sample cover letter for short story submission

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!

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!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

[…] 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?

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Contributors

These are some guidelines for writing a cover letter. For information about what kinds of stories we're looking for, see our fiction guidelines .

Address it to "Editors".
List up to three previous publication credits if you have them. It's okay if you don't have any.
Mention experience you have that is directly relevant to the story (we'd particularly like to know if you are writing about your own culture or profession, for instance).
Address it to "Sirs" or use titles like Mr./Ms./Mrs./Miss.
Summarize or pitch your story, or include praise for your work.
Include information about you that isn't relevant to the story.

Sample Cover Letters

Cover letters should be brief and simple. Here are a few examples of good cover letters. Feel free to use any of them as a template for your own letter.

Very Basic Cover Letter:

Dear Editors,

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons . Thank you.

Sincerely, A. I. Robotsky

Cover Letter with Credits:

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons .

My fiction has appeared in Asimov's , Clarkesworld , and the Zloty Press anthology The Zloty Chronicles .

Thank you, A. I. Robotsky

Cover Letter with Credits and Experience:

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons . It's about robot factory workers, and I am a robot who has spent 5 years working in factories.

Cover Letter with Experience:

Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons . It's about Czech robots, and I was built in Prague. Thank you for your time.

Strange Lusts
Azimuth Highlights
Staff Stories
Critical Friends

Creative Letter
Cover Letter
Cover Letter for Submitting a Short Story

This article provides a guide on how to write a cover letter for submitting a short story. A cover letter is a formal document that accompanies your short story submission to literary magazines, publishers, or writing contests. It serves as an introduction to your work and gives a glimpse into your writing style and the story you are submitting. Writing a well-crafted cover letter can increase your chances of getting your short story accepted for publication.

In this article, you will find examples of cover letters for submitting a short story, as well as suggestions on what to include in your letter to make it stand out. By following these guidelines, you can create a compelling cover letter that grabs the attention of editors and increases your chances of success.

Letter Example 1:

Letter example 2:, suggestions for writing a cover letter, conclusions, faq: how long should a cover letter for submitting a short story be, faq: should i mention any previous publications or writing credentials in my cover letter, faq: can i submit the same short story to multiple publications at the same time, faq: should i include my contact information in the cover letter, examples of cover letters for submitting a short story.

Dear [Editor's Name],

I am writing to submit my short story, titled "[Title of Your Short Story]," for consideration in [Name of Literary Magazine]. I have been an avid reader of your publication for many years and admire the high-quality fiction you showcase.

[Briefly introduce your story and highlight its unique elements or themes.]

Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the esteemed collection of stories in [Name of Literary Magazine].

Sincerely, [Your Name]

I am excited to submit my short story, "[Title of Your Short Story]," to [Name of Publisher], in response to your call for submissions for the upcoming anthology on [Theme of Anthology].

[Provide a brief synopsis of your story and explain why it is a good fit for the anthology.]

Thank you for considering my submission. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the diverse range of voices in [Name of Publisher]'s anthologies.

Best regards, [Your Name]

When writing a cover letter for submitting a short story, consider the following suggestions to make it more effective:

Address the letter to a specific editor or publication.
Introduce your story and highlight its unique elements or themes.
Explain why you think your story is a good fit for the publication/anthology.
Express your gratitude for the opportunity to submit your work.

Writing a compelling cover letter is an essential part of submitting a short story. It allows you to introduce yourself and your work to editors and provides them with a glimpse of your writing style and the story you are submitting. By following the examples and suggestions provided in this article, you can create a strong cover letter that increases your chances of getting your short story accepted for publication.

A cover letter for submitting a short story should be concise and to the point. Aim for one page or less.

If you have any relevant writing credentials or previous publications, it can be beneficial to mention them briefly in your cover letter. However, if you are a new writer without any previous publications, it is not necessary to mention this.

Many publications accept simultaneous submissions, but make sure to check each publication's guidelines before submitting your story. If a publication does not allow simultaneous submissions, wait until you receive a response before submitting your story elsewhere.

It is not necessary to include your contact information in the cover letter since most submissions are done electronically. However, make sure to include your name and email address in the submission form or cover letter header.

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Tips and Tricks

How to Write Cover Letters for Short Stories

Writing a cover letter to submit with your short story to magazines or ezines is different from writing a query letter for a full length novel, but some rules do apply to both.

In the cover letter you don’t want to boast about yourself or your writing. If you make it seem like you think you’re “the next best thing,” editors will assume you’re a cocky newbie. And editors don’t want to work with cocky newbies. ;)

Don’t say:

“Everyone who’s read this story loves it.”
“I’m the next (insert famous author).”
“My story is so much better than everything else out there.”

On the opposite side of things, you don’t want to bash yourself or come across as having low confidence. If they see low confidence in you, it will influence them to have low confidence in your writing.

“I’ve never been published before.”
“I’ve been rejected by xx publishers before.”
“I know this story could use some work, but that’s what you’re for, right?”

You also don’t want to overload them with personal information. They’re not interviewing you right now, they’re looking at your story.

“I’ve been writing since…”
“I’m xx years old.”
“I work as a…” (unless your profession is related to the story you wrote and your inside knowledge makes it stronger.)

You want to address the cover letter by name if you can. Go to the website of the magazine or ezine you are submitting to and see if they have a list of who works in what position.

If you can’t figure out who exactly you’re submitting to, you can always just address your letter “Dear Editor” or “Dear Editors.”

Short stories are short. It doesn’t take long to read them, and it won’t take long for an editor to know all they need to about it. So unlike a full length novel’s query letter there’s usually no need for a synopsis or “back cover copy.” Unless it’s specifically requested in their submission guidelines.

All of this comes down to keeping your cover letting very brief. Most of the time there’s no need for it to be any more than 50 to 60 words long .

Because of this, cover letters for short stories often seem emotionless. They’re just the bare facts that an editor needs.

Finally, you always want to make sure you follow each magazine’s submission guidelines exactly.

We writers may not like to hear it, but if you were an acquisitions editor going through dozens or hundreds of submissions looking for the few you would choose, and you saw one that didn’t follow your specific guidelines, you would assume that since the writer didn’t care enough to check your guidelines before submitting, they wouldn’t care enough to write a good story or even edit it before they sent it to you.

And honestly, for acquisitions editors that’s a very good reason to reject a short story before even reading it.

Now on to some formats!

