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10 Effective Cover Letter Examples for Writing Submissions

Hey there budding writers! Are you planning to submit your work to a writing competition or publication but clueless about writing an effective cover letter? You’ve come to the right place! We have compiled some cover letter examples for writing submissions that you can use as a guide or even edit as needed. Writing a cover letter may seem intimidating, but it’s a crucial element that can make or break your submission. With the right approach, your cover letter can effectively showcase your writing skills and impress the editors. So, check out our cover letter examples and get started on submitting your work today!

The Best Structure for Cover Letter Examples for Writing Submissions

So, you’re looking to submit your writing to a publication or contest – congratulations! But, before you hit send on that email or envelope, you need a strong cover letter to accompany your writing submission. A cover letter can make or break your chances of getting published or winning a contest, so it’s important to get it right.

The best structure for a cover letter for writing submissions includes several important elements. First, start with a header that includes your contact information (name, address, email, phone) and the date. Then, address the letter to the correct person (if possible) or “Dear Editor” or “Contest Judges.” In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and your work. Include the title of your piece and any relevant publications or awards you have received.

In the second paragraph, provide a brief summary of your work. This should not be a plot summary, but rather a sentence or two that explains the themes and characters in your writing. This is also a good place to mention why your piece would be a good fit for the publication or contest. Do your research and show that you are familiar with their tone and style.

The third paragraph is where you can mention any relevant experience or education that makes you a good fit for the publication or contest. This could include writing workshops, degrees, or previous publications. Be specific and highlight any unique qualifications that set you apart from other writers.

Finally, wrap up your letter with a brief thank you and a request for consideration. Be sure to include a closing like “Best regards” or “Sincerely,” and sign with your name. Remember to proofread your letter for typos and grammatical errors before sending it off.

In conclusion, the best structure for a cover letter for writing submissions should include a clear header and introduction, a summary of your work, relevant experience, and a strong closing. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be on your way to catching the editor or judges’ attention and increasing your chances of being published or winning the contest.

Cover Letter Examples for Writing Submissions

Submitting a fiction manuscript.

Dear Editor,

I am excited to submit my latest fiction manuscript for your consideration. The story, titled “The Forgotten Ones,” explores themes of loss, redemption, and ultimately, hope. The protagonist, Emily, is a mother who struggles to cope with the sudden disappearance of her daughter. As she sets out to find her, Emily discovers a hidden world of missing people and must navigate danger and darkness to bring her daughter home.

I believe “The Forgotten Ones” would be a perfect fit for your publication, as it aligns with your focus on thought-provoking and emotionally resonant storytelling. Thank you for considering my work and I look forward to the opportunity to work with you further.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Submitting a Non-Fiction Article

I am thrilled to submit my article “Beyond Borders: The Benefits of International Education” for your publication. With years of experience in the field of international education, I have gained valuable insights into the benefits it can provide to students of all ages. In this article, I highlight the advantages of studying abroad, exploring different cultures, and learning from diverse perspectives.

I believe “Beyond Borders” would be well-suited to your publication given your focus on education and global issues. I am confident it will resonate with your readers and provide valuable insights into the world of international education.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Submitting a Poetry Collection

I am delighted to submit my poetry collection, “Invisible Threads,” for your publication. The collection features a range of themes, including love, loss, nature, and identity. Drawing on my experiences as an immigrant and as a feminist, the poems explore issues of belonging, cultural identity, and the intersection of gender and race.

I believe “Invisible Threads” would be an excellent fit for your publication, given your interest in publishing diverse and thought-provoking poetry. I am excited to share my work with you and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you for your consideration.

Submitting a Screenplay

Dear Producer,

I am pleased to submit my screenplay, “The Last Stand,” for your consideration. The film is an action-packed thriller that follows the story of a former special forces operative who must rescue his family from a group of terrorists who have taken over a skyscraper in New York City. Set against the backdrop of a tense political situation, “The Last Stand” is a high-stakes, heart-pumping film that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

I believe “The Last Stand” would make an excellent addition to your production slate, given your focus on producing quality, action-packed films. I am excited about the prospect of working with you further and bringing this story to life on the big screen.

Submitting a Children’s Book

Dear Publisher,

I am thrilled to submit my children’s book, “B is for Brave,” for your consideration. The book features fun and engaging rhymes that teach children about courage, perseverance, and the value of taking risks. With colorful illustrations and relatable characters, “B is for Brave” will entertain and inspire young readers.

I believe “B is for Brave” would be a great addition to your publishing line, as it aligns with your focus on empowering children through literature. I am excited about the opportunity to work with you further and to introduce this story to young readers around the world.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Submitting a Personal Essay

I am submitting my personal essay, “The Weight of Expectations,” for your consideration. In this essay, I explore my struggles with meeting societal expectations and the impact it has had on my mental health. Through my story, I hope to shed light on the importance of self-care and mental health awareness.

I believe “The Weight of Expectations” would be a great fit for your publication, given your focus on publishing personal stories that inspire and inform. I am excited about the possibility of sharing my story with your readers and am eager to hear your thoughts.

Submitting a Technical Article

I am pleased to submit my technical article, “Advances in Artificial Intelligence,” for your publication. As a leading expert in the field of AI, I have conducted extensive research on the latest developments, trends, and applications of this emerging technology. In this article, I provide an overview of recent advances in AI, the challenges facing its adoption, and the ethical considerations surrounding its use.

I believe “Advances in Artificial Intelligence” would be an ideal addition to your publication, given its relevance to your readership. I am excited about the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise with your audience and am eager to hear your feedback.

Tips for Writing Cover Letters for Writing Submissions

When submitting your writing to a publication or contest, a cover letter is a vital part of your submission. It’s typically the first thing an editor or judge will see, and it can make or break your chances of acceptance. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when crafting your cover letter:

• Address the letter to the appropriate editor or judge. This shows that you’ve done your research and are serious about your submission.
• Introduce yourself and give a brief overview of your writing experience. Be concise and to the point.
• Include any relevant publications or awards you’ve received. This can help establish credibility and show that you’ve been recognized by other industry professionals.
• Explain why your work is a good fit for the publication or contest. Do your research and make sure your writing style aligns with their goals and preferences.
• Provide a brief synopsis or summary of your work, being careful not to give away any major plot points. This will give the editor or judge an idea of what they can expect from your writing.
• Closing your cover letter with a thank you and showing appreciation for their time in considering your work can make a positive impression.

In addition to these tips, it’s also important to proofread your cover letter thoroughly before submitting. Typos or grammatical errors can make a negative impression and diminish your credibility as a writer. By taking the time to perfect your cover letter, you can increase your chances of acceptance and ultimately have your writing featured in your desired publication or contest.

Cover Letter Examples for Writing Submissions FAQs What is a cover letter for a writing submission?

A cover letter for a writing submission is a document that accompanies your written work and introduces you to potential publishers or editors. It provides a brief summary of your writing, your qualifications, and your interests in the genre or topic of your work.

What should be included in a cover letter for a writing submission?

A cover letter for a writing submission should include your name and contact information, the title and word count of your work, a brief summary of your work, your qualifications and experience as a writer, and any relevant publications or awards you have received.

Can I use a generic cover letter for all of my writing submissions?

No, it is not recommended to use a generic cover letter for all writing submissions. Each publisher or editor has different submission guidelines and preferences, so it is important to tailor your cover letter to each submission and show that you have done your research.

How long should a cover letter be for a writing submission?

A cover letter for a writing submission should be no longer than one page. It should be brief, but informative and engaging enough to make the editor or publisher want to read your work.

Should I include my social media profiles in my cover letter for a writing submission?

You can include your social media profiles in your cover letter for a writing submission if they showcase your writing or professional experience. However, it is not necessary if you do not have any relevant social media profiles.

What tone should I use in my cover letter for a writing submission?

You should use a professional and friendly tone in your cover letter for a writing submission. Avoid using overly formal language or slang, and try to showcase your personality and enthusiasm for writing.

When should I send my cover letter for a writing submission?

You should send your cover letter for a writing submission at the same time as your written work. Follow the publisher or editor’s submission guidelines for the specific date and method of submission.

Wrap It Up with a Bow: Your Final Thoughts on Cover Letter Examples for Writing Submissions

And that’s all there is to it, folks! Crafting cover letters can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be rocket science. With these tips and examples, you are well on your way to submitting your best work to the right places. Remember to personalize your letters and sprinkle some genuine enthusiasm on them — editors can easily smell insincerity from miles away! Thank you for reading this article, and we hope to see you again soon for more helpful writing resources. Keep on writing!

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When You Write

How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission

Editors see mounds of bad cover letters. A lot of new writers submit short stories with little or no guidance and end up submitting cover letters that are either overenthusiastic or lacking the necessary information.

What you must know is that cover letters for different genres follow different sets of rules and etiquette. For example, an editor doesn’t expect you to write a cover letter for short fiction in the same format you would craft a query letter for a novel submission.

A cover letter is not a platform for you to brag about yourself or your writing accolades. There’s nothing that annoys an editor more than a cocky newbie.

Your cover letter is, most often than not, the first thing an editor sees and you have to be on point to create a strong first impression. Some editors that I have interacted with said that they read the cover letter after reading your short stories, and they admit that some cover letters convince them to go back to the story and reevaluate it.

Luckily for you, I have compiled tips on just how to go about crafting a good cover letter that can make a ‘strong first impression’ and influence the editor’s aftertaste after savoring your stories.

