| Home | Free Articles for Your Site | Submit an Article | Advertise | Link to Us | Search | Contact Us |
This site is an archive of old articles

    SEARCH ARTICLES
    Custom Search


vertical line

Article Surfing Archive



Query and Cover Letters: A Quick How-To - Articles Surfing

Writing a good query or cover letter will demonstrate to an editor or publisher just how serious you are about your work and getting it published.

There is a small difference between query and cover letters. A query letter is used to show an editor that your work is different and fresh. It is an introduction of you and your writing. It is a selling tool. A cover letter is a reminder that the editor requested your work. It accompanies your piece and is essentially a revamp of your query letter. Both follow the same guidelines.

The format you should use is that of a business letter. Use a standard font size and type, such as 12 point Times New Roman. Your letter should be single spaced with double spaces between paragraphs. Leave a one-inch margin on all sides.

If possible, find out the name of the editor. Address your query or cover letter directly to them. This could keep your work out of the slush pile and it allows the editor see that you have done your research.

In the body of the letter, you should tell the editor what you are sending and, briefly, why it is different and exciting. Give a short bio, no more than four sentences. Keep in mind this is the first writing sample the editor will see! Cite any works you have published and in which publication. Let the editor know that you have clips available and give information on how they can get copies of these clips. Give the editor every possible way to contact you; address, phone number, fax, and e-mail.

Wrap up your letter with a polite closing. Don't forget to thank the editor for considering your work!

And always, always include a SASE!

This is a very basic, but important, tool for a writer. Learn how to utilize it to your advantage.

Submitted by:

Nikola Marshall

Nikola Lives and writes in Oklahoma. She enjoys reading, scrabooking and volunteering. Nikola is an author on Writing.Comwhich is located at http://www.Writing.Com/ and is accessible by anyone.

niknik@brightok.net



        RELATED SITES






https://articlesurfing.org/writing/query_and_cover_letters_a_quick_howto.html

Copyright © 1995 - Photius Coutsoukis (All Rights Reserved).










ARTICLE CATEGORIES

Aging
Arts and Crafts
Auto and Trucks
Automotive
Business
Business and Finance
Cancer Survival
Career
Classifieds
Computers and Internet
Computers and Technology
Cooking
Culture
Education
Education #2
Entertainment
Etiquette
Family
Finances
Food and Drink
Food and Drink B
Gadgets and Gizmos
Gardening
Health
Hobbies
Home Improvement
Home Management
Humor
Internet
Jobs
Kids and Teens
Learning Languages
Leadership
Legal
Legal B
Marketing
Marketing B
Medical Business
Medicines and Remedies
Music and Movies
Online Business
Opinions
Parenting
Parenting B
Pets
Pets and Animals
Poetry
Politics
Politics and Government
Real Estate
Recreation
Recreation and Sports
Science
Self Help
Self Improvement
Short Stories
Site Promotion
Society
Sports
Travel and Leisure
Travel Part B
Web Development
Wellness, Fitness and Diet
World Affairs
Writing
Writing B