For a general cover letter, if you don’t see specific guidelines on their website, you can format it similar to this:

(Your Name)

(Email Address)

(Telephone Number)

Dear Editor,

Please consider my X,XXX word short story titled (story title) for (magazine name). The story is attached as a word document titled (document title).

Thank you for your time and consideration.

(your name)

Make sure you check their guidelines to see if they want the story sent as an attachment or in the body of the email, and modify your cover letter accordingly!

But sometimes submission guidelines are different from this format.

Here are two examples from short stories that I wrote and submitted to magazines (both were acquired, so they worked!).

For this magazine they wanted your personal contact information in the story’s separate document. In the cover letter they wanted:

Your first and last name, and your pen name if you wrote under one.

Your author website if you had one.

The name of the attached file that contained your story.

This was my cover letter:

My name is Jordan (last name), but I write under the pen name Just B. Jordan.

Attachment: (last name)—Howl

Author website: www.JustBJordan.com

I enjoy reading Splickety’s magazines and am hopeful that you’ll find “Howl” to be a good fit.

As you can see that was very short and to the point, no access information. It was 51 words long.

This second example is very similar to the one above, but this issue had a theme of literary re-imaginings. They wanted classic stories reinvented with a magical twist.

My cover letter:

The attached file is named (last name)—Covet, and the original classic story is Robin Hood.

And that’s it! Cover or query letters for short stories are very…short. ;)

Stick to the point and the information they require, omit anything else, and you’ll be good to go!

Good luck on submitting those short stories!

Just B. Jordan is an award-winning author of fantasy and sci-fi. She graduated high school a year early and received her first publishing contract at the age of 18. To Ashes We Run is her most recent novel. Find it here .

3 Responses

Pat Hanratty

Enclosed you will find the short story (7,000 words) The Visitor. Randy Taylor is abducted by a flying saucer and, because of his background as a great cook, is enlisted to save the world from the oncoming environmental catastrophe. Will Randy be up to the task? I hope you enjoy the story. Pat’s (3rd person) bio is short: He is a retired psychologist who loves to write. Pat has published one short story and two articles in the past six-months.

Where do I submit my story?

It is apparent that the author is a data geek. I like how he writes and writes facts. It is always such a joy to read articles created by real professionals, like https://oliviarkeane.com/5-rules-for-avoiding-wordiness-improve-writing-by-eliminating-words/ . I’m fed up with all that no-name, ghostwritten articles. That is why it was so pleasant to have a look at a compelling piece. I see the writer has ground knowledge it the topic as well as some practical experience. Such kind of information is more valuable than copypasted blog posts ideas.

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KEL COLEMAN

author • editor • possibly a dragon

How to write a cover letter for short fiction submissions

First and foremost, my experience with cover letters is based on a couple years of submitting stories to magazines and is limited to speculative fiction magazines and anthologies. My way isn’t the only way. Also, every magazine is different and if you take nothing else away from this: read the submission guidelines from top to bottom to see if they have any cover letter preferences. Again, please read submission guidelines. It will make everyone’s life easier and significantly improve your chances of getting that coveted acceptance letter. Okay, on to cover letters…

How to write a cover letter for short fiction submissions:

First, don’t overthink it. Cover letters don’t need to be creative or even particularly well-written. Most magazines openly admit they don’t care much about the content of your cover letter; after all, it’s your story they’re buying. Second, there are only FOUR components to 90% of cover letters: greeting, info about the story, your publication history, and closing.

1. Greeting

Some cover letter instructions mention headers with your name, address, email address, and phone number. That seems to be going out of fashion and a lot of magazines either explicitly or by omission do not want all of that personal information during the submissions process. (If your story is accepted, they might ask for it then.) For the greeting itself, I recommend looking up the editor’s name and addressing them specifically. DO NOT assume titles like Mr. or Mrs; just use their full name. If there is more than one editor-in-chief, you can put all of them. Some editors have a preference for how they’re addressed, so look for that in their submission guidelines. (Edit: These days, I often just put Dear [Magazine Name] editorial team. It’s simple, and I like that it covers all the staff who work hard on the magazine.)

2. Information about your story

Next up is the title of your story, the word count rounded to the nearest hundred, whether it’s a simultaneous submission (check the guidelines to see if they accept submissions still waiting on a response from another magazine), and whether it’s an original or a reprint.

3. Your publication history

If you haven’t had any stories published, don’t sweat it. You can omit this section or say something simple like, “My fiction has not previously been published.” A lot of magazines are excited about publishing new authors. If you have had your work published, you can list up to three or four places your fiction has been published. You can also mention if you have any relevant education, like an MFA, or associations you’re a member of, like SFWA .

A quick Best or Warmest regards or even the old classic, Sincerely, will do here.

Here’s an example of a cover letter:

Dear Keisha Mann and Mike Garcia, Please consider “Songs of Death” (5700 words). It has not previously been published. My short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in FIYAH, Diabolical Plots, and Anathema: Spec from the Margins. I appreciate your time and consideration. Best regards, Kel Coleman

Sometimes editors will ask for additional information, like your email address, background information that can provide context on your story, pronouns, or demographics with which you identify. This is especially true if the submissions call is limited to a specific demographic or they’re looking to offset reader bias by taking into account, upfront, any experiences the author has that the slush readers (often the first people who read and comment on your submission) and editors may not. A cover letter with some of those additional components may look like this:

Dear Made-up Magazine editorial team, Please consider “Songs of Death” (5700 words). This is a simultaneous submission and I will notify you immediately if it is accepted elsewhere. I am a member of SFWA and my short fiction has appeared in FIYAH, Anathema: Spec from the Margins, and other fine publications.

I am Black and queer. I appreciate your time and consideration. Best regards, Kel Coleman (they/them)

And that’s basically how you write a cover letter. Seriously, don’t overthink it or spend an inordinate amount of time on it.

How to query a short fiction magazine or anthology after you’ve submitted a story:

Has it been a million years since you submitted your story (aka a few months)? Is it past the estimated response time stated in the guidelines or perhaps the publisher posted on Twitter saying they’ve cleared all of their submissions? Then it’s time to query!

If you’re like me, you feel awkward about this, but you shouldn’t. As long as you’ve waited for the estimated response time to pass and you are polite, no reasonable magazine will mind a check in.

Example of a query letter:

Hello, I wanted to inquire about the status of my submission of “Songs of Death”, submitted on June 1st, 2021. Thank you for your time. Best, Kel

Simple as that. Editors are busy busy people and I don’t think you can ever go wrong just getting to the point, as long as you are polite about it. I don’t know if this is the “right” way to query, but I searched online for the proper way to no avail. I finally asked an experienced author I knew and used some of what they suggested to craft my letter.