Research and… Research

In all the posts that I have made on cover letters, I have emphasized the importance of finding out the publisher’s/organizer’s guidelines.

Every organizer/publisher has a specific set of rules for short story cover letters, and knowledge and application of these guidelines raises the chances of your submission getting accepted.

You should research the publisher’s inclinations. Some publishers, or should I say most, won’t accept adult stories. They may not disclose these attitudes in their Ts and Cs, but an exploratory look at their published works can reveal what kind of genre they love to publish.

Tips on Creating a Perfect Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission

A good cover letter for a short story submission should be:

Short and Simple

Cover letters for short fiction always have to have the conciseness element. It should be short and simple but compelling enough; it has to signal to the editor that you’re at least a refined writer.

Courteous and Direct

It is unprofessional to send a cover letter that is copied and pasted from previous submissions. The cover letter should address the editor or publishers and must contain information relevant to that particular submission.

Professional

Although a good cover letter is supposed to be courteous, it doesn’t have to get too personal. The editor doesn’t really care if you know their name (although it’s okay to address them by their name if they suggested so), but the contents of the cover letter must remain professional.

How to Address a Cover Letter

It is advisable to leave niceties and go straight to business. I have read a couple of blogs by real editors, and they all agree on one thing: go straight to business.

If you’re going to make multiple submissions to different recipients, you have to make sure you don’t put too much effort into ‘playing the nice newbie’ and just focus on making the cover letter a contextually right letter.

What should be in a cover letter?

I didn’t want to ramble on about something I didn’t know anything about, so I decided to give you a list of things that Neil Clarke (a real-life editor from Clarkesworld Magazine) wants to see in your cover letter for short stories:

• State whether you are previously published or not.
• If you’re submitting work that you did not author (maybe you’re the author’s agent or something), you have to state it in the cover letter. You have to explain the working arrangement with the author or if you’re translating.
• And if you state that you are submitting a translation, you should say whether the story was originally published and where, in what language, and whether the original author or whoever holds the rights on the original has given you the permission to translate and publish.
• If you are submitting a reprint, the cover letter should state this and any restrictions placed on the reprint.
• If your short story doesn’t fit in one of the categories that the publisher has listed, the cover letter must explain what type of genre it is.

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.

Don’t Put These in Your Cover Letter

Going back to Neil Clarke’s preferences (most of which are shared by most editors), these things shouldn’t be in a cover letter:

• Bank or PayPal details.
• Mailing address or phone number (This might not be the case for all editors/publishers). In Clarke’s case, the mailing addressing should be on the first page of the story.
• A summary of your short story.

But I said in the previous section, every editor and publisher has their own preferences.

Don’t Say These in Your Short Story Cover letter

Cover letters rarely influence editors’ opinions of a story, but some things can annoy an editor. Although they’re likely not going to reject the story because of some ‘little things’ in your short story’s cover letter, it’s wise to stay on the safe side.

Confidence is good, but you don’t have to be arrogant. For instance, you don’t have to say “I’m the modern-day Charles Dickens.”

And… you know it’s so ‘amateur hour’ when you say, “This is the best story you’ll ever read.” Trust me, it’s not. Editors have read thousands of stories and it’s better to let them ‘choose’ which is the best they’ve ever read.

Even though it’s bad to sound cocky in your cover letter, it’s equally damning to show low self-esteem. So, in your cover letter, you have to avoid writing things like ‘how desperate you’re’ or ‘how many times your story has been rejected.’ Those won’t help your case at all!

Formats and Submission Guidelines

If you haven’t found this out already, some publications put so much emphasis on the format of short story submissions. Some publications will give you specifications for font size, line spacing, margins, etcetera. It’s either you format everything the way they tell you to, or it’s an instant REJECTION for you!

However, some publications don’t go that far, but most of them let you know that If you don’t follow their pocket-size guidelines, you might as well just keep your story to yourself.

Outside the typing window, there are other formatting issues that you have to be aware of. Things like file type (e.g., PDF, RTF, Word Doc, etcetera.) and the means of submitting (e.g., email, or through the publication’s website). A few old guards still require writers to submit stories in print—yes, inconveniently, through the postal service.

The submission guidelines may extend to the manner of attaching documents (and the number of those attachments). Hopefully, the publications you’re submitting to allow you to submit attachments (which is the most likely nowadays).

Sample Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission

There are more than a thousand ways you can write your cover letter for a short story submission. In case you don’t have the littlest idea of how to go about it, I have written a very brief cover letter.

Note : This is a sample and cannot be used as a blueprint for any short fiction submission. Well, you could use it if you think it’s okay; I mean, it’s not bad.

Dear Maggie (if you don’t know their name, just put their professional title like Editor), Please consider this 2000-word story, “Dying Good,” for publication in the Sun Dance Magazine . I believe this short fiction piece is exactly the type of story that the Sun Dance typically publishes. “Dying Good” is a tale of betrayal, anger, and—ultimately—redemption. It follows a man on his journey from the gallows of degeneracy to salvation. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Ed Halfords.

This cover letter is exactly 67 words (without that bracketed explanation) and even if you were to add some details, which is a likely thing, it wouldn’t be anywhere near 150 words. In such a short piece, you can put all the required information and still avoid taking much of the editor’s time.

Final Words on Cover Letters for a Short Story Submission

You shouldn’t have to worry about writing an out-of-this-world cover letter when submitting your short story. That will only make the process seem like a very challenging task—but, in all honesty, it isn’t. I believe that I covered all the ‘life-saving’ tips that you can use to make your story submission a seamless task.

I’m not an editor (well, not by profession), but I did my research and contacted some ‘editor friends’ of mine before I got down to write this post.

As long as you do your research, keep your cover letters for short stories short, and always stick to the point, omit anything else, your short story is ready for submission!

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The Perfect Cover Letter: Advice From a Lit Mag Editor

Today’s guest post is from Elise Holland, co-founder and editor of 2 Elizabeths , a short fiction and poetry publication.

When submitting your short-form literature to a magazine or journal, your cover letter is often the first piece of writing an editor sees. It serves as an introduction to your thoughtfully crafted art. As such, it is significant, but it shouldn’t be intimidating or even take much time to write.

As editor at 2 Elizabeths , I see a variety of cover letters every day; some are excellent, and others could stand to be improved. There are a few key pieces of information to include, while keeping them short and sweet. In fact, a cover letter should only be a couple of paragraphs long, and no more than roughly 100-150 words.

A little research goes a long way

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.

Read the submission guidelines thoroughly. Many publications will state in their guidelines the exact details that need to be included in a cover letter. With some variation, a general rule of thumb is to include the following:

• Editor’s name (if you can locate it)
• Genre/category
• Brief description of your piece
• If you have been published previously, state where
• Whether your piece is a simultaneous submission (definition below)

Terms to Know

The term simultaneous submission means that you will be sending the same piece to several literary magazines or journals at the same time. Most publications accept simultaneous submissions, but some do not. If a publication does not accept them, this will be stated in their guidelines.

Should your work be selected for publication by one magazine, it is important to notify other publications where you have submitted that piece. This courtesy will prevent complications, and will keep you in good graces with various editors, should you wish to submit to them again in the future.

The term multiple submission means that you are submitting multiple pieces to the same literary magazine or journal.

Cover Letter That Needs Work

Dear Editor, Here is a collection of poems I wrote that I’d like you to consider. I have not yet been published elsewhere. Please let me know what you think. Bio: John Doe is an Insurance Agent by day and a writer by night, living in Ten Buck Two. He is the author of a personal blog, LivingWith20Cats.com. Best, John Doe

What Went Wrong?

John Doe didn’t research the editor’s name. A personal greeting is always better than a simple “Dear Editor.” Additionally, John failed to include the word count, title and a brief description of his work.

There is no need to state that John has not yet been published elsewhere. He should simply leave that piece of information out. (Many publications, 2 Elizabeths included, will still welcome your submissions warmly if you are unpublished.)

John included a statement asking the editor to let him know what he/she thinks about his work. Due to time constraints, it is rare that an editor sends feedback unless work is going to be accepted.

Unless otherwise specified by the magazine or journal to which you are submitting, you do not need to include biographical information in your cover letter. Typically, that information is either requested upfront but in a separate document from the cover letter, or is not requested until a piece has been selected for publishing.

Cover Letter Ready to Be Sent

Dear Elise, Please consider this 1,457-word short fiction piece, “Summer.” I recently participated in the 2 Elizabeths Open Mic Night, and am an avid reader of the fiction and poetry that you publish. “Summer” is a fictitious tale inspired by the impact of a whirlwind, yet meaningful, romance I experienced last year. In this story, I gently explore the life lessons associated with young love, with a touch of humor. This is a simultaneous submission, and I will notify you if the piece is accepted elsewhere. Thank you for your consideration. Kindest Regards, John Doe

What Went Right?

In this letter, John includes all pertinent information, while keeping his letter clear and concise. In his second sentence, John also briefly states how he is familiar with the magazine. While doing this isn’t required, if done tastefully, it can be a nice touch! Another example might be: “I read and enjoyed your spring issue, and believe that my work is a good fit for your magazine.”

I hope these sample letters help you as you send your short works to magazines and journals for consideration. While you’re at it, I hope you will check out 2 Elizabeths ! We would love to read your work.

Elise Holland is co-founder and editor of 2 Elizabeths , a short fiction and poetry publication. Her work has appeared in various publications, most recently in Story a Day . Through 2 Elizabeths, Elise strives to create value and visibility for writers, through writing contests , events , and more!

