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How to Write a Poetry Submission Cover Letter

The best publishing option for a collection of poems is to submit it to literary magazines or poetry publishing houses.

But getting your poetry collection accepted by a reputable poetry publication isn’t a slide; you have to write awesome poetry and have to abide by the submission guidelines.

Major poetry publications have specific submission processes that are a bit similar and, in most cases, the cover letter is going to be addressed to the publisher’s poetry editor. You need a good cover letter that will impress the editor and increase the chances of your poetry being published.

You need to know what you’re doing and understand that you don’t need an insanely creative, impressive cover letter. What you need is a brief letter that sets up the editor for the submission. Cover letters on their own won’t get your poems accepted; however, they can easily get them rejected.

So, how can you write a perfect cover letter for a poetry submission? Read on to find out how.

What is a Cover Letter for Submitting a Poem?

When you submit your poems to a publishing house , literary magazine, or poetry contest, you’re required to submit your poetry with a cover letter that comes with some details about the poems submitted and the author (that’s you!).

The publishers often have varying formats, but basically, cover letters have a format that includes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

As I already stated, the cover letter is brief but it is very important because the editorial team does make decisions (including whether to publish your poetry or not) based on that small piece of writing. If it weren’t that important, it wouldn’t be the document that editors always read first before going into your poems.

Why Do They Need It?

There are lots of things that a cover letter contains that may aid the decision-making process of the editor or contest organizer.

If it’s a submission from a non-native English speaker, a cover letter may reveal this and the editor can take into consideration the difficulties that such a writer may face writing in a foreign language. The submission might come from a child and that may require the editor to engage the writer’s parents or legal guardian to co-sign the publishing contract.

A cover letter contains more information than those two, and such information makes it easier for an editor to do their job.

What a Good Cover Letter Should Have

A concise introduction.

The whole cover has to be concise and gets to the point as quickly as possible. This is one of the secrets of writing a good cover lever for a poetry submission; you put a huge stamp in a very brief letter.

That’s hard and easy, at the same time. The editor will probably have to read hundreds of poetry submissions, so you must craft a cover letter that shows respect for the editor’s time and editorial duties.

A Courteous Tone

A good cover addresses the editors/publication by name and has a nice tone. You don’t want to leave a bad first impression by sending a cover letter that comes off as a copied and pasted letter.

Right Context

When writing a cover letter , you have to consider the context. You have to remember that it’s a poetry submission, so you have to mention your credentials that have something to do with writing and nothing else (unless requested by the publication/editor). The guidelines also provide some sort of context; you have to follow them to the letter when writing your cover letter.

What Most Submissions Want In a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

Although the contents of a cover letter may vary between submissions, your personal information is required in almost all submissions.

Editors go back to look at your cover letter and bio after reading your poems to match them. Here are some of the requirements for different cases:

Poetry Publication

A list of the submitted poems’ titles.
A short bio.
Your recent publications or upcoming publications.

Poetry Retreats, Residencies, and Fellowships:

A list of the submitted poems’ titles
A short bio (below 100 words)
3-5 places where you’ve been published, or say you haven’t been published yet
Aesthetics statement (your artistic influences and some context for your poems)
A few words about your bio (what you do, where you work, and any work you do in the art community).

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

1. research and follow guidelines.

Before writing your cover letter (and, sometimes, before writing your poems), the first thing to do is research your target publication, contest, fellowship, etcetera. Every one of these institutions or organizers has specific guidelines, and submissions that fail to satisfy them are instantly thrown out.

2. Address the Organizers/Publishers by name

Addressing the Organizers/Publishers by name shows your professionalism and due courtesy. Covers letters that achieve this are bound to face warm reception and that is a good start for your submission.

3. Link to your past work

If it’s your first submission, don’t worry, your work will speak for you. However, if you have a couple of published works to your name, link to your published work if the organizers allow or provide means of doing so.

Some organizers or publishers provide somewhere else for such links. Submitting using email is even better. You can attach copies of your published work along with the current poem submission.

4. Stay On Topic

I talked about respecting context when writing a cover letter, and this also touches on that. The cover has to contain the necessary info (publications, writing credentials, etc.), but it shouldn’t stray out of context and mention unrelated academic and personal referrals. It might be a good thing to tell the editor what you’ve learned, but it’s unwarranted in this case.

5. Skip Unnecessary Pleasantries

Addressing the editors directly is encouraged but don’t drop a ‘newbie alert’ on them by trying to be too nice.

They’re not your buddies and don’t waste their time—go straight to the matter at hand.

6. Provide Contact Information

Your submission should include contact information (i.e., your full name, email, phone number, et cetera) that may help the organizers to get in touch with you.

Poetry Cover Letter Example

Here’s an example of a brief but effective cover letter for a poetry submission. There are countless ways of writing and the form that a cover letter depends, to an appreciable extent, on the publisher’s preferences and guidelines.