Hope you found this post helpful! Happy submitting!

Cover Letter for Short Story Submissions

Authors who are newer to submitting short stories often wonder about what to say and what not to say in a cover letter. Because I've been getting a lot of these questions lately in regard to WonderBird Press anthologies, I'm including a template that anyone can use for WBP and any other submissions they see fit.

Quick Disclaimers:

The story itself is the most important piece. A great cover letter doesn't help a story that isn't a fit for that editor.

There is no "one right way" to write a cover letter. There might be a most preferred format for any given editor, which is unfortunately not always consistent or predictable. If a submission call makes a specific request, make sure to include that.

Don't lie often goes without saying, but also, don't try to round up or inflate your credentials. If you don't have any prior publications or associated life experience, that's okay.

Those items out of the way, here is the cover letter templat e I like to use:

Dear [Editor's Name or [Title] Selection Team], Thank you for considering my work for publication in [Title]. My [genre] short story, "[Short Story Title]," is [X] words, and it is not a simultaneous submission*. [In the next paragraph, you might talk about one or more of the following:]

If possible, list 3ish previous or pending publications/awards, prioritizing recognizable names, recent publications, or close genre associations to the current submission. If not, don't mention it.]

[If applicable, give at most one sentence about your personal or professional expertise related to the topic of your story--e.g. if you're an urban dragon breeder writing a story about urban dragon reader's, say so. If not, don't mention it.]

[If desired, mention 1 to 2 workshops, fellowships, intensives, groups, etc. that feel relevant and are not redundant--e.g. if you are a previous Writers of the Future winner, you don't need to list both the publication and the workshop. If not, don't mention it. For Murderbugs, please include "I am an active member of [group where you heard about the submission]".]

I look forward to hearing f rom you.** Regards, [Name]

*Some submissions will require in their guidelines that your story is not a simultaneous submission or not written by AI or something like that. This sentence is an opportunity to quickly indicate that you've read and acknowledge the guidelines.

**Some submissions will require that you also attach a brief bio or a synopsis in addition to attaching your story. You can say "As per your directions, I have also included..." prior to this sentence.

***Unless a submission asks for a synopsis or teaser for the story, it's usually advised to skip that part.

Need help submitting your writing to literary journals or book publishers/literary agents? Click here! →

The Fundamentals Of A Cover Letter For Poems, Stories, And Personal Essays

by Writer's Relief Staff | Cover Letters | 5 comments

Review Board is now open! Submit your Short Prose, Poetry, and Book today!

Deadline: thursday, april 18th.

When you’re ready to submit your poems, short stories, or essays to literary journals for publication, you’ll need a cover letter.

Unlike the more complicated query letter you would send to a literary agent for a book project, a cover letter to a literary magazine contains only basic information about your writing submission and your author bio. It is not a sales pitch or a flashy bid for attention. Your cover letter should be professional, no more than one page, and show a knowledge of publishing industry etiquette.

Here are the essential parts of a cover letter:

1. Salutation. Whenever possible, use the editor’s full name. “Dear Sue Smith.” Never assume gender! “Pat” can be a “Patrick” or a “Patricia.” Read more: Savvy Salutations .

2. Introduction. State your intention clearly and include the title(s) of the work(s) you’re submitting: Please consider my poems, “Gray” and “To the Orioles,” for publication in Journal Name .

3. Don’t describe your submission. Don’t summarize your story or explain the themes in your poems. Trust us—it’s bad publishing industry etiquette. Editors may find it insulting if you presume that they can’t understand your work and need to have it explained to them. Plus, editors at literary journals pride themselves on how carefully they consider each submission. If you write a “teaser” into your cover letter, it will seem as if you suspect editors need to be tempted to do their jobs.

4. Your author bio . Include a short bio that lists your writing credits. You may want to add some selective information about your personal interests as well, especially if the details reflect on your writing (but avoid TMI ). If you want to publish under a pen name, note that here. Read more: Pseudonyms: Using A Pen Name In A Cover Or Query Letters To Agents Or Editors .

5. The closing. Be sure to sincerely thank the editor for his or her time.

6. Your signature (your real name).

7. Contact info. Since most submissions are now made electronically, the best place to include your contact information (mailing address, phone number, email address, and author website ) is below your signature.

If you’re printing your cover letter to send a submission via standard postal service, then the letterhead and contact information should be at the top. And while your letterhead is the one place in your cover letter where you can show some individuality, be sure to choose a font that is clean and easy to read. You can tweak standard templates to reflect your personal taste—but avoid using images or too many colors.

And that’s it! You’re ready to send your cover letter and writing submission out to literary journals. To learn more about how to write an effective cover letter, check out our Most Popular Articles for cover and query letter writing .

Very helpful…thank you

Have you got an example of a good cover letter that I could see?

Hi Leander,

If you follow the steps outlined in the article, you will have an effective cover letter.

This was duly described and easy to understand. Very helpful.

Failure to read the directions is the biggest error you might make at this crucial step of the publication process. The instructions can often be found on a publication’s main submissions page on their website or on their Submittable page. Before entering your information and uploading your document, read it once (or twice), then once more before clicking the “Send” button.

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The Proven Method Of Writing Short Story Cover Letters

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

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

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

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

How To Write A Cover Letter For A Short Story

Here are some of the highlights:

If you know the name of the editor, address the cover letter to them. For instance, ‘Dear Mr Gamgee’. If in doubt, just use ‘Dear Editors’.
Keep it simple. The editor is about to read your story, you don’t need to tell them the ins and outs of character and plot. Let them discover it themselves. And if you explain it badly, you may put them off reading it altogether.
If it’s not relevant, don’t include it. If you’ve got a law degree, nice work, but what has it got to do with the story? If your story is a legal drama, then that’s a different matter.
List some of your most notable publishing accomplishments. If you don’t have any, that’s fine! As Shvartsman says: “Every editor I know loves discovering new talent and loves being the first to publish someone, or first to publish someone in a pro venue. No one is going to hold a lack of past credits against you.”

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

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

_______________

Richie Billing

12 Hobbiton Lane, The Shire, Middle Earth

T: 07458228888

E: [email protected]

W: https://richiebilling.com/

Dear Editors,

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

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

I appreciate you taking the time to consider my submission.