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[…] view post at https://janefriedman.com/perfect-cover-letter-advice-lit-mag-editor/ […]

[…] To get into literary magazines, you need a cover letter, so Elise Holland lays out how to write the perfect cover letter for a literary magazine. […]

Love this! The letter is short and to the point, and covers all the necessary information. Great tips! I always worry that the only publishing credit I have is the winning entry in a short story contest through the local paper. Should I mention that? And writing conferences I’ve attended?

As Elise says, it’s OK if you’re unpublished. Don’t worry about it. But feel free to mention your winning entry. If the writing conferences would likely be known to the journals’ editors, you might mention one or two.

[…] recently wrote a full article on the perfect cover letter, here. Check it out for clear, simple instructions, along with sample […]

[…] publication. Her work has appeared in various publications, most recently in Story a Day, and at JaneFriedman.com.  Through 2 Elizabeths, Elise strives to create value and visibility for writers, through writing […]

Thanks for the concise and useful information! I’ve heard that it’s also a good idea to include a sentence or two that makes it clear that you are familiar with the kind of work the magazine has published in the past. Is this generally advised, or would you consider it nonessential unless specified in the submission guidelines?

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Literary Journal, Magazine, or Publication

A cover letter is your chance to create a positive first impression for the editors and readers who are reviewing your work. An unprofessional (or even a long-winded) cover letter can warrant unenthusiastic consideration of your work.

However, a concise and well-written cover letter encourages editors to begin reading the submitted poem, manuscript, or short story proper. As Michelle Richmond, publisher of Fiction Attic Press, writes , “It might surprise you to know that the most forgettable cover letters are often the best.” And if you’re submitting to Adroit , it might be a good idea to review our cover letter guidelines here .

Here’s an example of an efficient and entirely fictitious cover letter that works, with footnotes to explain what to incorporate into your cover letters. A caveat: Different publications may have different requirements for their cover letters. Don’t assume that our template will work everywhere. That being said, this is a solid starting point.

Dear Peter LaBerge, Chris Crowder, Heidi Seaborn, and Adroit readers, 1

Please consider my poem, “No Regrets.” 2 I’ve been a long-time fan of Adroit , and I particularly enjoyed Jennifer Tseng’s “ First Son ” from Issue 27. 3

This is a simultaneous submission. If “No Regrets” is accepted elsewhere, I will withdraw it immediately. 4

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. 5

Sincerely, Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit is a senior majoring in statistics and comparative literature at the University of Vermont. Their work has previously been published in Winter Tangerine and Vagabond City . Some of their other work can be found online at peterrabbit.wordpress.com. 6

1 Referencing editors’ names shows that you’ve done your research and adds a personal touch to what may be a copy-and-pasted cover letter. For your convenience, I’ve linked the Adroit masthead here . If you truly can’t find information about the editor, consider using “Dear Editors,” “Dear Readers,” “To whom it may concern:” or “Dear [Journal].”

2 Short and simple. Your first sentence should convey why you are writing this cover letter. If you’re submitting a short story, editors will often want to know the word count. Also include the category or genre of the piece.

3 Referencing a piece or two previously published by a literary journal shows editors that you’ve done your research. Editors can assume that you’re familiar with what kind of work they publish, and that will set their mind at ease. Of course, don’t fake it. If you have a truly personal connection with the editor, feel free to add it. But make sure it’s not as inane as “I noticed that we both have a dog! I love dogs.”

4 Simultaneous submissions are submitted to multiple journals at the same time. It’s a common practice accepted at many journals, but individual journals might have different requirements. Always include information on simultaneous submissions as a matter of professional courtesy.

5 Simple, courteous, and a good lead to the actual content.

6 Many journals, like Adroit , will ask for a short bio. Include some general details about your current occupation, your training or education, and some of your most recent publications. It’s important to emphasize that editors will keep reading even if you haven’t had any publications or if you aren’t formally pursuing a creative writing degree (whether graduate or undergraduate), so don’t feel like you’ve got to conjure up some accolades or fluff. You probably want to leave out superfluous details like your job as a babysitter in sixth grade or your last sandwich order.

There you have it. A quick but professional way to open your submission to a literary journal, magazine, and publication. You seem human, but you are first and foremost a writer. And writers want their work to be read and published. Good luck!

Thank you for visiting The Adroit Journal . For more writing-geared content, be sure to sign up for updates using the form below!

Darren Chang

Darren Chang is an undergraduate student at Cornell University, where he participates in intercollegiate policy debate, writes a column for the Daily Sun, and devours large quantities of ice cream. Academically, he is interested by the intersection of different cultural perspectives, especially Asian American and disability scholarship. You can also catch him reading memoirs and autobiographies, playing ping pong, and laughing at memes of his home state of Indiana.

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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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How to Write a Stand-Out Cover Letter

• How to Write a Stand-Out…

SO, WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?

Literary agents and many literary competitions require a cover letter along with your sample chapters and synopsis. This is a formal introduction to you and your novel. Note: It is not a CV, a bio or a blurb for the book. It’s a letter, written from one professional to another, that should make the agent or judge want to read more. The biggest mistake entrants to the BPA First Novel Award made this year was getting the balance off, either writing too much about the novel or too much about themselves – some poor novels didn’t get a mention. There’s a rough template most agents and competition judges will look for, and it’s pretty doable! Let’s give it a go.

TELL US ABOUT THE NOVEL

First, tell us about the novel. That’s what you’re trying to sell! You want the agent to finish the cover letter with such curiosity about the book that they’re hungry for the sample chapters. 

The first paragraph will usually reveal the title , the genre , the word count of the completed manuscript (If you don’t include this, they might worry you haven’t finished it!) and something that offers a taste of the novel, like a mention of the themes you’re going to explore.

Be specific when stating the genre – if it’s general fiction, think about whether the market is commercial, book club, upmarket or literary. If it’s YA, don’t just say it’s YA – is it a YA romance? YA dystopia? Who’s out there writing YA crime? The literary agent will be familiar with all the terms, so the more specific you are, the easier it will be to picture an audience for the book.

Once you’ve provided these core facts, write an elevator pitch . This is a single sentence that conveys your novel’s hook or USP. For inspiration, check out the Sunday Times Bestsellers List:

• Richard Osman’s  The Thursday Murder Club : Four friends in a retirement village team up to solve a mystery on their doorstep.
• Paula Hawkins’  The Girl on the Train : A commuter’s fascination with a married couple she passes every day turns deadly.

It’s a good idea to follow this up with a one-paragraph description of the novel. Unlike the synopsis, it doesn’t need to tell the entire story, but it should be just more than the premise. Tell us who the protagonist is, what happens to upset the balance of their life, and what their goal is (presumably to restore said life balance!). If you can do that in a couple of sentences, you might also mention one of the novel’s core turning points.

Cover letters should describe the novel first, then the writer, then remind us of the novel at the end. In a short final paragraph, say what inspired you to write the book and offer some comparable titles . (Check out agent Nelle Andrew’s advice on comparable titles .)

The letter should be targeted towards the literary agent or competition judge you’re writing to. Some writers choose to open with this and others incorporate it into the later paragraphs. The best way to make a connection and show you’ve done your research is to mention an author on the agent’s list who has a relevant readership. You could also explain why you think your novel aligns with what they describe in their wish list.

TELL US ABOUT YOU

It’s the writing, not the writer, that’s important … but the agent or judge does want to know about you too. They especially want to know why you were the one person who could write this book . And it’s true – no one else could write the book you’ve written. So tell us why. Did your job as a psychiatrist inspire the analysis of your antagonist’s motivation? Do you live in the idyllic town where the book is set? Have you studied the era of your historical novel? Share relevant details about yourself. 

The agent or judge also wants evidence that you are a writer. You’re not just someone who thinks they have a novel in them; you take your craft seriously. If you can, share what magazines your short fiction has been published in, the competitions you’ve been listed in or the creative writing courses you’ve completed. If you don’t have that kind of experience, share anything that tells us you’re serious. Join a writer’s workshop group and tell us about that. Attend an online masterclass (like the ones BPA runs ) and mention that. Experiment with writing in different forms and tell us about it. S hare which contemporary authors have inspired you, so it’s clear that you’re well read. Just don’t put, ‘This is my first attempt at writing fiction,’ and leave it at that. It doesn’t inspire confidence.

A cover letter should be professional, like the cover letter you would send with a job application, but you also want it to have some personality. And given you’re basically applying for the role of ‘novelist’, it needs to be well written.

So, keep it formal, make sure it’s eloquent, and try to get some flow into it. When you read it aloud, it should sound natural. If it doesn’t, it might be that you haven’t varied sentence length, that you’ve used rigid language, or simply that you’re trying too hard. As formal as a cover letter should be, you want your enthusiasm for this novel you’ve spent so long writing to imbue the lines. 

COMMON ISSUES IN ‘BPA FIRST NOVEL AWARD’ SUBMITTED COVER LETTERS

• Formatting it like a CV or splitting it into sections titled ‘Bio’ and ‘Novel Summary’.
• Sharing irrelevant detail about your personal life. 
• Making it too short – 200-350 words is a good guideline.
• Or too long – unfortunately, nobody’s going to read a cover letter past the first page!
• Writing a vague description of the story e.g. ‘When a mysterious event happens, a woman will have to look to the past to uncover the truth.’
• Including long-winded explanations of why there’s a huge market for your book.
• Coming across as arrogant … or lacking in confidence.
• Sharing more about the novel’s message than its story.