This is just a sample, not a template that you can use for all your poetry submissions. But it’s a very good reference, in case you decide to use some parts of this sample.

Dear Editor, Please consider my three poems for publication in your journal, Poetry Mountain. The first poem ‘Milk way Love’ is a free verse that talks of one man’s undying love for a selfish woman. The other two, ‘Morning Dance’ and ‘Happy Horses’ are inspiring sonnets based on my auntie’s life story. I am a poet based in New York. I began writing poetry when I was 7 and have 30 published poems to my name. My poetry (none of which is among these 3 submissions) has previously been published in the Otter Voice, Talking Hills review, and the Mustard Poetry Journal. Thank you very much for your time and consideration . Sincerely Yours, Dennis Bergman

In this template, I briefly talked about the poems and slotted them in my succinct bio. You could write a longer cover letter but be economical with your words. If you add anything to a template like this one, it should be something requested by the publisher or something you’re convinced enhances the cover letter’s intentions.

Write A Great Cover Letter, Submit Delicious Poetry

The cover won’t get your poems accepted and published—the quality of your poems will.

If you want to write poems about beauty , you have to ensure that your writing is evocative and thought-provoking. So before writing your cover letter, you have to ensure that your poetry is ‘on point.’

Some well-established editors give the cover letters to their assistants while they savor your poems. In this case, you have to write poems that match the quality of your cover letter.

In most cases though, editors look at your cover letter before reading your poems, you cannot mess up. You have to satisfy the publisher’s guidelines before you start thinking about how creative you’re going to be with your cover letter.

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

Ready to submit your poems for publication? Write a strong cover letter to introduce yourself and your work and give one more reason for editors to choose you.

A cover letter is part and parcel of poetry submission as each poet needs an introduction and a few words of their bio and creative method. A cover letter is a resume in the literary world that can vary from two brief paragraphs to a couple of pages, depending on the requirements and guidelines. In this article, we’ll cover everything from small details, like fonts and length of a cover letter, to broader topics, like content and do’s and don'ts of a poetry submission cover letter.

What is a Cover Letter for Submitting a Poem?

Any literary magazine, anthology, poetry competition, or poetry fellowship requires poets to submit their work plus a cover letter with some details about the poems submitted and the author themselves. Although a cover letter format is generally similar (introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion), the length and other elements may vary depending on its purpose.

You can rest assured that an editorial office makes any publication-related decisions based on your poetry. The poetry is always read first. However, later in the selection process, when deciding which to choose and which to reject, cover letters become the critical tiebreaker.

Typically, cover letters for publication will make do with just 30 words while applications for poetry retreat, poetry residency, or a job will require 1 to 2.5 pages. Submission requirements contain all the information regarding the format of a cover letter.

What to Include in a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

It is important to include your personal information along with all information required by the organization’s descriptions. In almost all cases, poetry reading before publication is blind. Therefore, editorial assistants will later need to quickly match poems with the author’s cover letter and bio.

List your submitted poems’ titles;
Professional bio (30-75 word) (optional);
3-5 places where you’ve been published, or say you will be published (optional).
Professional bio (30-75 word);
3-5 places where you’ve been published, or say you haven’t been published yet;
Aesthetics statement (your artistic influences and some context for your poems)
A few words about your personal bio (what you do, where you work, and any work you do in the art community).

Writing a Cover Letter for Poetry Submission

Even if you know nothing of writing poetry cover letters, it is common sense to stick to a business letter format. What you must remember at all times, though, is to start your cover letter by reading the submission instruction first. Read the organization’s submission requirements before you start writing, and after you proofread a piece several times. Make sure you include all of the specific information requested of you. After you have included it all, double-check the instructions again to see if you followed them correctly. In many cases, applicants find out that they missed an important part, or two, of the instructions.

Provide Your Contact Information. Many magazines, such as the Poetry Foundation , have stopped accepting paper submissions and invite poets to send their work via email. Although your email submission contains your email address, include all your contact information at the upper left-hand corner of your document to be on the safe side and ensure that a magazine or a journal can reach you. Nowadays, they don’t need to know your residential address. Normally, your valid email and working phone number are enough for any organization.

A sound piece of advice is to “include your name in the subject line so the editor can easily find your message in their inbox if they are looking for it again.”

Write a Greeting. Personalized greetings are favored over generic ones. ‘Dear Sirs’ is a big no-no. There’s no reason why an editor should be a man.

A good rule of thumb is to look for the current editor’s name on the organization’s website or Submittable page. If you cannot find the editor’s name, say ‘Dear editor’ or ‘Dear editors.’

Address All Requested Information in the Body Paragraphs. The guiding principle of writing body paragraphs in a poetry cover letter is brevity. Rely on the requirements but address each item on the list briefly and succinctly.