All the very best,

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

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

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

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

How To Write A Cover Letter For A Novel

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

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

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

More Help On Writing Cover Letters and Getting Published

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

List of fantasy publishers
List of fantasy magazines and journals
List of book reviewers
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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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Writing contests, make money writing, hottest topics, cover letters for short stories.

When I first began submitting my short stories for publication, I had no idea that cover letters existed until I’d chosen to submit my story to a publisher whose submission guidelines required that a cover letter accompany every manuscript. Once aware of cover letters, however, I found myself confused. So I conducted a bit of research in an attempt to discover what type of information should be included in such a letter. If you are just embarking on the writer’s journey and seeking to submit your first short story manuscript, hopefully this article will assist you as some guides on cover letters have helped me in the past.

Despite any advice I offer, however, please be sure to read a publication’s current submission guidelines and only send what the editor(s) request. Disobeying submission guidelines can sometimes lead to an automatic rejection of your short story. Some editors do not require you to send cover letters with your short story manuscripts, but when a cover letter is required try to think of your letter as a courteous, professional introduction to you.

Before we go any further, though, I would like to stress once more that this article was written with mostly a certain type of short story writer in mind–the one who, like myself, is predominately interested in submitting short stories to small press publications that publish genre fiction. Particularly publications like those listed at Ralan.Com whose editors rarely request query letters and are willing to publish unsolicited short story manuscripts. If you are not this sort of writer but still interested in this article, then please grab your magnifying glass and come along with me to take a closer look at cover letters for short stories.

In regards to short story submissions, cover letters are usually brief letters containing one to three short paragraphs, and is most often paper-clipped in front of your manuscript’s first page when you snail mail your submission. If you are submitting your manuscript through email, then your cover letter comes before your story as the main body of your email, and still serves as your introduction. Whether you are submitting through postal mail or email, your cover letter should be single-spaced, written in standard block or semi-block format, and double-spaced between paragraphs. If you are mailing your manuscript, then you should consider typing your cover letter on plain white 8 ½” by 11″ paper, using a font such as 12 point Times New Roman in black. A hardcopy of a cover letter should only be one page in length with your typeface taking up about half of the page.

As stated, the number of paragraphs in a cover letter can vary. But, regardless of how many paragraphs there are, some information that is usually listed in cover letters includes your story’s title and your story’s word count. If you are submitting your manuscript through mail, as opposed to email, you might also want to state that a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) is enclosed, and that there is no need to return the manuscript.

Here are a few other tips you might want to keep in mind when preparing your letter:

1. Remember to keep your letter short. Avoid including any irrelevant personal information that doesn’t pertain to your story submission. There is no need to include your life history or anything else that doesn’t relate to your story. Avoid giving a detailed description of your short story, as well.

2. Make sure to address your cover letter to a specific person whenever possible. Editors’ names are usually listed with a publication’s submission guidelines. When this is not the case, try to research market listings or find the masthead of the publication to locate the editor’s name. If unsure of an editor’s gender, then consider using the editor’s full name; for example, “Dear Pat Lewis,” or “Dear Editor Lewis.” In case of initials, “Dear J. T. Marshall,” or “Dear Editor Marshall,” should be appropriate. Avoid addresing an editor by his or her first name unless the editor has used your first name, or signed his or her first name in subsequent correspondence.

3. Remain positive. Never write about how your story has been rejected in the past, if that is the case. There’s no need to mention that you’re unpublished, either, unless the editor requests such information. Most editors aren’t concerned about whether or not you have been previously published. When they are interested in knowing of your publishing status, it will likely benefit writers. For example, mentioning that you have not been professionally published in your cover letter to the editor at Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine would be appropriate because the editor is especially interested in seeking short stories from such writers. EQMM, as the publication is also called, even has a “Department of First Stories” set up to receive submissions from writers who haven’t been published professionally. Otherwise, don’t worry about mentioning you’re unpublished.

4. Be professional in crafting your letter. Resist making witty comments or statements that hype your story. It’s highly unlikely that an editor won’t appreciate your attempts, and might form a less than favorable view of your submission package. Avoid making self-deprecating remarks about yourself and your writing. It is understandable that you might be nervous about submitting and are grappling with self-doubt about your writing skills, but there’s no need to express those feelings in your letter. And lastly, remember to double-check your spelling and grammar–it matters just as much as it does with your short story manuscript. A cover letter containing misspellings and poor grammar will probably lead an editor to expect the same lack of professionalism in your manuscript.

Below are two samples. Sample A represents a cover letter that would accompany a snail mail submission. Sample B represents one that would accompany an email submission.

Your Name Your Address Your Telephone Number Your Email Address

Editor’s Name Publication’s Title Publication’s Address

Dear [Editor’s Name]:

Please consider my 2,500-word, previously unpublished manuscript, “Your Story’s Title,” for publication at Any Title Magazine . A self-addressed, stamped envelope is enclosed for your reply. There is no need to return the manuscript should my story not interest you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please consider my 2,500-word, previously unpublished manuscript, “Your Story’s Title,” for publication at Any Title Magazine . I have sent my story as an .rtf attachment, as the submission guidelines suggested.

Best wishes on making a good impression with your cover letter, and on achieving your goal of becoming a published author.

About the Author:

C. M. Clifton is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

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Short Story Cover Letter

by Catherine Jordan · Published May 13, 2021 · Updated May 4, 2021

Article by Catherine Jordan

So, now you’re submitting a short story and the publisher/editor wants a cover letter. What do you write? Good question.

They don’t want a query letter; it’s still a professional business letter. Find the editor/publisher’s name for your salutation. You might have to do a little digging to find it, but I can assure you, s/he is there. And PLEASE spell their name correctly! Keep the letter succinct—there’s often a word limit of 100 words or less. Skip the throat-clearing and within one sentence give the title, genre, word length, and hook. Get right to the main character—by name. What is the main character’s quest—what does s/he want? Include your bio. This should include your name, and any publishing kudos you have. They don’t care what your day job is unless it directly relates to your book.

Example of a bio:

A professional writer for 10 years, my short stories appear in anthology collections, such as Don’t Turn Out The Light’s, a tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark , Mainstreet Rag’s Crossing Lines , and I’ve edited Sunbury Press’s Strange Magic , and Bittersweet . My first two novels are currently in reedits at Sunbury Press. I am a volunteer and member at HWA and ITW, and am a contributor to horrortree.org, and “TheBurg Magazine”. –75 words

You can flip that bio into 3 rd person and shorten it.