WRITE THE COVER LETTER YOUR NOVEL DESERVES

Once you’ve finished a manuscript, the instinct is to get it on submission as soon as possible, but it’s worth taking the time to give an accurate and exciting representation of the work . Literary agents receive many submissions a day and have to fit reading time in with a huge workload. You need to grab them in the cover letter so that they’re already thinking of you as a potential client when they read the sample.

Out of everything you could have written on the blank pages of a document titled Novel , you’ve carefully chosen each word of this story that has to be told. You know people will love it and you hopefully have a sense of who and why . Get that across to the agent or competition reader, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll request the full manuscript.

For personalised feedback on your cover letter, you might want to consider a BPA Submission Package Report – enquire here .

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Creative Writer Cover Letter Examples

Use these Creative Writer cover letter examples to help you write a powerful cover letter that will separate you from the competition.

Creative writers are responsible for developing and writing content for a variety of media, including books, magazines, websites, and advertising. They need to be able to come up with new and interesting ideas, and they must be able to write in a variety of styles.

When you’re applying for a creative writer position, your cover letter is a great opportunity to show off your skills and experience. Use these examples to write a creative writer cover letter that stands out from the competition.

Formal/Professional Writing Style Example

With a strong passion for storytelling and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, I am confident in my ability to excel as a Creative Writer for your company. My educational background and experience in various writing fields have equipped me with the skills necessary to produce captivating content that will resonate with your target audience.

During my time at XYZ University, I have not only honed my writing skills but have also developed a deep understanding of various writing styles, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. This comprehensive knowledge base allows me to adapt to different projects and deliver high-quality work that meets the expectations of both clients and readers.

In my previous roles as a freelance writer and content creator, I have successfully managed projects for a diverse range of clients, from blogging and social media content to copywriting and technical writing. I am experienced in conducting thorough research and transforming complex ideas into easily digestible and engaging content. My ability to meet tight deadlines, maintain consistency in brand voice, and collaborate effectively with team members has been recognized and praised by previous employers.

I am confident that my strong work ethic and meticulous attention to detail will prove to be an asset to your company. I am eager to contribute my creativity and passion for writing to help propel your brand to new heights. Thank you for considering my application for the Creative Writer position at your company. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further during an interview.

[Your Name]

Entry-Level Writing Style Example

As a recent graduate from the University of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, I am eager to utilize my passion for storytelling and skillful writing to contribute to your organization.

During my time at university, I developed a strong foundation in various writing styles, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. My coursework also provided me with valuable knowledge in editing and proofreading, as well as the necessary research skills to create captivating and accurate content. I was also fortunate to have my short story, “A Journey Through Time,” published in our department’s annual literary journal.

Outside of my academic pursuits, I immersed myself in the world of literature by attending workshops, readings, and book signings to further develop my writing techniques and expand my network within the creative writing community. Additionally, I served as a content writer for our student magazine, crafting engaging articles with a focus on the arts and student life experiences.

I am confident that my educational background, writing experience, and love of storytelling will make me an excellent fit for the Creative Writer position at your esteemed company. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my unique voice and fresh perspective to your team, and I look forward to meeting you in person during an interview to further discuss my qualifications. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Networking/Referral Writing Style Example

I was referred to this opportunity by my great friend and former colleague, Jane Smith, who currently works as an Editor in your team. Jane and I had the pleasure of working together at XYZ Publishing, where we co-authored numerous articles and consistently met strict deadlines. Our collaborative strengths and shared passion for creating compelling content make me certain that I would be a great fit for your team.

As a dedicated creative writer with over five years of experience in the publishing industry, I pride myself on my ability to craft engaging narratives tailored to a diverse range of audiences. My extensive portfolio includes published short stories, blogs, articles, and social media content. At the heart of my writing style lies a deep understanding of storytelling techniques and a commitment to producing captivating original pieces.

Apart from my creative writing skills, Jane can attest to my strong work ethic, adaptability, and enthusiasm for collaborative projects. I am dedicated to delivering high-quality content and meeting deadlines, and to continuously improving and expanding upon my writing abilities.

Thank you for considering my application. I am highly enthusiastic about the possibility of joining your team and contributing to the incredible body of work your organization produces. I would be thrilled to discuss any openings further, and I hope that my connection with Jane demonstrates my suitability for the role.

Enthusiastic/Passionate Writing Style Example

As a lifelong lover of the written word, story-weaving has been entrenched in my identity for as long as I can remember. When I saw the opportunity to join your team as a Creative Writer, my heart raced with excitement, and I knew that this is where my aspirations and talents would truly come alive.

Your organization is renowned for creating compelling, thought-provoking content that leaves a lasting impression on its audience. The opportunity to play a significant role in crafting such impactful narratives is the very fuel that drives my passion for writing. I am confident that my fervor for storytelling, coupled with my strong writing abilities, would be an invaluable asset to your dynamic team.

Having honed my writing skills through years of creating captivating content, I am eager to embark on this new creative adventure. My dedication to innovatively crafting and refining stories knows no bounds. I truly believe in the power of the written word to transform perspectives, evoke emotions, and connect people on a profound level. It would be an incredible gift to contribute to that magic in my role as a Creative Writer at your organization.

In closing, I want to reiterate how thrilled I am by the prospect of joining your esteemed team. I strongly believe in the potential of our combined creative forces to produce extraordinary content that resonates with readers everywhere. Thank you for your time and consideration. I cannot wait to discuss how my passion and skills can further propel your company to even greater heights.

Problem-Solving Writing Style Example

As a dedicated writer with a genuine passion for storytelling, I believe that my innovative mindset, diverse skillset, and proven track record of creating compelling content make me the ideal candidate to contribute to the continued success and growth of your organization.

Having conducted thorough research on your company and recent projects, I recognize that increasing audience engagement and brand awareness is a challenge frequently faced in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. My background in content creation, combined with my expertise in SEO, social media marketing, and data-driven analytics, has prepared me to tackle this challenge head-on.

In my previous role at XYZ Digital, I was responsible for ideating and developing fresh, relevant, and engaging content for an array of platforms. By utilizing effective marketing strategies and adapting content based on audience preferences, I significantly increased web traffic, conversion rates, and organic search rankings for our clients. Beyond my technical skills, my degree in Communications and experience in journalism have honed my ability to craft thought-provoking articles that captivate readers and inspire discussion.

Moreover, I have a deep understanding of various content types, from blog posts and social media copy to long-form articles and even fiction. My extensive portfolio showcases my adaptability and ability to produce content that resonates with diverse target audiences. This versatility will enable me to bring a unique and creative perspective to your organization, while consistently delivering high-quality content that meets your brand’s objectives.

I am eager to contribute my passion, creativity, and expertise to your team and help drive continued success for your organization. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my suitability for the position further.

Storytelling/Narrative Writing Style Example

As I sat at my favorite coffee shop, scribbling away in my notebook, I felt a sudden jolt of inspiration. The characters I had been developing for months finally found their voices and their stories began to unfold in front of me. I knew then that creative writing was not just a hobby, but a true passion that had been simmering inside me for years. I believe that this profound love for storytelling has prepared me to excel as a Creative Writer at your esteemed organization.

Over the years, I have honed my skills through various writing workshops, online courses, and by devouring any book on writing I could get my hands on. I have worked on numerous projects, ranging from short stories and blog posts to full-length novels. My dedication to the craft has allowed me to develop my own unique voice as a writer, which I am eager to bring to your team.

In my previous role as a freelance writer, I collaborated with clients to create engaging content that resonated with their target audience. My ability to adapt my writing style to suit different genres and voices has earned me praise from clients and colleagues alike. I am confident that my experience and versatility will make me an invaluable asset to your organization.

I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my creativity and passion for storytelling to your team. I believe that my unique perspective and dedication to the craft will bring a fresh and dynamic voice to your organization, and I am eager to discuss how my skills can contribute to your success.

Thank you for considering my application.

Inspector Cover Letter Examples

Environmental health and safety officer cover letter examples, you may also be interested in..., food service supervisor cover letter examples & writing tips, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner cover letter examples & writing tips, county extension agent cover letter examples & writing tips, water engineer cover letter examples & writing tips.

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The Smart Approach to Contest Submissions

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thebestdigger@a... replied on April 23, 2013 - 11:31am Permalink

The Smart Approach

Well. Don't we all want to win? Every time? But alas, having won, once, that's not enough to get drunk on it. I've been an "almost won" more times than I can count. But that doesn't deter me. What does? Not having a clue about why. I thought that might be evident by the writing of the dearly won. But even then, I cannot measure why this or that won.

Curiously, I don't find it daunting or even discouraging. I do find it frustrating because often I don't know what is wanted. I do follow the rules to the letter. I do stuff my drawer, reread, rewrite, and often zero back to the original where my soul wrote for me. The exercise has toughened my skin, a nice by-product of the effort. I do write and write and write and I have improved so much. I don't get fancy....that's silly. I do keep track, though my spread sheet contains only about sixty submissions across a few years. I have not made a career out of submitting. Perhaps I should. For instance, it never occurred to me to send an essay to more than one publisher at a time. And I have subscribed to several writers' mags and I see some really impressive...and humbling...work. And some trash.

For your amusement: the first Writer's Conference I attended, intimidated by many fine writers because I was a total newbie, my workshop submission raised the question: who publishes you? Well, either there was some measurement I was missing,  or they had low standards, I thought. But then there was a writing contest. It was called Writing Badly: write the worst possible essay you can think up. And of course, I won......