The staple element of all poetry cover letters is the content of a submission.

If you include less than three pieces, add a short sentence for each poem. If your submission has more than four poems, try to come up with a common theme(s) and describe it in 2-3 sentences under 100 words.
If you include your bio, do it briefly: “I am a poet from New Brunswick currently studying at New York University.”
If you want or are asked to add a more extended biography, include your pronouns, your primary form of employment, your most significant awards, and your level of education/city of residence. Keep it under 100 words.
If you include your publication history, 2 to 5 places are more than enough. If you have had multiple publications, pick the most impressive ones but don’t give them all.
If you submit your poetry to other publications, mention it briefly, too.
If you’re an avid reader of the magazine, you can mention a few poets or poems you like the most.

Close with Some Nice Words. It is ok to finish off on a dry, unimaginative note, like “Thank you for considering my work. I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.” However, you can add some vitality to your letter and make it more memorable. Tell them what you love the most about their organization. Thank them for their time. Try not to step over a fine line between familiarity and niceness and not to tumble down into rigidity and formality.

A Basic Template for a Poetry Cover Letter

[Your Name] [Your Postal Address] [Your E-mail Address] [Your Phone Number] [Your Website or Social Media] [Name of Editor] [Job Title] [Journal/Magazine Title] [Department if applicable] [The date when you send the submission]

Dear [Name of Editor]: I’ve enclosed my poetry/fiction submission for publication in [Journal/Magazine Title]. Included are [Titles of Poems]. My work has appeared in [3-5 Titles of other publications], among others. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Short Professional Bio is written in the third person in case of publication] Enola Holmes was born in Hawaii and raised in Washington, D.C. After graduating from New York University, she became a self-taught poet. Holmes currently works as a freelance copywriter and volunteers as a vet in Soho, NY.

To expand on the template , ALWAYS read the description on the organization’s website, follow their instruction, and add what is required.

Sample Cover Letter for Poetry Submission

Sample 1: Here’s a cover letter for the submission of four poems with explicit instructions not to include a biography.

To the readers and editors of Poetry Foundation,

I write to offer my four poems for submission in Poetry Magazine. To elaborate, the poem ‘Japanese Nocturne’ refers to the mass destructive events of WWII. ‘Apples and Figs’ appeared as a response to a recent Trump political decision and the sense of alienation some people are experiencing now while ‘Dressed to Impress’ and ‘Hope’ touch on the theme of migration and globalization. I hope you enjoy the work, and thank you for considering my submission.

Sample 2: This cover letter also includes a short bio as required by the submission instruction.

I have included two poems – ‘Cat Forgotten’ and ‘Leaves on the Ground’ – from my recent manuscript. Both poems are connected by the theme of loneliness in the digital era and alienation in urban spaces. Among my current loves is Patrick Melbourne’s ‘Love Deterred’ and Felicia Jones’ ‘Given and Forgotten’ published in your magazine. If you accept my submission for publication, it would be an incredible honor for me. These poems have been submitted to another publication as well.

Bio: Enola Holmes (she/her) is a poet and multimedia artist. She was shortlisted for the 2019 National Book Foundation Award and is a finalist for the 2020 PEN/Hemingway Award for the poetry collection Silver Bells and Cockle Shells (Hawaii Publishing Books, 2019). Holmes has been awarded American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship in 2018 and Vermont Studio Center Residency in 2019. Her work has been published in Slate and Playboy. Holmes received a BA in Creative Writing from NYU.

Tips on Writing a Cover Letter for Poetry Submission

You are probably aware that editors and editorial assistants read tons of applications and submissions daily. It means they have developed inevitable fatigue to trite and banal introductions and approaches. Therefore, you must follow the rules of cover letter writing, but at the same time, you need to try and infuse some vitality and freshness into these few simple paragraphs.

Here are the rules you must follow:

Always support your words with facts. Avoid describing your biography in banal phrases like “I have always loved poetry, and I cannot live without writing.” To stand out from the others, show your emotion and passion through facts. “After I read Langston Hughes for the first time I got infatuated with Harlem Renaissance, which resulted in a publication in Black Poetry titled ‘Born Again with a Retrograde Mercury.’”

Stay on topic. Although earlier, a cover letter was referred to as a resume of the literary world,’ it should not be as detailed as a formal resume. The exact number of earlier publications and/or awards is given for a reason. Don’t include exhaustive lists of all your awards and residencies. Add only the most impressive items.

Avoid small talk. You absolutely must skip any pleasantries if you believe they are part of common formalities. Editors do not expect you to entertain them. Rather, they appreciate if applicants are polite and to the point.