3 rd person bio:

Catherine Jordan has authored horror novels, and short stories in anthology collections. She contributes to various online publications. As a member of the HWA, Catherine has mentored, served as an award judge, and is the imailer manager. She also facilitates writing courses and critique groups. –45 words

Let’s say the publication hasn’t specified the main formatting specifications in their submission guidelines. Use Times New Roman, 12 point font, double line spacing, and indent the paragraphs.

Consider this template:

Please consider my [approximate] word-count story [short story titles are in “quotation marks”, novels get italics ] for [name of publication or anthology].

This tale [give theme, quest, consequence].

[Your name] have authored [name a few published credits here]. [Name any contributions or volunteer positions, various online publications, and writing memberships.]

Thank you, [your name]

[email address, phone number]

[website, amazon author page, social media links]

About the Author
Latest Posts

Catherine Jordan is the new review coordinator for Horrortree.com. She’s a horror movie fan and a horror novelist, although she edits and writes in many genres. Ms. Jordan has been featured in a variety of anthologies, on-line publications, and print magazines. It was her pleasure to serve as judge for the Bram Stoker Award and for the ITW Young Adult Award. Catherine also facilitates writing courses and critique groups. She credits her five children with inspiring her writing material.

You can follow Jordan’s work at her homepage and Amazon .

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Short Story Cover Letters

By Neil Clarke

On 08/17/2020

In anthologies , clarkesworld magazine , slush , writing

Let me preface this post by saying:

These are my preferences for cover letters when submitting a story to Clarkesworld Magazine or one of my anthologies. This is not a standard, though other editors may feel the same way.
Most cover letters are awful, so I read them last. I don’t want them influencing my opinion of a story before I’ve even read it. I’ve never rejected a story because of the cover letter.
This post will be updated as necessary. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments.

How to address a cover letter

You can skip Dear Neil, Dear Mr. Clarke, Dear Editor, Dear Editor and first readers, etc. It doesn’t have any impact. Simple mistakes here can sometimes work against you. For example, “Dear Sheila” tells me you either meant to send this to Asimov’s or they’ve already rejected it. Every editor I know has had this sort of thing happen to them. Some hate it. Some find it amusing. I couldn’t care less, so just skip the niceties and dive right into the substance.

What should be in a cover letter?

There’s a few things that might have me view your story in a different light.

if there’s a particular aspect to this story that pulls from your professional experience (for example, physicist, historian, astronaut, musician, etc.) or personal experience (cultural, regional, temporal, etc.)

You don’t have to “write what you know” but if you happen to know, it’s good that I know you do.

if you are a non-native English speaker

I have immense difficulty learning other languages, so I’m not going to hold a non-native speaker to the same standards for spelling and grammar. Your approach to storytelling might even be a bit non-standard to an native English speaker. This is important to know for the evaluation and (if accepted) editing phases.

if you are under 18 years old

I’m impressed. I never would have done something like this at your age. Like the non-native speakers, I’m going to cut you a little more slack on the grammar and spelling. (Not that I’m particularly hung up on that being perfect to start with.) It does, however, have an impact should we choose to accept your work: your parents or legal guardian will be required to co-sign the contract.

Since I read the cover letter last, think of the above items as having the potential to make me go back and read a bit further. This even applies in instances where I haven’t been the first reader. (Editors and first readers often stop reading a story when they no longer think it will work for a publication.)

if you are previously unpublished

I’m not buying names. I’m buying stories. What you’ve sold previously (or not) doesn’t mean this story will be any better or worse. That said, every editor I know loves to be the first person to publish an author’s work. It’s something that should be celebrated and I often don’t find out until after the story has been published. Telling me up-front helps avoid that.

if you are submitting a translation

You should tell me where the story was originally published (if it has been), what the original language is, your relationship to the story (author or translator), and whether or not you have the approval of whoever holds the rights on the original (sometimes this isn’t the author or their estate). The translator’s name should also be in the manuscript, typically under the author’s byline.

if you are submitting a reprint

We don’t accept reprints at Clarkesworld , but this does apply to any of the reprint anthologies I edit. I need to know where and when the story was originally published and if there are any restrictions (usually time, region, or language-based) in place.

if you aren’t the author

Yes, there are legitimate reasons this could happen. The most common is that the person submitting the work is the author’s agent or otherwise represents their estate. It also common with translations. We will verify this before issuing a contract.

if you selected “other” for genre

Since it doesn’t fit in one of the categories we’ve listed, please let us know what genre you think it is.

If none of the above applies to you, then a simple “Thank you for considering my story” is more than enough.

What shouldn’t be in a cover letter?

Our submission system already asks for title, genre, word count, and email address. Repeating them here is pointless
Mailing address (should be on the first page of the story) or phone number
A laundry list of everyone that has ever published you. Never include more than three, but honestly, you should just skip this information entirely
Bank or PayPal information
A summary of your story

Ultimately, I prefer your cover letter to be very short. If your cover letter is long (for reasons other than those positives I’ve mentioned), you’ve likely done something wrong.

Best Science Fiction of the Year Volume 5, Table of Contents

The best science fiction of the year: 2020 submission guidelines, 81 comments.

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Carolyn O'Brien

Very helpful information,

Angela Panayotopulos

Good to know! Thanks!

Des Browning

“We don’t accept reprints at Clarkesworld, but this does to any of the reprint anthologies I edit”

This doesn’t read correctly, specifically “this does”. Should it be “this doesn’t apply” ?

Neil Clarke

Should have been “this does apply”

Oyeledun Jehofanifemi

About the Co_signing of the contract, how is it going to be possible with international writers

We work with international writers all the time and have never had any problem with receiving digital signatures on their contracts. Sometimes they sign through the PDF and sometimes they print, sign, and send us a scan or photo of the contract.

Hello, If I am writing with 8 other writers, and we would like to explain how this story came to be, would you like us to include that in the cover letter?

If you must, please keep it short. While it may be interesting, it isn’t relevant to the evaluation process.

Gim Patrick

Hello, I’m 15 years old right now and I’m from San Andres Island, Colombia. My mom already knows I want to start with this and supports me. ¿Do I still need a co-sign?

You can submit stories without needing any signatures, but if we accept one for publication, a parent or legal guardian will need to co-sign the contract we send you. This is a legal requirement for us when working with minors (anyone under 18).

Simon Kibunyi

Hey what if I rewrite a story that was written centuries ago,put my own twist into it. It’s important to also say that these stories are royalty free meaning I can do anything I want to do with them..do you accept them?