Thanks for the helpful instruction.

Barbarann Ayars

kkrousseau replied on April 23, 2013 - 11:49am Permalink

What the heck are selfies?

Quite often context reveals meaning but in this case " selfies" in the first paragraph has derailed me. Have you ever heard of a selfy or a selfie? I have a feeling of dread rather like when you can't remember how to spell "the" or "dog" because, for some wierd reason, it suddenly looks wrong or off in some way. Could it be that I have forgotten the word selfies and need more fish oil and exercise?

Nitwits deserve love too.

Four Way Books replied on April 23, 2013 - 12:12pm Permalink

Tips for The Smart Approach to Contest Submissions

I agree with the tips suggested above though I take some issue with one-- regarding the judges. It is important to note that judges don't necessarily choose books that are in alignment with their own writing aesthetic. Quite often, a judge's pick is a manuscript that is stylistically very different from the the judge's own creative work. At Four Way Books, we've seen such selections: Marianne Boruch selected Deborah Bernhardt's Echolalia, Jean Valentine selected George Kalamaras's The Theory and Function of Mangoes, to name a few. The point is, to focus on refining your work and send to a reputable press that you admire. 

taylorbundy replied on April 23, 2013 - 7:32pm Permalink

@kkrousseau taking a "selfie"

@kkrousseau taking a "selfie" is a new term for taking a picture of oneself. .

ssousa replied on April 24, 2013 - 8:25am Permalink

Smart Approach to Contest Submissions

While I appreciate some of the suggestions for strengthening my contest submissions in your article, such as targeting presses, magazines or judges who might be attracted to my work (all of which I do), I take exception to a certain snarky and patronizing tone that seemed to creep in when giving the nuts and bolts of submitting. Let me point out that the tone isn't exclusive to this article, I notice it more and more in submission guidelines. When I'm told not to include in my cover letter "the endearing anecdote about the first time you picked up a crayon and realized you wanted to be a writer." or not to include with my submission "flowers, ribbons, lollipops, chocolate" I wonder who the heck you think your audience is. I, and I assume the majority of your readers, are seasoned writers who view the submission process as a necessary evil, all business, of the writing life. I have submitted hundreds of manuscripts in my life as a writer, winning, coming close and not placing at all. The tone of your article seems to target the fifteen-year-old poet who may think a swirly font will make a nice touch, not at the professional who prints her manuscript, gets it in an envelope and out the door as efficiently as possible. I can't imagine that editors are discovering so much chocolate and lollipops in their submissions that they have to warn against their inclusion in the guidelines. In every case, I vote for a simple set of guidelines that tells me clearly what the editor wants , not what she doesn't want. And while we're at it, how about a little respect for writers on response time and communication over submissions, especially when a writer has been told their is interest and kept waiting.

ssousa replied on April 24, 2013 - 9:48am Permalink

Lesson: should edit letters to editor as well as ms submissions. "There" for "their" in last line.

competitivewriter replied on April 24, 2013 - 12:21pm Permalink

extending this advice a bit

ssousa - you raise some good points.   I've been collecting various writing articles related to writing competitions, and if you want to check out my blog , I think you will find some have a more professional tone.

That said, maybe your criticism is a touch harsh, can we allow the article writer to have a little levity?  I know it's  balance, but I'm sure they never intednded to insult your accomplishments and abilities.

In addition to the points in this article, I'd add:

1. Look locally in terms of geographic region and subject matter expertise.

2. Watch out for populatriy based/public voting contests that are more marketing than writing.

3. Finally, study past winners.

mariabeppa replied on April 28, 2013 - 7:05pm Permalink

paying to enter

When I started years ago, we were told to NEVER enter a contest where they ask for money. Has that changed?..

How To Write A Killer Cover Letter to Publishers

May 20, 2015

A cover letter introduces you and your novel to potential publishers . This letter is your first point of contact between you and a publisher, therefore, it is crucial that aspiring authors know how to write a decent cover letter.

Here are three common questions, answered for writers looking to pave a successful path into the world of publishing with a cover letter that leaves an impression…

What do I need?

1. an ‘elevator pitch’ and hook.

An ‘elevator pitch’ is a brief and punchy summary of your novel that could be told to someone important between floors of a short elevator ride. Condense the core ideas of your novel in a dynamic and enthusiastic couple of sentences.

Remember that your cover letter should be no longer than a page, so this section can only take a up a paragraph or two. Show them why it’s worth reading and be sure to include a ‘hook’ – something that drags your reader into the story, and has them dying to know what happens next.

2. A target audience

Outline your target audience  to publishers and demonstrate an alignment to their publishing vision . A good way to start is by looking at previous novels they have published and whether these books fall in the same category as yours, and share a target audience.

Remember to be specific; publishers need more information than ‘Adult’. Include your audience’s age group, interests etc. if applicable.

3. Novel titles comparable to yours

Give two titles comparable to your novel (even better if they’re published by the publisher you’re reaching out to). This is a great way to establish direct relevance and relation to potential publishers.

More than that, it gives them an idea of where your novel will sit in the marketplace and how it will work with their existing list.

4. A word count

This is a simple and necessary inclusion to let publishers know how long your novel is.

5. A killer author bio

Be interesting, be readable and draw publishers in with who you are and what you intend to do with your work.

Here is also the place to list existing publishing credentials, and relevant education such as writing courses or degrees. You want to be able to get publishers to see that you are a capable, focused and passionate writer.

6. Contact details

Give yourself the opportunity to be contacted if the publishers decide to get in touch for further questions or discussions. Include your phone number, address and most importantly, your email address.

How do I put it together?

Put the above elements together in an easy-to-read, simple form. Keep sentences short, purposeful and in an active voice. The desired length of your letter should no longer than a page. Opt for 12pt standard font such as Times New Roman, and 1.5 spacing.

Many new authors make the mistake of attempting to detail their background, life achievements and a lengthy breakdown of their novel. Long, unnecessary paragraphs will irritate the editor, and an irritated submissions editor is not someone you want reading your life’s work and deciding its future.

In addition to being concise, remember to keep it error-free. Creatively written content may help you stand out, but keep in mind that your letter is still a business proposal.

It also goes without saying that a successful pitch leaves no room for error, so before you click send, proofread it again and again. Better still, have other writer friends review it and provide you with feedback.

Do I include my manuscript?  

Always follow the publisher’s submission guidelines. These guidelines are usually accessible on publisher’s website. The most common request is to include the first three chapters. In addition, you might also be asked for a synopsis (usually no longer than 300 words).

We cannot stress enough the importance of adhering to the guidelines. This shows that you care about the publisher’s work as well as yours.

Some other useful tips

• Address your cover letter by name. Avoid clichés such as ‘Dear sir/madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’. It is more genuine and respectful.
• 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.

With these tips, you’re good to go!

This post was written by Natalie Ong Lih Tyng

Carmel JOYCE

Hello A cover letter introduces you and your novel to potential publishers. This letter is your first point of contact between you and a publisher, therefore, it is crucial that aspiring authors know how – “to” – write a decent cover letter.

Could you please correct the first sentence on this web page? I was told once that my emails, no matter how appealing, would be rejected because of a spelling mistake or a sentence that was not constructed correctly. I can not be a member of AWG as I do not have any credits for my drama script writing. I can not gain a credit until my work is accepted. How do I attract Australian publishers with Australian/British drama scripts without credits?

Claire Bradshaw

Thanks for pointing that out – things do slip through the cracks sometimes, but the sentence is fixed now!

As for your submissions: generally, book publishers won’t accept unsolicited submissions of play scripts or screenplays, no matter whether you’re a member of AWG or not. We’d recommend looking into more specific submission opportunities, such as Australian Plays ( https://australianplays.org/about/submissions ), and also visiting sites like Playwriting Australia ( http://www.pwa.org.au ) for more information and opportunities.

You might also like to purchase a subscription to the Australian Writer’s Marketplace ( https://www.awmonline.com.au ), which has a comprehensive directory that includes opportunities for plays/theatre and screenplays.

Best of luck with your writing.

Is it possible to have an example of a submission letter? Even if something general. Cheers!

Here’s a site with a list of examples of successful cover/query letters from different genres: http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/successful-query-letters-for-literary-agents/63594

Hope this helps!

Kathy Steinemann

Thanks, Claire.

Your third point highlights how important (and time-consuming) advance research is. A writer might have to read several novels to find two comparable titles.

Glad you enjoyed Natalie’s post! Definitely agree that research can take up a lot of a writer’s time – definitely worth it, though, if it improves your cover letter in the end!

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Home / Book Writing / The Best Writing Contests and How to Apply

The Best Writing Contests and How to Apply

You live to write and have numerous short stories to prove it. Best of all, people other than your mother love and praise them! But because your name doesn’t happen to be Danielle Steel, no publisher is currently knocking down your front door to rip manuscripts from your printer before the pages even cool. So what is an aspiring writer to do? Apply to a writing contest, perhaps?

If you were a singer, you could try out for American Idol ; if a dancer, you could apply to So You Think You Can Dance . But let’s face it, a television show where you typed at your keyboard is not must-see TV.

Even so, there are numerous (non-televised) writing contests where you can display your skills and improve your writing . Plus, if you win, you might receive some well-deserved critical acclaim—not to mention a cash award and potential future writing contracts.