Control your tone. Respect is expressed not only through proper greetings, good grammar, and error-free writing. Show respect by not acting as if you submitted exceptional work that cannot help but be accepted. But also don’t act as if you expect your poems to be rejected! Neither overconfidence nor self-doubt will pay off.

Choose adequate fonts. Single-spaced, Arial or Times New Roman, 12 point is standard. Any smaller fonts are difficult to read. Any larger fonts are irritating.

Some technical details. If you submit your poetry online, insert your cover letter in the body of an email, and add your poems as a separate attachment (as a pdf-file or Word file) unless you are explicitly told to do otherwise.

Your Take-Away

We prepared this material to help you not to smudge the memorable impression your poetry made on editors. If you believe your poetry is strong enough to be published in a magazine or a journal, polishing your cover letter will seal the deal. Just follow the rules and give your cover letter a thorough read-through, double-checking all publication requirements. However, remember that getting published demands time and effort. It often takes publishers months to respond. Poets get rejected more often than not. So don’t get disheartened and keep submitting. Often poetry publication is a matter of taste of an editorial office. Eventually, all writers can find their publishers.

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How to Write a Cover Letter for A Poetry Submission

Cover letters are the resumes of the literary world. They offer a brief introduction of your writing career while also providing a pitch to the editor about why your submission is the best fit for the magazine, journal, or press.

When writing a cover letter, it’s important to think about your audience: the editor. They will be searching through hundreds—if not thousands—of submissions, and in the words of Aladdin: They will be looking for the “diamonds in the rough.” Depending on the size and staff of the magazine or press as well as how prestigious and reputable it is, the submission process will take them months to complete, so keeping the cover letter short, concise, and informative will ensure that your letter is considered and that it makes an impression with the editor.

Here are the steps to writing a strong cover letter that you can use as a template for any cover letter you need in your writing career.

Provide your contact information

At the upper left-hand corner of your document, type your residential address, your phone number, and your email. Make sure you check that it is accurate because, for magazines that don’t use Submittable , your contact information is the only way they can reach you.

Write the greeting and body

First, begin with the date. Next, write the salutation to the magazine, press, or publishing company. You can also address the poetry editor to personalize the greeting. Look at this template as an example of how to format it.

The next step is to write the body of the letter. In the above example, you’ll notice he mentions the names of his poems as well as previous poets the magazine has published. This proves to the magazine that you are an avid reader of their work. This isn’t necessary to include, but it does get you bonus points with the editor.

Depending on their guidelines, you might want to mention how many poems you’re sending. You can also mention that you are sending this to other publications and will alert them if it’s published anywhere else: This is an expectation every publication has for poets who are submitting simultaneously . Most magazines accept simultaneous submissions, but some don’t.

After this first paragraph, include a short biography in the second paragraph. This bio should be around five sentences. A short bio is better than a longer one due to the volume of submissions they receive. If they want a longer bio, they’ll let you know when they accept your work.

Also, for the bio, highlight your best-published work and major awards or prizes. If you haven’t received any yet, don’t worry about it: When a magazine is truly interested in your poetry, your work is the most important thing: not the cover letter.

Write the closing

Last but not least, close the letter with: “Thank you for considering my work. I look forward to hearing from you soon.” Then include your name at the end.

Overall, you just need three paragraphs for a typical cover letter. However, to submit your poetry book to literary presses, you’ll want to tailor the letter and make it longer, so you can give a synopsis of the work. In general, it’s usually best to keep the cover letter a page long. For large publishing companies such as Andrews McMeel Publishing , you’ll want to write a pitch or proposal rather than a cover letter.

Provide exactly what they want

Before you send out your letter, make sure you double-check the submission guidelines and then make a checklist of everything you need, or just scan the letter to make sure you provided exactly what they asked for. Sometimes your submission could be discarded just because you didn’t fulfill the requirements. For example, some literary presses want to “judge blindly,” which basically means they want to give judges the manuscripts and poems without any contact information or names of the poets. This ensures the submission process is fair, and that there are no biases based on gender, publication history, or many other factors that can cloud an editor or judge’s decision.

Tips to consider for literary magazines

Some literary magazines or presses care about credentials and past publication history. They want established poets rather than novice and up-and-coming poets, so for these magazines, a well-crafted cover letter can make a difference in receiving an acceptance rather than a rejection.

Thankfully, the majority of literary magazines are not concerned about past publication history: They are just interested in stellar literary work, so your chances of getting published are high even if you don’t have a history of publication credits. However, once they choose the best work, and they have their editorial meetings and are debating whose work will be printed, it’s possible they will consider your publication career, and that’s where they will take into consideration your cover letter.

I was the editor-in-chief for the literary magazine of the program where I received my MFA in creative writing, and I never cared about whether the writer was well-known or unknown: I just cared about the work, so let me assure you that if you send your poetry to a small literary magazine, your chances of being published increase. Most students of graduate and undergraduate literary presses and magazines are just looking for the best poetry and prose.