Retellings/reinterpretations of public domain works (stories, myths, legends, etc.) are quite common and we have published some. I would recommend mentioning the work that inspired yours in the cover letter.

Wow thanks for quick response…I will definitely do that..Thank you

Is there a way we can retain audio rights? It doesn’t say anything about having a podcast, so if I would like to submit the short story to another podcast, would that be possible?

And I was wondering about reprints. I know that most podcasts accept them, but I was wondering if it worked the other way around. If my short gets accepted for a podcast, but has not been published yet (in text form), can I still send it out to magazines after it’s in audio and published?

Clarkesworld requires audio rights. (We podcast all the stories that appear in our magazine.) If a story has been previously published by a podcast, it would no longer have the first rights we also require.

Can we still publish our own version after you publish the audio, or can we use your version? Would it be ok to use pointers on our website? Once I get one, that is.

We have exclusive rights to published works for six months from date of publication. After that you may reprint or publish the story elsewhere. The audio edition cannot be repurposed as that version of the narration is ours. You can, however, create a new recording of your own. You are also allowed to link to the published versions on our website.

Issac Strom

Would it be possible for you to offer an example of what you consider to be an exemplary cover letter?

I would be extremely appreciative. In any case, thank you very much for your time in writing out this useful advice.

Not including one was a deliberate move on my part. The above criteria can result in a variety of “exemplary” (by my standards) cover letters and providing an example of just one might mislead someone who needed another.

That said, merely “good” is good enough. If everyone followed the guidance of the last paragraph of this post, that would be a great start.

I would like to say, thank you very much for taking the time to make these guidelines crystal clear and easy to understand.. I look forward to submitting my work soon.

Thank you. I look forward to reading your stories.

I have a quick question, I know it might sound silly but I think it’s better to ask and be corrected than to make the mistake anyways. The short story that I have written is up to 20,000 words, I’m wondering if I could include chapters in it or it’s forbidden to do so.

Do what you think is appropriate for the story. Something that small won’t alter our evaluation of it. If we accept it and think it isn’t quite right, we’d discuss it with you during the editing phase.

Nithiya Shree

Hello Neil Clarke Sir. I want to introduce myself to you because I got very much inspiration from you. When I searching to Chakesworld for submission I saw ” Award Winning Editor” this impress me Soo much.

I’m Nithiya Shree from Myanmar ( Burmese). I’m 18. I’m finished my high school when I’m 16 and now I’m trying to be an author. As above you mentioned sir, I’m not English native speaker. I have only English intermediate level. But sir I will try my best to submit my story to your team. Also I’m not previously published. Again I’m not an author now. Even though I’m none of them, Can I able to become an author Sir ?

Now Sir I’m starting my plot. One day I will be as you.

This comment may br disturb to you, I’m sorry for that. As you said, I’m freely to comment. I hope it will not agitate you.

Hi Nithiya, You don’t need to be a published author (in English or any other language) to submit stories to Clarkesworld. We are happy to see works by new writers from all over the world. I wish you the best of luck with your writing and hope to see submissions from you over at Clarkesworld someday.

Nithiya shree

Thank you so much Sir.

Evonne M. Biggins

Hello, Clark,

I appreciate that you take questions. A couple years ago, I sent three stories to the non-profit state writing league. They were printed in a book with many other members’ stories, but whoever printed/edited them scrambled sentences, changed dates and locations, didn’t indent paragraphs. We were all very upset. Mine were my favorite stories. We weren’t paid for them, but the league made money from them. The league recently folded, no longer exists. So, are those stories considered previously published and not publishable or can we change the stories and the titles and be able to submit them?

Thank you, Evonne M. Biggins.

Published badly is still published. Even corrected, you won’t be able to sell them as originals anymore. They’ll be reprints from here on out. Changes would need to be substantial before someone would consider them as a new story. Changing names, formatting, and correcting errors doesn’t achieve that. Not surprised that the league folded if that’s how they treated the writers they worked with.

OMG. I meant to start with the correct spelling of your first and second name.

A lesson was learned on my part, sorry!

🙂 No worries. Happens all the time.

Hi Neil Clarke 🙂 ,

I expected that reply, and thanks again. I agree; those stories meant a lot to us, and the “leaders” of our chapter failed us. I’ll think up an even better story to send to you.

Hi, I was just wondering, do you consider stories with long, descriptive and slightly philosophical sections, or do you prefer fast- moving and plot based work? Thank you, Catrina

I don’t see it as an either/or situation. Happy to consider both approaches.

Thank you for the quick reply.

Ayesha javed

Hello Clark , I just turned 18 and want to become a story writer. I want to publish a story that I have been working on for the last couple of months. I have never published before and don’t know much about it. The story that I have been working on is in volumes and each volume has roughly 5000 words. I don”t have anyone to guide me so can you please tell me if I can publish my story in volumes

Short stories are usually submitted and considered by publishers individually. Even if we were to accept the first one, each one after that would still be considered on its own individual merits. We would also expect each story to stand on its own, meaning that someone could read story #3 without having to have read #1 and #2. If each story is dependent on the prior installment, you may be serializing a novel (depending on many 5K installments you have). While there are some current magazines that have published serialized novels (I can think of two in recent years), we’re not one of them. That said, we have published some short stories that have eventually been expanded into novels and published elsewhere.

Thank You for the guidance.

Evangeline Mmayie

Hello Clarke,

I have two questions concerning the type of story we are to submit. Should it be YA or adult SF/F?

Also, you stated you don’t want a story about rapists. But what if the rapist is the villain and the crime occurred long before the story begins?

Doris Antonio Balica

Hello Neil,

Continuing on what Ayesha previously asked, but somewhat different, could stories be published separately—and at a later date from each-other— in, let’s say two volumes, if the second one is not an actual continuation of the first, nor a “prequel”? Instead, the plot of the second volume occurs at the same time and is simply seen from the perspective of other characters / civilization, barely named in the first volume, or not at all. The plot culminates in the same ending, there are some repeating scenes and dialogues, but a different point of view, the stories do stand on their own, as someone could read #2 without reading #1 and vice-versa. Could the second volume be accepted (providing the first one is)?

So two stories happening in the same world at the same time, but told from two different points-of-view? I remember reading a book, many years ago, that did that. The book was evenly split between the two points of view and you could read either half first.

It is possible that could work in short fiction, but the amount of repeated content could become problematic (since short fiction is paid per-word, the amount of recycled word-for-word content might become a red flag for an editor/publisher) and as you said, the story ends the same way, so something else would have to stand out to make up for the spoiled ending. The latter is the same problem a lot of retellings face.