In this article, you will learn:

• How to enter a writing contest and increase your chances of placing or even winning
• Which contests are reputable
• Which contests are currently accepting submissions

Table of contents

• General Rules for Applying to Writing Contests

Writers & Illustrators of the Future

• Writer's Digest Magazine 
• EcoLit Books
• The University of Georgia Press
• Colorado State University
• The Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
• The Indiana Review
• Writing Battle
• Final Thoughts

There are a lot of writing contests out there that may or may not be worth your time. As a general rule, it's a good idea to check out the contest's social media presence, their history, and the previous winners to be sure that you're applying to one that isn't going to waste your time and your money–since most of them do have entrance fees. Never fear, I've done some research for you, and listed a few of the best writing contests and how to apply to them below.

But it's probably a good idea for us to go over some general rules for applying to these contests. So here they are:

• Edit your work before you submit anything. Make sure that it's the best it can possibly be.
• Don't apply to writing contests that are outside of your genre.
• If a writing contest has a specific requirement or theme like “Robots takes over the Earth,” don't try to shop an old story that doesn't fit.
• Do check the specific submission requirements for each contest. This will include the length of the piece in words, the theme or genre, and how your submission should be formatted, including margin and font size.
• Write a great cover letter–once again, this depends on the submission guidelines.
• If the contest organization publishes past winners, it’s a great idea to read two or three issues to understand the writing the current judges love. Your fantasy tale might be the greatest thing since The Lord of the Rings , but if the judges are currently into science fiction, winning will remain your largest fantasy.
• Be professional, both in writing and correspondence.
• If you win, that's awesome! If you don't, try again, but don't  ever  contact the judges or call the competition out on social media. This won't reflect well on you or up your chances in future writing contests.
• Don't submit the same piece to multiple contests at the same time.

Now that we've gotten the general rules out of the way. Let's look at some of the best writing contests that you can apply to.

Join in celebrating 10 years of Inkitt . Inkitt was founded 10 years ago as a website for founder Ali Albazaz and his friends and family to share stories and receive feedback.

Since then, Inkitt has grown, evolved, and discovered so many amazing and talented writers, on a journey to fulfill our company mission of discovering hidden talents and turning them into globally successful authors. They invite you to submit your story to their contest ‘Decade of Discovery’.

Take your readers on a journey to uncover something new, whether it's a new passion, a hidden talent or a unique perspective on the world. Let your imagination run wild and leave readers captivated and inspired!

Contest dates:

Launch date: Monday 13th of March @12:00 am CET

End date: Thursday 8th of June @12:59 am CET

1st place: A Galatea publishing contract, an exclusive book cover design, a feature in a tagged Instagram post, and a verified profile badge on your Inkitt account.

2nd place: A Galatea publishing contract, a year-long free Galatea subscription, a feature in a tagged Instagram post, and a verified profile badge on your Inkitt account.

3rd place: A Galatea publishing contract, a feature in a tagged Instagram post, and a verified profile badge on your Inkitt account.

This contest is currently entering its 36th year and is one of the most famous writing contests around. You can enter four times a year and there is NO reading fee! The three top winners from each quarter are published in the Writers & Illustrators of the Future annual anthology. The contest is for science-fiction and fantasy writers and was formed to “help foster the next generation of master writers.” A lofty goal. And one the competition seems to have achieved many times over. To date there have been 404 contest winners, 334 illustrator winners, and entries from 181 countries.

If you're interested in submitting your story to the competition, click to check out the submission guidelines .

The coordinating judge will give advice to help good writers get better, and the website has a writer’s forum with plenty of helpful information to assist new authors. Many of the twelve annual winners have gone on to successful writing careers as you can see in this list of the brand new science fiction past winners.

In addition to publishing the winning stories, authors are paid for their story and one gold award winner is given $5,000. They also fly the winners out each year for an exclusive writers' workshop , which is really a scholarship, with training delivered by some of the leading authors in the industry. With no reading fee and the chance to have your writing judged by a panel that includes the likes of Kevin J. Anderson and Brandon Sanderson, this is an awesome opportunity for sci-fi and fantasy writers.

Writer's Digest Magazine hosts an annual writing contest that's been going on for over 80 years. This year's contest is the 89th, and contest submissions are judged by editors and literary agents with over 500 winners being selected. I like those odds.

There are reading fees for the different types of submissions, starting at $20 for poetry and $30 for manuscripts.  But the cost is well worth the reward. The first-place winner receives $5,000, an interview with the author on the Writer's Digest website, and a chance to attend the Writer's Digest Annual Conference with a Pitch Slam slot.

The Grand Prize winner and the first-place winner are also published on the Writer's Digest website. If you'd like to find out more about how to submit, you can do so here . Remember, these competitions always have unique and specific submission guidelines–it's a good idea to check them out before you submit.

Even with the fee, the contest is well-worth an aspiring short story writer's time.

This contest is open to multiple forms of writing, including but not limited to:

• Genre fiction short works (mystery, romance, etc.)
• Print or online articles
• Literary short stories

EcoLit Books is an independent online journal devoted to stories with environmental themes. They have a large section of their website dedicated to writers, with many writing opportunities listed, including competitions authors can submit to. Each contest has a different theme. For instance, the theme of the current competition is: “And lately, the sun.” 

The project will produce an anthology that will be released in November 2020, and submissions are open until 30 June 2020. But if you miss this round of the contest, there will be others, all with similar themes, that you can apply to. Here are the submission guidelines for the current contest.

Since the competition theme changes, the submission guidelines might too. The most accurate information will be found here for each subsequent competition. For this competition, authors whose stories are accepted will receive AUD$80, and one lucky story writer is picked by the editors to receive a prize of AUD$500. Every author whose story is chosen will receive a contributor copy of the eBook. Additionally, there's NO entry fee for this competition.

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The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Manuscripts

The Letter Review Prize is a writing contest that is awarded every two months. The contest has a total prize pool of $3800 USD and offers publication for the winners. The categories for the contest include Short Fiction (up to 5000 words), Poetry (up to 70 lines), Nonfiction (up to 5000 words), and Manuscripts (Novels, Story Collections, Poetry Collections, and Nonfiction).

The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction offers a $1000 USD prize pool for short fiction up to 5000 words. There are no genre or theme restrictions and it is open to writers from anywhere in the world.

The Letter Review Prize for Poetry offers an $800 USD total prize pool for poems of not more than 70 lines. Like the short fiction category, there are no subject or style restrictions and it is open to writers from anywhere in the world.

The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction offers a $1000 USD total prize pool for nonfiction up to 5000 words in length. It is open to writers from anywhere in the world.

Finally, the Letter Review Prize for Manuscripts offers a $1000 USD total prize pool for manuscripts including novels, short story collections, poetry collections, and nonfiction books.

It is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Three winners from each category are announced who share in the prize money. The prize is judged blind to ensure fairness.

The University of Georgia Press offers $1,000 in the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction for a collection of short stories. The first prize-winning book in this contest was published in 1983, so it's fair to say that this is an esteemed competition. Two winners per year are awarded the prize, and the submissions for this competition are open from April 1 to May 31 every year. You can purchase previous year's books here , and check out what type of stories win the award.

Here are the submission guidelines for the competition. Interestingly, the University of Georgia Press appears to host more than one writing contest. There's another called the Crux: The Georgia Series in Literary Nonfiction, and there's also a poetry contest: The Georgia Poetry Prize.  So, if you can't submit to the fiction competition right away, you do have the option to try for the nonfiction or poetry contests instead.

There isn't an entry fee for this contest either. At a glance, it appears the short story contest is open to stories that are themed–this will change annually. Previous themes included: “Stories about Holidays”, “Stories about Death” and “Stories about Love.”

Colorado State University offers prizes for short fiction via its Center for Literary Publishing. The prize is called the Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction, and though it's currently closed for submissions at the time of this article's publication, it's open annually from December.

There's an entry fee of $17 for online submissions and $15 for paper submissions. You can check out the submission guidelines here . But just to break it down, this competition is for short stories in the 2,500 to the 12,500-word range. You don't need to be a resident of the U.S.A. to enter, and the winners, who receive a cash prize of $2,000, are usually announced in June of the following year. The winning story is published in the fall or winter issue of the Colorado Review.

This is an esteemed competition that was established in 2004 in honor of author and editor, Liza Nelligan. At a glance, it seems the type of fiction suitable for this competition is previously unpublished literary work.

First established in 1981 in Key West, the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition draws in entrants from all over the states and the world. Lorian Hemingway is the judge–she's the author of three critically acclaimed books: Walking Into The River, Walk On Water and A World Turned Over. She's also the granddaughter of the great, Ernest Hemingway. She takes what might be considered an unorthodox approach to judging the competition, at least in the eyes of the literary world. To her, typos aren't an issue. It's more about the meaning and spirit of the story.

The competition has awarded over $70,000 to entrants over its 39 years of existence. Submissions cost $15 before May 1st and $20 after May 2nd. The word count of submitted stories must be 3,500 words or less. And the first-place prize winner receives $1,500 and publication in  Cutthroat: A Journal of Arts. The competition favors authors or writers who have not been published in widely circulated magazines before–that includes self-published authors, who will be considered on an individual basis.

You can check out online submission guidelines here.

The Indiana Review awards five prizes a year in different categories. One of them, the IR 1/2 K Prize, allows you to send in multiple pieces for consideration with the caveat that each one is less than 500 words. I'd say that's in the realm of flash fiction. When submitting, you don't have to add a cover letter–interestingly, the submission process for this award is done online, directly after payment. You can't email or mail your submissions–they'll be ignored.