The purpose of submitting is to get your beautiful poetry into the hands of readers. No matter how large or how small the audience, sharing your work with the world is the reward and the joy of being published.

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How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

By: Author Marcel Iseli

Posted on Last updated: September 1, 2022

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

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You’ve been working hard at learning how to write poems, and now you think you might be ready to submit some of them to a journal.

This is an exciting step, but make sure that you don’t get so excited that you neglect to read the guidelines for how to submit.

One of the things you will probably need to include is a cover letter.

But how do you go about writing a cover letter for a poetry submission? What kinds of things should you include?

We’ll help you figure out how to write this letter below.

Check the guidelines before writing your cover letter for a poetry submission

Your very first step should be to check the guidelines of the market you are submitting to.

Don’t assume that you know what the requirements for a cover letter are just because you have looked at another market’s requirements.

Some markets may request that you do not include a cover letter at all.

Others may ask that you include or exclude specific things in the cover letter.

The instructions in any publication’s guidelines should override what you read here, so modify your cover letter as needed based on that.

However, most guidelines will just say something like “submit up to 10 poems and a cover letter” without any other information about what the cover letter should contain.

The purpose of a cover letter for a poetry submission

Understanding the purpose of a cover letter can help you understand what you should put in it.

For example, if you are writing a cover letter for an event manager job , you are trying to highlight some of your main accomplishments to the hiring manager and make your resume stand out from other applicants.

The purpose of a cover letter for a poetry submission is to introduce yourself to the editor and briefly provide information about prior publications.

You will also mention the poems that you are sending, usually their titles and perhaps their length.

You should include any recent or prestigious credits, awards or other career-related information in your cover letter.

A cover letter also signals something about you to the editor. When done correctly, it lets the editor know that you are professional and that you can follow directions.

Starting a cover letter for a poetry submission

You might submit your poems by email, by regular mail or by uploading them to a database.

The publication will have information on the ways to submit.

If you are submitting by email, you will put your cover letter in the body of the email and attach your poems unless the publication requests that you do otherwise.

You do not need to include a header on your email with your address or anything else.

You can just start the letter.

By regular mail, you need to have a header that includes your contact information, the address of the publication and the date.

If you are uploading your submissions and a cover letter is requested, it will probably actually be more like one you would write for regular mail than an email.

Essentially, it should be in the same format, with contact information and the date.

It is always best to begin by addressing the editor by name.

Be sure that you spell their name correctly. Make sure as well that it is the current editor.

If you aren’t sure who the editor is, you can simply write “Dear Editor,” “Dear Poetry Editor” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

The body of your cover letter for a poetry submission

This part of your letter should only be a few sentences long.

You should say what you are submitting: “Attached please find three poems for the New Voices contest: ‘Strawberry Spring,’ ‘The End’ and ‘With the Lilies.'”

You should also include some credits, awards or other professional information if you have any.

Do not include every single place you’ve been published unless it is just a handful of places! Choose the most recent or prestigious publications or related information to highlight.

Unpublished writers often suffer a lot of angst when it comes to writing cover letters because they think they will be overlooked if they cannot share any credits.

The truth is that every editor dreams of discovering a talented new voice.

If you don’t have any publications to include, it’s fine to just name the poems you are sending and thank the editor for their time.

Editors are busy and your work needs to speak for itself, so don’t fall into the temptation of trying to explain your poems or talk about your background.

The one exception is if something in your background is relevant to the work itself, and even then, it should be brief.

For example, if you are a surgeon and your poems about the human body are directly inspired by your work in the operating room, you might include that information in a single sentence in the letter.

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission Pin

How to write the closing of a cover letter for a poetry submission

The closing should be similar to what you would write for any other type of cover letter, such as a cover letter for a video editor job .

Thank the editor for their time, and say that you look forward to hearing from them.

Use a standard professional closing such as “Sincerely” or “Best” at the end.

Sample of an email cover letter with some credits for a poetry submission

In the example below, note that while based on the prestige of the publications listed and her teaching job, this writer probably has a lot more credits, she has just chosen a few of the best to highlight.

Review, Tin House and The Sun. I also teach poetry writing at Graceville Community College.

Thank you for taking a look at these. I hope they work for you, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely, Sarah Hall

Sample of a regular mail cover letter without credits for a poetry submission

Note that with no professional credits to share, this letter is very short.

It’s okay to write a cover letter that is this short! In fact, if you don’t have anything to add, it’s much better to keep it this brief than to bog the editor down in unnecessary information about you or the poems you’re submitting.

Leah Rosenfield 123 Pinedale Avenue Anytown, California 12345

Asha Patel Longshore Literary Journal 456 Easy Street Everytown, Missouri 78910

July 3, 2020 Dear Ms. Patel:

Enclosed are three of my poems for your consideration, “Shining,” “Twigs” and “The Ocean Blue.”