I wouldn’t discount the possibility this could work, but I think it might be harder than selling two very different stories.

Thank you for the reply, my first plan was to blend them together in a single story, but it would’ve had too many main and side characters even for a novella. I’m looking forward to submitting the first story soon and see how it goes from there.

Also, you stated you don’t want a story about rapists. But what if the rapist is the villain and the crime occurred long before the story begins?

Our audience is primarily adults, but adults read both, so it doesn’t matter which.

I don’t have enough information to make that call. Submit the story. The worst that happens is we’ll say no.

Okay, thank you

Robert Lewis

Can you withdraw after submission?

If one were to notice an error or a glut of errors would one be able to withdraw and submit a revision? A mark of the unprofessional, I know. Haven’t quit my day job yet.

Sure. If you contact us, we can remove the submission. You’ll have to resubmit and that will move you to the back of the queue. That said, if it’s just a few spelling errors, I wouldn’t worry about it. That’s not enough to sway our opinion.

Greg Osadec

After reading the original post and the comments, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything for me to include in a cover letter.

Is it okay to write one that’s just a few sentences (such as these examples from Strange Horizons: http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/how-to-write-a-cover-letter/ ) or skip it altogether?

If none of the above applies to you, then a simple “Thank you for considering my story” is more than enough.

Oh jeez, I just noticed this in the original post. I’m embarrassed that I missed it. Thanks for your patience!

Do you accept high fantasy with a sword and sorcery vibe?

I need to write my details in the story, like an address, an account number, or do it in a cover letter.

Address is part of the standard first page information in the document containing your story and there is no need to replicate it in the cover letter. Account number is never necessary in a submission. That should only come up if a story is accepted for publication.

Can I submit a story based on science fiction, martial arts and fantasy.

Chris Wozney

I love the clarity and directness of these instructions. It’s quite clear that there are human beings (who are attempting to be judicious) on the receiving end of submissions, not a sorting algorithm.

My husband has written an excellent story, but he doesn’t have any confidence that it could be published, so he’s reluctant to submit it anywhere. Could I submit it for him and then (one hopes) surprise him with an offer to publish if you choose it?

A story shouldn’t be submitted without the author’s permission, even with the best of intentions.

Hi, can i write story with my native Malay language? I from Malaysia..thanks

Yesss, this is super informative. If we want to use a pseudonym, though, would we leave that in the cover letter, or just use it as our name in the information?

It doesn’t need to be in the cover letter. It should be in the story attached to the submission. The standard header should include your legal name and contact information. Your pseudonym would go under the title.

Perfect, thanks!

Hello Mr. Clarke,

Thank you for the clear guidelines! A lot of places it’s a shot in the dark. Stupid question: if I submit work to you folks and it is rejected, does this impact future submissions (assuming that the standard waiting period is observed etc.)?

I am trying to determine the fine line between persistence and being a nuisance.

Thanks in advance.

All the best, Vivian

Every submission is a clean slate. Previous rejections or acceptances have no bearing on how we consider the next one.

Thank you for clarifying!

Patricia C.

For the coming spanish submission process, the cover letter should be in spanish or in english if that is possible?

The cover letter for stories submitted during the Spanish Language Submissions Window can be in English or Spanish. Whichever is more comfortable for you.

What are the chances that I would be allowed to create the podcast (given the acceptance of my diatribe) myself. I have some experience of producing podcasts to a broadcast standard, and the equipment to do so.

We’d be open to discussing it, but if its a deal-breaker, we’d want to know that at time of submission.

Thank you Neil, it wouldn’t be a condition though..

Thanks so much for supplying this page (and all the other informative pieces you’ve written) to help us burgeoning writers. I was nervous about what to write re.cover letter, until I found your handy notes. Made it much easier than I thought it would be to submit a story. Now, I just have to find a nail and ready it for my rejection letter 🙂

Vishvanathan

i have been written the story in my own imagination and i also referred many movies stories and also some comics but i have been written with my own words and combination of those stories can i submit this type of work. should i need to submit any audio with this work.

if my work was submitted today after how many days i will be get my payment because i have been dropped out my collage and i have been started some side hustle so i found you i have been writing stories from my age of 16 and now i am 20 i have 4 years of experience so i think i can make this

And i have a doubt with the payment if u are giving 12 cents per word means 1000 words i will be receive120 dollars right or is there any calculation if there can you explain me

Howdy. I wonder if you have got a cover letter example on pdf format.

Dafny Anessa Guiali

Thank you so much!

Valerie Cole

I just tried to submit a story with a cover letter, and the system wouldn’t let me enter anything after 78 words. I swear, my cover letter was only 114 words anyway. Did I do something wrong? Thanks.

We have a 450 character limit on the cover letter. We mean it when we say we prefer short cover letters. The cap was put in place to push people in the right direction. Before that, we were seeing far too many 500+ word cover letters.

Having never done a cover lette rmyself, I’d love to see an example of one that I can try to match in terms of template.

Samuel Finn

I just tumbled to your comment section. To keep this brief I’m curious about your ask that submissions don’t include “easy FTL travel,” and wondering what constitutes acceptable FTL travel. If you rule out FTL travel you rule out a lot of sci-fi, don’t you? You can’t reasonably get anywhere outside our solar system without it, and how will any aliens reach us? I just submitted a story to you that includes FTL travel, which derives from an episode in a series I’m writing where I do give an explanation for how it works, perhaps lame and not too technical but at least something. Thanks

I suppose that the “acceptable” FTL travel is based in science, not simply a device to pull the plot forward. The modifications in the laws of physics that make the travel possible must be reasonable (plausibility) and be the same for everything else that depend on these laws, whether the thing is directly related to FTL or not (consistency). It may sound a little restrictive, but that’s how I do.

Let’s say that, for your FTL device to work, there is no conservation of energy. Ok, your device creates power from nowhere and the ship crosses the galaxy etc. But, what happens when you, standing on the surface of a planet and subject to gravity, throws a rock up in the air? Will it come back down? Maybe. Or maybe it will reach a height and stay frozen there as if there’s no gravity, or it will accelerate forever and escape the planet. You see, rock throwing has nothing in common with FTL travel, except that conservation of energy limits both situations.

Nothing stops you from saying that the device works by opening a wormhole to tap energy from a star, for example, as long as it is plausible and consistent.

