This was originally published, in its entirety, on The Forever Workshop.
A cover letter is the “hello” to editors that tags along with your story. I am sure there was a time of paper-cuts and envelope-licks when they were important. But now, in these future times of digital inputs and clicky bits, they are the writing world’s equivalent of writing a check. But hey, I don’t make the rules.
I think we stress over cover letters so much because, after all the work you’ve gone through to write and submit this thing, messing up the cover letter would feel like just the worst way to get rejected.
The good news: It’s pretty hard to mess up a cover letter
I have a fair amount of data on this since I run a database. It isn’t perfect, but pulling from the cover letter data, only 7% of magazines ask for additional, specific information to be included in cover letters beyond best practices. Given this, it is highly unlikely you will be rejected for anything in your cover letter.
93% of the time, best practices work and cover most nitpicking. Something like:
Dear/Hello/And so on… [Name of the Editor who will read your genre],
Why find their name: Some care, and it doesn’t hurt if they don’t. You can find this information on their Masthead. Copy-paste the name to avoid spelling errors. Also, avoid “Sir/Madam” since that rubs some folks the wrong way. If there are loads of editors, I often just put Dear [Lit Mag Name] Editors… You can find the editor’s names in ‘Masthead’ or ‘About.’ If they do not have a masthead, run screaming.
Jimmy Steals Bob’s Donut is a 750-word magical realism flash fiction story about a love triangle between two construction workers and a donut.
Round your word count to the nearest 50 or 100 as you like. If you choose to include a one-line blurb, don't go overboard. Say what the story is about, but don't explain it. Personally, I rarely use the blurb.
Thank you …for considering it / …taking the time / …being absolute gems (whatevs)
I don’t think I need to explain why you should thank people.
This is a simultaneous submission; I will withdraw it if accepted elsewhere.
Why: Again, some care, and it doesn’t hurt if they don’t.
Optional: Include any trigger warnings here.
Most lit mags don’t ask for this. But it is polite if it is relevant.
Here is my third-person bio that’s 50–100 words.
OK, this is almost always requested, though on occasion, a lit mag will ask for the bio elsewhere. It does happen, but it is very rare.
Lastly, sign off with contact information, including name, address, email, and phone number.
A note: For a lit mag that has eligibility requirements or encourages specific identity groups to submit, pay a bit closer attention. Some may want you to state clearly that you fall under their parameters.
Literary bios! Ugh
Include. Short. Bio. Please.
Out of all the cover letter requests, the most common factor was → Include a short third-person bio. The most preferred bio lengths are 50 and 100 words, indicating a preference for relative concision.
For those 50–100 words, there are two things to remember:
- Don't stress about it.
- You will stress about it.
To get an idea of what to go for, read 3-5 of the bios of writers published by the magazine you’re submitting to. They're found below each of the stories you absolutely read because you read every magazine you submit to.
Right?
Bethany Jarmul, a friend of Chill Subs and an excellent writer, has cooked up some wonderful examples of what this looks like (if you ever get a chance to take a seminar with her on submitting, I’d highly recommend it. She’s a powerhouse).
No publications: If you're new to writing, pretend you're a narcissist on a date. Talk about yourself in the third person and leave out the bad stuff.
Example: Jane Doe is an accountant by day and writer by night. She enjoys Legos, photography, and knitting. She lives with her husband and golden retriever in Portland, Maine. Connect with her on Twitter: @JaneDoe.
Standard: Write a 75-100 word third person blurb about yourself, highlighting your writing accomplishments and a few publications. End it with a note about where readers can find more of your work with a single link (unless a magazine explicitly asks for links somewhere else).
Example: Jane Doe is a writer and poet. Her work has been published in Taco Bell Quarterly, The Maine Review, and Gone Lawn. Her story “The Best Story Ever” won first place in the Coolest Writing Contest Ever. She lives with her husband in Portland, Maine. Connect with her on Twitter: @JaneDoe or on her website: janedoewriter.com.
Super Successful Writer: Not sure why you’d need our advice on this one, but for this case, still try to keep it short with a focus on your most prestigious accolades (whatever that means to you).
Example: Jane Doe is an award-winning author of 12 books including The Best Book (Fake Press, 2023) and Amazing Book (Another Fake Press, 2022) which won the “Best American Book” award. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Paris Review, and Ploughshares, among others. She lives in Portland, Maine. Connect with her on Twitter: @JaneDoe or on her website: janedoewriter.com.
Final thoughts on bios:
Your best practice for bios is to have them say: Look at me, now look at this. Give your details, then direct people to a website or social media where they can learn more about you. This is the one I currently use:
Benjamin Davis (he/him) has stories and poems in several literary journals including Booth, Moon City Press, Softblow, and Slippery Elm Press. His poem collection, The King of FU (Nada Blank, 2018), was such a smashing success it shocked the indie press who printed it into an early grave. He is now writing his first six novels. Find him on his website: daviscommabenjamin.com
Now, for the better news — the secret
Almost nobody cares about cover letters. And if they do, they will tell you
I’ve interviewed a lot of editors. And I used to ask them about cover letters and bios. And the consensus is: Nobody really cares.
Most journals I find don’t even read them. It has become more common to see Submittable forms with input boxes rather than cover letter requests.
If an editor wants something specific in your cover letter, they will tell you. If they do not tell you and hold something against you for it, I can’t stress this enough: Move on. We are not teenagers. This isn’t a date.
The best part about all this is that you can just be you. If you are a person who likes going a bit extra and chatting up an editor, go for it. Put all the essential information first, and make sure you’ve spelled the lit mag and editor’s name correctly (as these seem the most common pain points for folks). I’ve loved little notes in cover letters. It has never changed my decision, but it’s nice.
I suppose, in the end, it comes down to time and energy. The time and energy you would put into Sherlocking a slight advantage for a fraction of lit mags with a rightly worded cover letter is not worth it. Most lit mags fall into these buckets:
10%” Care and want to see something specific (most of those will make this clear in the guidelines).
40%: Think they are nice. As long as the essentials are there, you’re good.
50%: Don’t care. Rarely read them.
And that’s that.
Benjamin Davis
Benjamin has stories and poems in 25+ literary journals like Booth, Wigleaf, and Moon City Review. His book of poems, The King of FU (2018), was such a smashing success it shocked the indie press who printed it into an early grave. He is now working on his first six novels.