Thank you for taking the time to read them. I hope you enjoy them enough for publication in the Longshore Literary Journal.

Best, Leah Rosenfield

Hey fellow Linguaholics! It’s me, Marcel. I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general.

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How to write a cover letter for poetry submissions, plus a downloadable template.

If you are looking to submit your poetry for publication, you may come across a request for a cover letter.

A cover letter’s main purpose is to give context for your poetry. You will want to explain why you are writing, and what you are submitting.

WHY You’re Writing

It may seem obvious that you are submitting your poetry in the hopes of getting published. But it is essential that you still state the obvious.

State why you are writing— “I am writing for your consideration of my poetry for publication in your literary magazine”. Easy Peasy.

WHAT You’re Submitting

Make sure then, to include the titles of the poems you are submitting, in quotations. And also reference the publication you are submitting to, the title of the publication in italics.

But that is not nearly enough information, so we will want to include a few more things.

Include your contact information and relevant social media accounts, especially if you have a significant following

Reference or link your other published works (if you have none, not to worry, this doesn’t necessarily count against you)

Give a little context for you, as a poet. Have you studied poetry? Who is your favorite poet? Is there a form that you particularly enjoy? Do your views align with the publication you are submitting to?

The cover letter requires a little bit of research as well. It will behoove you to read past issues of the publication and reference what you enjoyed reading. Nothing is more flattering than talking to a fan, so become a fan.

On the flip side, you must remember that you are asking someone to take time to read and consider your work. The least you can do is read their work, and as the Editor the publication *is* their work.

These are the essential steps to writing your cover letter. But here are a few other things to keep in mind…

Less is More

Keep it relevant

Address the Editor Directly if possible. A name is always better than, To Whom it May Concern. With a little research, it should not be difficult to figure out who the editor is.

Be Respectful & Humble*

* I say be humble with the utmost trepidation. So I will define it here: Be Humble in Deference to the Editor. Not in regards to your own achievements. Do you see the difference? Acknowledging the prestige and “rank” of the editor does not mean that you have to downplay yourself.

Still need help? Not to worry! Click here for a simple template to help you write your cover letter.

Now tell me below in the comments, what is the thing that makes you the most nervous when submitting your work?

Creative Cover Letter For Poetry Submission

If you’ve ever wanted to have your poetry published in a literary magazine, you have to go through the submission process. The same is true if you are entering a writing scholarship contest. In most cases, that includes writing a cover letter for poetry submission.

Even if you are a pro wordsmith otherwise, writing a compelling cover letter can be challenging. What should you include? How do you talk about your work without sounding too boastful? After all, this isn’t for a job application. Thus it can be difficult to discern what the judges are looking for. Well, stop worrying. We can help with this challenging task. Just check out our sample cover letter for poetry submission along with some actionable writing tips.

Cover Letter Sample for a Poetry Submission in .docx Format

Here is a brief example of a cover letter. Feel free to use this as a bit of a template for your own letter.

Download example (Word version)

Poetry Submission Cover Letter Example – Text Format

Dear Dr. Lana Reyes:

My name is Constance Stevens, and I am a written and spoken word artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. I am writing to you to submit three of my poems, “Leaving It All Behind”, “The Last Strong Woman In The World”, and “Changing Labels” for publication in The Beacon Magazine. As a long-time subscriber, it would be a true honor for me to have my work published for your discerning audience.

I have an MFA in Creative Writing from Howard University and have been writing poetry, short stories, and essays for more than 20 years. Between 2005 and 2020, I have self-published three books of poetry and won multiple awards for my essays on the challenges faced by women in the modern south. I invite you to please learn more about my writing on my website. When not pursuing my writing, I work as an associate professor at Atlanta Community College where I lead classes on spoken word, rhythm, and poetry.

I hope you find my work to be up to your standards. If you would like to include them, please contact me if you need any additional information.

Constance Ninja

How to Write a Cover Lette for Poetry Submission

Loved the above cover letter example ? Great, here’s how to craft a similar entry for yourself! As a rule of thumb, it’s best to stick with a general business letter structure:

A compelling opening, explaining who you are and what made you apply
The body, detailing your creative and professional experiences
Concluding paragraph offering the reader to stay in touch.

The goal, however, is to keep all of these paragraphs short, on-point, and compelling. Here’s how.

Follow The Instructions to a T

The first thing to do is read the submission guidelines carefully. Next, commit to treating these as hard and fast rules. Before you do anything, ensure that the poetry you intend to submit is within their parameters. Use the file format they request, and submit per their instructions. If they want it emailed, do that. If they prefer you upload it through a website, then that is what you should do. Nothing will get you removed from consideration faster than failing to follow basic instructions.