There's an entry fee of $20. This gets you not only a submission but a year-long subscription of the journal. That's a pretty neat bonus if you ask me. All submitted works must not have been published anywhere else. And the prize? It's $1,000 and publication of your pieces.

You can take a look at the details and submission guidelines here. Remember, there are multiple prizes so be sure to check out the full list here .

Writing Battle guarantees a cash prize pool of at least $5,000, split amongst the winners from each of the four genres. All winners are also offered publication, and everyone gets loads of feedback from participants. $25 (tax included) to enter. Writing Battle is a supportive and growing community that holds a quarterly competition for writers, by writers. Receive prompts and write a Short Story within the time limit (usually a few days). After the submission deadline, the stories are separated by genre and battle in parallel tournaments.

The outcomes of each face-off in the tournament are judged by fellow participating writers, providing peer feedback, and judging stories in different genres than their own. After a few weeks of peer judging, industry professionals step in to decide the four winners, one from each of the four genres. Industry judges include the likes of Nebula and Hugo winner, Ken Liu (THE GRACE OF KINGS). Check out  Past Winners  or read more about the  Rules

More Writing Contests

We've gathered even more writing contests for you to check out!

With all these available contests, it’s time to get to work writing and editing your best story within an inch of its life. Then, submit it only after researching to ensure you are adhering strictly to the writing contest's guidelines, and that you’ve polished it with the shine that appeals to those specific judges.

And while you’re waiting for that contest to conclude, start working on a new submission for the next contest. Of all the tales I’ve heard, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a legend of a writer submitting his first and only work to a single contest, and winning the first time around. Persistence and hard work are the more typical stories of success.

If you live to write, your greatest breaths of air will be the days your private creations become public. Your masterpieces won't be published if you don’t go to the work of getting them out there. So use this information to push yourself just a bit harder. And do the work it takes to successfully enter these contests, so that you can start writing your own future!

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

• Writers & Illustrators of the Future

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Titling your book can be hard…really hard. As you go through choosing your book title, use this checklist as your guide and make sure you have a title that will sell!

8 thoughts on “ The Best Writing Contests and How to Apply ”

Another good source for info on writing contests is Practicing Writing https://www.erikadreifus.com/2020/06/markets-jobs-for-writers-8/ . Erika Dreifus publishes a list of contests and jobs for writers every Monday with a bigger list monthly. She lists only things that are free to enter but pay the winners. She provides subscribers with other useful info on other days.

This is a very good list of resources. I was infact looking for something like this .Writing contest accepting work from all over the work is what I need know.Will check out the guidelines.

Awesome and sounds good!

Great list! Thanks for the hard work you put into this research.

You’re welcome and glad to have helped.

It would be nice to have this information for non fiction writers. All the above only apply to fiction.

If you come across some, let us know and we’ll update.

These are all for short fiction. What about contests for novels.

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• Careers advice

How to write a cover letter

There is a problem.

A cover letter introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application. 

It’s a short letter, usually 3 to 5 paragraphs long.

When to include a cover letter

You should always include a cover letter when you apply for a job using a CV. 

You can write it as an email if you’re applying online or print a copy to go with a paper application.

When writing a cover letter, let the employer know you’re keen by showing that you’ve researched the company. Learn more about what they do through:

• their website
• recent news articles
• talking to people you know who work there

Send it to the right person

It's important to try to address your cover letter to someone by name. Check you have the details of the person you need to send it to. 

You'll need their name and preferred title. For example, ‘Dr’, ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Ms’, and their job title. You should also make sure you have the right company name and address, including postcode.

If you do not know their name

If the job advert does not include a name you can check the company website. Try to find details of the head of the department, head of human resources or a recruitment manager.

If you still cannot find a name, you can start your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Introduction

Introduce yourself and explain how you found the advertised job. You can mention the job title, and reference number if there is one. 

If you’re asking about any job openings and not applying to a vacancy, tell them what sort of job you’re looking for. Let the employer see how keen you are to work for them.

Show you're right for the job

Highlight the skills and experience you have that match what the employer is looking for. 

Convince them that you're enthusiastic about working for them. Let them know you share their work values, culture and style.

Give extra information

If you have gaps in your employment history, you could talk about the skills you gained while you were out of work.

If you’ve mentioned on your CV that you have a disability, you might want to talk more about this in your cover letter. Organisations like Disability UK can give you advice on how to do this. You do not have to mention your disability at this stage if you prefer not to.

You can get more help with specialist advice on finding work if you have a disability.

Ending your cover letter

Thank the employer for considering your application. Let them know that they can get more details from your CV, and tell them you're looking forward to hearing from them.

Let them know how they can best contact you. Make sure your contact details are correct on both your cover letter and CV.

Yours sincerely or yours faithfully

If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’.

If you’ve addressed the letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, you should end the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’.

Tips for writing a cover letter

When writing your cover letter, remember to:

• write a new one for every job you apply for and make sure it’s tailored to the company and the specific role
• use the same font and size as you do for your CV, so it looks consistent
• make sure the company name and recruiter’s details are correct
• use the right language and tone: keep it professional and match the keywords used by the employer in their job advert
• show you’ve done your research into the job and the company
• highlight your most relevant skills and experience to stand out from other applicants
• back up any statements you make with facts and use the STAR method
• double check spelling and grammar before you send it
• keep a copy of your cover letter as they may ask you about it in an interview

Related content

How to write a CV

Completing application forms

Interview tips

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How to Write a Cover Letter – Template and 9 Expert Tips

July 19, 2024

If you’re applying for a job, you’ll most likely need to prepare a polished résumé, to practice common interview questions , to request recommendations and references , and to write a cover letter. There are many types of cover letters out there. These include the application cover letter, the prospecting cover letter, and the career change cover letter. In this article, we’ll discuss the most common: the application cover letter, which is what you’ll need when trying to secure a new job (usually for a currently open position). Below, we’ll recommend how to write a cover letter (including how to end a cover letter) and provide a cover letter template to help you get started!

If you like our template and tips you may also want to view our 3 Great Cover Letter Examples for Any Job .

While we can provide a cover letter template to serve as a skeleton for your writing, you’ll need to flesh out your work with important details that are relevant to you, your experiences, and the prospective job at hand. As you begin drafting these details, it’s important to remember a few essential moves that are crucial as you learn how to write a cover letter:

1) Do your research

Before you send a cover letter to an employer, it’s imperative that you have a thorough understanding of the position you’re applying for , the job’s expectations and requirements, your future role within the hierarchy of the workplace, and the overall company culture. Knowledge of these items will help you determine which of your relevant skills and accolades you should include in your letter, the person or people to whom you should address your writing, and the tone and style of your cover letter. It will also help you decide what to leave out of your cover letter. Remember to only stick to items that are relevant to the position at hand!

2) Make particular connections

Use specificity when listing your accomplishments and describing your goals. Just as importantly, describe how you as a candidate are uniquely positioned to fill this position successfully. For instance, a general and less-connected sentence might say, “I have strong leadership skills.” But a detailed, job-specific sentence might be, “As a project manager for Waterscapes, I oversaw a team of twelve employees working on the development and implementation of River Clean Up 2024, which reduced plastic waste in our local water systems by 27%. This experience will inform my future work with your company as an Assistant Director of Eco-Initiatives.”

Think of each sentence as an opportunity to illustrate potential links between your previous work and your future career. Just like answering a “ tell me about yourself ” question in an interview, this is a moment to describe your past, present, and now your future in your hoped-for job.

How to Write a Cover Letter – Cover Letter Template (Continued)

3) add well-considered details.

Does your prospective job’s company have a strong online presence? Does your future employer have a LinkedIn profile that lists publications, affiliations, or specific awards and accolades? Do you have a personal connection with your employer or someone important at the company? If so, now is the time to utilize some of your social capital and make mention of these items. Doing so adds a personal touch and makes your cover letter more memorable. It also demonstrates your willingness to research and promote the company’s culture.

For instance, if you’re applying for a position at a language-learning app company and their motto is, “Communication for All,” this specific phrase could be used as you describe your passion for making language-learning accessible, regardless of the student’s background or income.

4) Be professional

Depending on the job for which you’re applying, your overall cover letter tone may vary. If you’re applying for a job as a copywriter for a quirky astrology start-up, you might be able to include fun details about horoscopes in your cover letter. If, on the other hand, it’s a position for a tenure-track professor job at a top research university, your tone will be much more formal and will include particulars about your contributions to the field.

Regardless of the job, you should always utilize a professional font (no Comic Sans!) and clear letterhead for readability to convey your seriousness about the position. You should also always try to convey sincerity in your writing. Additionally, make sure your reader knows you really want this job and will do your best at it if you’re hired.

5) Be confident!

Now is not the time to focus on your professional faults or limitations. Now is the time to promote yourself with abandon. Focus on your relevant work experience, your strengths, your accolades, and your willingness to learn and grow in this new job.

6) Brainstorm and draft

Do not rush your cover letter! This is a professional genre of communication that signifies your intentions to advance your career. It should be treated as a formal record of your employment history. As such, spend time cultivating your writing and trimming it so that it is rich, informative, candid and attractive.

Drafting also includes editing details like spelling and grammar checks – it has long been established that simple errors and problems with writing organization can cause employers to not take your work seriously. [i] Other small details can indicate your level of seriousness about yourself and this work. [ii] For instance, if you have a personal email address like “ [email protected] , you may want to think of creating and using a separate email address that is a little more professional, like “ [email protected] .”