We’re really just trying to eliminate the implausible and hand-wavy stuff. Think about the consequences of having this ability, power necessary to drive it, and its use. Think about how this changes our understanding of physics and society and what else that might impact. Something this big would change many things. A world where this can happen will be forever changed by it.

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COMMENTS

How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission
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. Writing a cover letter on the laptop.
10 Impressive Cover Letter Examples for Short Story Submission
Dear [Editor's name], I am excited to submit my short story [Story Title] for publication in [Journal/Magazine Name]. The engaging plot and character development make this story a perfect fit for your publication. [Paragraph 1] This story follows the journey of [Character name], who [brief plot summary].
The Perfect Cover Letter: Advice From a Lit Mag Editor
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 ...
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Literary Journal Submission
What your cover letter should do is indicate your professionalism so the editor can get past the cover letter and on to the story. It should be a gateway, not a barrier. It should be a gateway ...
Cover Letters for Short Story Submission
Novel queries are a little outside the purview of this newsletter, but suffice it to say that these two types of letters are very different and require different types of information. The cover letter for a short story can almost always be as short and simple as possible. Most publishers will need: - title and word count for your short story.
Strange Horizons
Here are a few examples of good cover letters. Feel free to use any of them as a template for your own letter. Very Basic Cover Letter: Dear Editors, Please consider the following story for Strange Horizons. Thank you. Sincerely, A. I. Robotsky. Cover Letter with Credits:
Cover Letter for Submitting a Short Story
Examples of Cover Letters for Submitting a Short Story Letter Example 1: Dear [Editor's Name], I am writing to submit my short story, titled "[Title of Your Short Story]," for consideration in [Name of Literary Magazine]. I have been an avid reader of your publication for many years and admire the high-quality fiction you showcase.
How to Write Cover Letters for Short Stories
For a general cover letter, if you don't see specific guidelines on their website, you can format it similar to this: (Your Name) (Address) (Email Address) (Telephone Number) Dear Editor, Please consider my X,XXX word short story titled (story title) for (magazine name). The story is attached as a word document titled (document title).
How to write a cover letter for short fiction submissions
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.)
What's in a Short Story Cover Letter?
Short. Professional. In a letter format with a salutation and signature. Something like: "Dear Editors, Please consider my 4000 word short story "The Example Title" for publication in The Stand-in Literary Magazine. It fits your theme of being a fake anthology by being a fake story.
Cover Letter for Short Story Submissions
A great cover letter doesn't help a story that isn't a fit for that editor. There is no "one right way" to write a cover letter. There might be a most preferred format for any given editor, which is unfortunately not always consistent or predictable. If a submission call makes a specific request, make sure to include that.
Answers to Writing Questions
A cover letter accompanying a submission to a journal or magazine can be short and simple. Indicate that you're submitting the work for consideration, but don't say much—if anything—about the work. In these kinds of submissions, you include the story, essay or poems along with the cover letter. So, let the creative work speak for itself.
How To Write A Cover Letter For Your Creative Writing
2. Introduction. State your intention clearly and include the title (s) of the work (s) you're submitting: Please consider my poems, "Gray" and "To the Orioles," for publication in Journal Name. 3. Don't describe your submission. Don't summarize your story or explain the themes in your poems.
How To Write A Cover Letter For A Short Story
Here are some of the highlights: If you know the name of the editor, address the cover letter to them. For instance, 'Dear Mr Gamgee'. If in doubt, just use 'Dear Editors'. Keep it simple. The editor is about to read your story, you don't need to tell them the ins and outs of character and plot.
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Literary Journal, Magazine, or
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.
How to write a cover letter for journal submission
Don't use too much jargon or too many acronyms, keep language straightforward and easy to read. Avoid too much detail - keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page, as an introduction and brief overview. Avoid any spelling and grammar errors and ensure your letter is thoroughly proofed before submitting.
Literary Journal Submissions 101
Literary Journal Submissions 101. To submit your latest short story, essay, or poem, you'll need a cover letter—which is much different from a query. Use these tips from inside a creative writing program to help your letter make the grade. Michael Kardos. Aug 30, 2011.
Cover letters / queries for short stories
In regards to short story submissions, cover letters are usually brief letters containing one to three short paragraphs, and is most often paper-clipped in front of your manuscript's first page when you snail mail your submission. If you are submitting your manuscript through email, then your cover letter comes before your story as the main ...
Short Story Cover Letter
Let's say the publication hasn't specified the main formatting specifications in their submission guidelines. Use Times New Roman, 12 point font, double line spacing, and indent the paragraphs. Consider this template: Please consider my [approximate] word-count story [short story titles are in "quotation marks", novels get italics] for ...
Short Story Cover Letters
Short Story Cover Letters. By Neil Clarke. On 08/17/2020. In anthologies, clarkesworld magazine, slush, writing. Let me preface this post by saying: These are my preferences for cover letters when submitting a story to Clarkesworld Magazine or one of my anthologies. This is not a standard, though other editors may feel the same way.
10 Effective Cover Letter Examples for Writing Submissions
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.".
Writing Submissions for Magazines: How to Submit Writing to a Magazine
When it comes to fiction, magazines expect writers to submit the complete manuscript with a cover letter or note (more on that below). Most short stories run 1,500 to 5,000 words. Anything shorter is usually considered flash fiction or short short stories; some places do accept longer works, but it gets more difficult to find markets. Poetry.
Short Story Submission Cover Letter Sample
Story short examples submission query digest tips writers writer emerging competition jones award james publicationCover letter to academic journal for submission — cover letters Eg short fiction cover letter by kimberlydawn on deviantartShort story format submission manuscript submissions yourself contests magazines formatted exceptions said ...

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

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

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How to Address a Cover Letter

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Don’t Put These in Your Cover Letter

Don’t Say These in Your Short Story Cover letter

Formats and Submission Guidelines

Sample Cover Letter for a Short Story Submission

Final Words on Cover Letters for a Short Story Submission

Recommended Reading...

The Perfect Cover Letter: Advice From a Lit Mag Editor

A little research goes a long way

Terms to Know

Cover Letter That Needs Work

What Went Wrong?

Cover Letter Ready to Be Sent

What Went Right?

Sample Cover Letters

Letter Example 1:

How to Write Cover Letters for Short Stories

Don’t say:

Finally, you always want to make sure you follow each magazine’s submission guidelines exactly.

Now on to some formats!

But sometimes submission guidelines are different from this format.

This was my cover letter:

My cover letter:

Good luck on submitting those short stories!

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