On a related note, pay attention to open submission dates. Not all publications accept individual submissions year-round. You may have to wait for the next calendar opening.

Help The Audience Learn More About You

Include all the information the reader might need to learn more about you — background, accolades, awards, other places that published you. Be descriptive and provide a quick snapshot of your artistic or journalistic career so far.

Don’t forget to add your contact information, links to your social media, and your portfolio.

Write To The Editor

Unless you have been given other instructions, address your letter to the editor of the publication. You should be able to find their details online. Do a bit of research, in some cases, there may be an editor who has been assigned to work with poetry content. If you are submitting your work to multiple publications, double-check to ensure you haven’t mixed any names up.

Keep Everything Relevant

The contents of your letter should only contain information that is relevant to your pitch. There’s no reason to provide a life history, your resume, or other information. However, it is okay to add information that you believe helps to further your case for being published. For example, positive critiques, awards, or other bylines.

Manage Your Expectations

The larger the publication the longer you will wait for any feedback. Worse, many larger magazines simply won’t respond to you, unless they plan to use your work. The same rules also apply should you try to submit your work to a major book publisher. Unfortunately, some large publishers simply won’t accept work that they do not receive from a literary agent. For example, a now-published author Daniel Wallace has been pitching New Yorker for 30+ years before seeing any success.

Be Prepared To Pay

The truth is that many writing competitions are basically raffles. You pay some money, submit your work, and hope to get selected. The upside is that your work is almost always published in the sponsor’s literary magazine or an annual book of poetry. After that, you will at least be able to say you have been published. Additionally, a smaller magazine may request a small donation to defray the costs of reading and publishing your work.

Final Tip: Stop Fawning

Yes, it’s okay to say you are a loyal reader and admire the publication. However, you should also display some restraint. Fawning over the reader, or peppering your letter with a bunch of over-the-top superlatives won’t help you get your poems published. It will just make the recipient uncomfortable.

Other Cover Letter Samples

A superb supervisor cover letter example, banging backstage cover letter example, a compelling medical receptionist cover letter example, cover letter for preschool teacher: example + tips.

A huge collection of cover letters created by a ninja team of writers and career advisors. Learn how to write, style and file cover letters that employers actually enjoy reading.

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How to write a covering letter

When you send your poems for submission to a magazine, you will generally have to include a covering letter..

Some magazines will tell you what they want from your covering letter, others won’t. If they do tell you, stick to their suggested content – editors want to know that you will be easy to work with, and following their advice is a good start!

Some magazines accept postal submissions, others accept email submissions. However you are submitting your work, keep the covering letter short and polite. If you are writing a letter, make sure you format it correctly. If you are writing an email, you don’t need to worry so much about the layout, but don’t become too chatty!

As well as checking what the editors want from a covering letter, check all the submissions guidelines very carefully. How many poems do they want? Do they specify formatting? Do they want the poems in the body of an email or as an attachment?

Below are some guidelines if you are starting to send out your work.

– DO see if you can find the editor’s name. If you can, address the letter to them. And make sure it’s the current editor!

– If you can’t find the editor’s name, DO say ‘Dear editor’ or ‘Dear editors’.

– DO keep it short – editors are often very pushed for time.

– If it’s an email, DO include your name in the subject line so the editor can easily find your message in their inbox if they are looking for it again.

– If it’s an email, they will have your email address. There’s no need for any other contact details. If it’s a letter, DO give a postal address and email address in the top right hand corner.

– If you are submitting by post, DO include your name and postal or email address on each poem. That way, if the poems get separated from the covering letter, the editor will still know who to contact.

– DO give your full name and the names of your poems. Pay attention to whether they have asked for your poems in the body of an email, or as an attachment. If your poem has unusual formatting which gets lost in the email, paste it in the body of the email and include an attachment as well, and explain why you have done this.

– You could include a very brief biography, e.g. ‘I am a poet from Newcastle currently studying at university.’

– You could also give a brief publication history – don’t include everything, just 2-4 places you have been pleased to see your work published. Don’t worry if you haven’t been published anywhere yet – if the editor likes you work, they will be pleased to discover a new talent!

– If you have read and enjoyed the magazine before DO say so – and you could list a couple of poems or a feature you particularly liked. (It’s a good idea to read any magazines you’re submitting to, as it will give you a sense of whether your work will fit).

– DO thank the editor for their time.

– If you are accepted, DO send a short email thanking the editor/s for their decision. You can be excited and enthusiastic – it’s nice for editors to feel like they have made someone’s day!

– DON’T say ‘Dear Sirs’! There’s no reason why an editor should be a man.

– DON’T meander off the point – the editor just wants to know who you are and what your poems are called.

– DON’T act like you expect your poems to be accepted – and don’t act like you expect your poems to be rejected!

