right and wrong way to do things. I’ll show you the freelance-writing industry standard for short creative writing.
Editors are busy people with plenty of short pieces stacked on
their desks. Many writers get their work tossed into the automatic rejection pile without ever being read because their manuscript lacks a professional touch. Nobody knows for certain how many good stories and essays get passed over due to poor formatting, but I do know this: Proper formatting makes you look like a pro, someone who knows what they are doing. This, in turn, instills confidence in an editor about the actual story or essay itself. You can increase your chances of publication by following standard manuscript-formatting guidelines each time you send out your work.
“Incorrect formatting makes my job as an editor much more difficult. I will still peruse the submission for quality—the prose and the point is more important than the format, of course—but format can make a submission look amateurish, which makes me balk. The piece has to be extraordinary for me to consider it a real contender for publication. Then, when it comes time to upload files digitally, incorrect formatting can cost me not mere hours but days, when enough submissions flood in incorrectly. I spend more time fixing stupid errors (and pulling out my hair with frustration) than concentrating on putting out quality work.”
—SAVANNAH THORNE
GETTING STARTED
First, the basics:
Print manuscripts on 8-1⁄2" x 11", white paper (use only one side of the paper).
Use 1 to 1-1⁄2" margins all around.
Use twelve-point standard typeface: Times New Roman or Courier (or something similar).
There should be no end-of-the-line hyphenated words or justified right margins.
Double-space the entire manuscript.
Indent paragraphs five spaces (this is the preset on your “tab” button).
There should be no additional spacing between paragraphs. Next, add identifying information, your byline, and the header:
Type your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address in the upper-left corner, single-spaced. In the upper-right corner, type the word count. You can round the word count up to the nearest hundred or the nearest ten in short pieces if you’d like. If you’re writing under a pen name, place your real name (the person you want the check made out to) in the top-left corner on the first page. Use your pen name as your byline underneath the title. It’s always a good idea to mention in your query letter that you use a pen name.
Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays Page 18
