Hey everyone. Wondering if I can get some critiques for my cover letter. It's very short, just hitting some main points and then I'm out. Am I misunderstanding that I should include more? This story (and others) are mainly for magazines, very short pieces. Do I include a synopsis with them anyway, like I would with longer stories? Anyway, here it is.
I'd ditch the 'to whom it may concern' which would put some spines up, I suggest. Dear Editor or Dear Mister Hisname might be easier on the eye. I appreciate we all play our different styles, but I am not so keen on the euphemisms 'for your consideration,' and such. 'Please enjoy and publish' I have tried a few times and then provide the sub with a 100 word bio that he can cut/paste directly to the front page, hmmm. Giving away all my secrets...
I firmly believe you should address them by their last name. I think it not only looks nicer but it shows you have more consideration and have done research.
If for whatever reason you can't find an editor's name, consider simply addressing it to the publishing house. Better than some generic designation.
I'm not sure what you mean by 'cover letter.' Is this a query letter? If so, you need to provide some kind of hook to make the person interested in your story. Just a hint of what the story is about is probably called for, although I'm no expert on marketing short stories ...or anything else for that matter. I do think it's the done thing to address the letter to a specific person in the organisation, though.
I know this has been spoken about, but for the benefit of others: From what I've gathered starting with 'to whom it may concern' is an auto-fail. It suggests you have not researched where you sent it and that your submission is pretty much random. I have put 'To the Submissions Department' on my query letter because it was the specific instruction of the submission guidelines. But 'to whom it may concern' should never ever be used. For the OP, you have no description of your work. You need them to want to read it, and without telling them anything about it, they won't care. Salutation, Intro of book, length, genre One paragraph describing the story and what the book is about in order to make them want to read short paragraph bio if you have credentials with listing sign-off contact details