7) Be direct

At all points in your cover letter, it’s essential to start with the punchline. Studies have demonstrated that readers and listeners often retain the first sentence of a paragraph or presentation before their attention starts to wane. [iii] As such, beginning with your main point and following with examples to support that point is the best way to grab your reader’s attention and ensure they fully absorb your meaning.

8) Pay attention to length

How long should a cover letter be? In most cases, a cover letter should not exceed one page of single-spaced writing (about 250 to 400 words, max). Remember that your prospective employer may be reading dozens of cover letters. He or she will probably not have the time nor inclination to read an unnecessarily long cover letter.

9) Finish on a promising note

As you consider how to end a cover letter, it’s important to focus on positivity and continuing dialogue with your prospective employer. Gesture toward future communication with closings like, “I look forward to your response,” or “I look forward to sharing more with you about my previous experience and qualifications for this position.”

Is it okay for me to use this cover letter template?

As you sit down to brainstorm how to write a cover letter, you may be wondering: How can I be original if I’m using a template? Aren’t I just copying what someone else has written? In short, the answer is: you can definitely use a cover letter template because templates are simply great starting points! You aren’t copying the content of the cover letter template. Rather, you are using the frame of the cover letter template to create your own original writing.

Templates are generative, meaning they are simply a beginning or prompt for your own writing and ideas to grow and flourish. Templates help you make writing moves you might not have otherwise considered. In the case of a cover letter template, using a model can be inspirational, helping you remember important details about your résumé and other job-related skills you may have forgotten. Finally, templates can combat writer’s block and help you organize your ideas into a coherent cover letter. Ultimately, “the aim of templates is not to stifle critical thinking but to…be direct about the key rhetorical moves” necessary for a piece of writing. [iv]

Below, you’ll find a cover letter template to get you started. Good luck!

Cover Letter Template

[ Your name ]

[ Your phone number ]

[E mail address ]

[ Optional: Your mailing address – you usually only need to include this if it’s a printed cover letter or if the employer will not be contacting you via email or phone. ]

Dear [ specific title and name of application recipient ],

As a [ your professional title ] with [ number ] years’ experience in [ field ], I am applying for the position of [ job title ]. To this position, I would bring [ highlight the 1-3 most important ways you will bring your specific skills to this job to benefit, develop, and serve the company or employer ].

[Body Paragraph 1: Using the skills you mention at the beginning of the letter, find 1-2 relevant, concrete examples from your previous work experiences to demonstrate how you’ll be a good fit for this new job ].

Because of [ skill or experience listed in first paragraph ], I can facilitate [ your company ] with [ specific requirement listed in the job description ]. Furthermore, my previous work with [ specific skill ] can additionally help [ specific job requirement ].

[Body Paragraph 2: Using the skills or experiences mentioned at the beginning of the letter, demonstrate how your current work will make you a good candidate for this job .]

In my current position as [ job title ] at [ current place of work ], I [ list specific responsibility with detail ] and am eager to continue to grow professionally at [ your company ] with [ similar work that will be required at this new job ]. At [ your company ], [ insert specific detail about the company culture, job requirements, or general news about the company ], I am eager to use my current skills as a [ insert your experience ] to help expand this work.

[Body Paragraph 3: Using the skills and experiences mentioned at the beginning of the letter, demonstrate how you hope to grow as a worker in this new position ].

I have always seen myself as a [ particular job title or responsibility ] and to be afforded the opportunity to do so at a company as prestigious as [ company name ], will let me develop [ specific professional skills ] while promoting the company’s mission to [ include part of the company’s mission ].

I am available to answer any questions you may have about my résumé or previous work experiences. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

[ Your Name ]

How to Write a Cover Letter with Template – Works Cited

• [i] McDowell, Earl E. “Perceptions of the Ideal Cover Letter and Ideal Resume,” Journal of Technical Writing and Communication. Volume 17, Issue 2, April 1987.
• [ii] Martin-Lacroux, Christelle, and Alain Lacroux. “Do Employers Forgive Bad Spelling in Resumes?” Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, Volume 80, Issue 3. 26 October 2016.
• [iii] Garner, Joanna K. and Michael P. Alley. “How the design of presentation slides affects audience comprehension: A case for the assertion-evidence approach,”  International Journal of Engineering Education . Vol. 29, Issue 6, 2013.
• [iv] Graff, Gerard, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing . W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2006.

How to Write a Cover Letter with Template – Additional Resources

• How to Send a Condolence Message for a Coworker (with Samples)
• 25 High Paying Work from Home Jobs 
• How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting
• How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” with Examples
• Resignation Letter Samples
• 25 Job Interview Questions and Answers 

Jamie Smith

For the past decade, Jamie has taught writing and English literature at several universities, including Boston College, the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Carnegie Mellon, where she currently teaches courses and conducts research on composition, public writing, and British literature.

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The best relocation cover letter writing guide

Trying to find a job while relocating can be daunting. Employers in your new area will likely be curious about why you’re moving and what value you’re bringing with you. Discover the keys to answering their questions accurately while highlighting how your big move can benefit their business.

Discussing your intention or willingness to relocate in your cover letter

As a job seeker, you should always anticipate and answer as many questions about yourself as possible in your initial application, as transparency makes hiring managers feel more comfortable. If you live far from the business, the employer will notice this on your resume and may question why you’re applying. 

This is where a relocation cover letter can help. This type of cover letter is written to an employer telling them about your intention to move within a reasonable distance from the office. 

The purpose of a relocation cover letter is to ease concerns about you living so far away or worries about the reasons for your move. It’s always a good idea to make your intentions and plans known as early in the hiring process as possible, and a relocation cover letter accomplishes that goal.

Expert Tip:

When possible, try to mention your relocation timeframe and interview availability up front. This lets recruiters and hiring managers know when you’ll possibly be available to start the role and helps them make plans for an alternative interview format (such as videoconferencing) if you cannot yet interview in person.

Types of relocation cover letters

When it comes to cover letter examples, relocation letters aren’t always easy to find. Consequently, you may be unsure about how to approach writing one. 

Every employee’s situation is unique, and the type of relocation cover letter you write and submit should reflect those differences. Fortunately, there are a few types of letters to choose from, each with their own unique approach. 

Relocating for a spouse

It is normal for an employer to inquire about why you are leaving one job and applying for another. Letting a hiring manager know you are relocating to support a spouse eases their concerns.

In the cover letter , you can be straightforward about the fact that you are relocating because your spouse has recently accepted a position in the new location. However, you should also explain why you are personally excited to make the move and what you think you can contribute to the role. 

It’s also a good idea to highlight skills and traits that show how you adapt to new roles and situations. This highlights your strength and resilience, showing the employer that you’ll be able to hit the ground running once you’re hired. 

Relocating for an out-of-state job

Similar to when you’re relocating for a spouse, pursuing relocation for an out-of-state job means clearly stating this fact in your cover letter. Explain what excites you so much about the specific opportunity that you’re willing to relocate for it.

However, it’s important that you don’t put all of your focus on your own dreams and goals. Instead, spend most of the cover letter explaining how your skills and expertise can benefit the organization. This shows the hiring manager that you have sincerely thought about the role and whether you are the right person for it.

Relocating with no ties

Relocating to a new area with no ties highlights your flexibility, adaptability, and tenacity. It’s a good idea to mention this situation in your cover letter in as straightforward a manner as possible. 

You don’t have to mention a lack of family or professional ties. However, you can tell the hiring manager that there are no existing commitments hindering you from giving your full attention to a new role . In the rest of your cover letter, highlight your flexibility, how this can be of benefit to the new employer, and how you are open to dedicating your time and skills to the new role.

When writing this type of relocation cover letter, it’s important that you don’t come across to the hiring manager as flaky or transient. If you have held previous roles for a reasonable amount of time, you should definitely use a resume format that highlights this fact. 

Additionally, showcase in your cover letter your ability to commit to a position. Explain to the hiring manager why you can see yourself staying in this location long term.

Relocation cover letter example

If you’re looking for relocation cover letter examples , you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a sample letter you can model your own after:

Tips for writing a relocation cover letter

When writing your relocation cover letter, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Research the company and location you’re moving to so you’ll know how your skills and traits align 
• Mention relocation plans and offer details about your timeline
• Convey professionalism in your tone and formatting
• Focus on the skills and qualifications you bring to the role, not your own desires
• Follow a standard cover letter format that includes no more than four paragraphs
• Consider using cover letter examples for relocation to help you craft your own

These tips can help ensure your job relocation letter is polished, professional, and unique.

Common mistakes in a relocation cover letter

Try to avoid these mistakes to keep your application out of the “no” pile:

• Not mentioning relocation plans at all in the cover letter
• Not being flexible about interview scheduling and format
• Not focusing on the company and how your skills are the right fit for the role
• Not keeping all details concise and avoiding rambling
• Not tweaking cover letter templates to fit your unique situation and needs

By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll cast yourself in a positive light and highlight why you’re the right person for the job.

"The purpose of a relocation cover letter is to ease concerns that the employer may have about you living so far away or worries they may have about the reasons for your move."

Land a dream job in a new place with the right relocation cover letter

When done well, a relocation cover letter lets the hiring manager know why you’re relocating and helps them see your true value. It also highlights how your skills, knowledge, and personal traits can be an asset to the organization.

Writing a relocation cover letter can be challenging if it’s your first time. Consider how a cover letter or resume sample can help you craft a professional application that gets attention for the right reasons. With the help of well-crafted resources, you’ll be well on your way to securing a great job no matter what city you land in. 

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