– If you are rejected, you DON’T need to respond. If you feel like you should, keep it to a short email thanking the editor/s for their time. You could also say you are looking forward to reading the magazine/ book/ website etc. Careful not to sound reproachful – sending rejections is a horrible job and that will just make the editor feel uncomfortable.

– DON’T be disheartened if your poem is rejected – editors are just people with subjective tastes, and if they have rejected your poem it doesn’t mean it isn’t a good piece of work! It just means it wasn’t to their taste. Send it out somewhere else instead.

Good luck with your submissions! You can find ideas of places to send your work on our list of Poetry Opportunities .

Published April, 2015

14 thoughts on “ How to write a covering letter ”

If submitting by letter is it also acceptable to use a letterhead (with name, adress and contact details in bottom centre)? Instead of a plain sheet with the adress at the top right-hand corner.

Hi Em, as long as your contact details are clear then that would be fine.

“In particular, tell us who your target audience is and provide a rationale for why we are the best publisher for your work. An outline of the entire work and an estimate of the length of the prospective manuscript. Please be sure that your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address are on the submission “

This is what the guidelines say but I am really disturbed with the thought with how to write it. What about potential audience what am I supposed to write? I am doing this for first time and if only I get an example of how this thing as a whole is to be written that would be great. For now rest all points are clear except for the above mentioned 3. I want to know how to write about potential audience and why the publisher is best to publish me. Also there is nothing stated in the guidelines if it has to be attachment or e mail text what way do I do it? The who thing with attachment? Publisher Guidelines from Andrews Mcmeel

Please do clarify this and i would be really thankful

I appreciate your commitment towards poets

Thanks for your comment. If you have questions about a specific job, it’s always best to ask the employer directly – we don’t want to give you bad advice!

Our best guess? By ‘potential audience’ they might mean is your work aimed at young children, young adults, adults etc.; men, women etc.; LGBTQ audiences; audiences who like dogs; audiences who are also fans of X Y Z other writers… any indication of who you have in mind when reading your work!

We would guess they would prefer a cover letter as an attachment but hopefully it won’t matter too much. Do get in touch with them and ask.

Best of luck!

Young Poets Network

I just read one of your commenters Ajay sounds great i wanted to know about the same by meaning of attaching the cover letter do you mean only the manuscript or entire like our details and all requirements if so what should be the mail content? That cant be kept empty right? Andrews is real confusing

Thanks for your comment! It depends on the submission guidelines from the particular magazine you’re submitting to. Normally, though, you would attach a cover letter and, separately, your poems. In your email, you could write something short such as:

‘Dear [name of editor(s)], Please find attached 3 poems for your consideration and a covering letter. Thank you for your time. Best wishes, [your name]’.

Does that help? Best of luck!

Should you sign a cover letter with attached poems?

It depends! If you’re printing out your cover letter and sending it in the post, it might be nice to sign the cover letter, though most poetry magazines won’t mind whether you do or don’t. If you are submitting over email or Submittable then you shouldn’t need to sign anything. Do always check the submissions guidelines though.

Hope this is helpful!

Best of luck,

Helen at Young Poets Network

Hi, I want to submit my poems for publication in a magazine but their submission guidelines do not include a bio. should I send one anyway? plus, they did not indicate whether the cover letter should be sent as an attachment or in the body of the email. what’s the most professional way to do so?

Our top tip is to follow the submissions guidelines to a T. So, if they don’t mention a bio, then you don’t need to send one.

As for the cover letter: normally, if you are emailing your poems over, it’s most common to include your cover letter in the body of the email – unless they’ve specifically said to attach it. However, if they haven’t said either way, then it shouldn’t hurt your chances whatever you do!

thanks for the prompt response. it’s very helpful

No worries – best of luck!

Hi Little Poet, I just recently started watching your videos on Youtube. My, my, my, how I have been helped with your insights about things. Please let me know if I can be on your mailing list. I love you Little Poet. I really do. Isn’t life wonderful when something or someone just comes into your life and blesses you really good?

I’m pleased to hear you’ve found Young Poets Network useful! I’ll add you to our mailing list.

All the best,

Submission Series: How It’s Done.

So you’ve never submitted your poems to literary magazines before. Where do you start? It can definitely feel intimidating (and time-consuming) the first time you send your work out to potential publishers; but once you’ve gone through the steps a few times, it just becomes another part of your writing routine. To help you get going, here are some tips to guide you through the process and proper etiquette.

Before You Submit Your Work

This might seem obvious but it bears saying aloud: read lots of literary magazines! This is essential homework if you’re going to start submitting work to them. This helps you to know what is being published by these journals, and what they’re looking for. Two great resources for discovering literary magazines are NewPages and Chill Subs , which maintain a fairly comprehensive database of listings and publish reviews of literary magazines. And, most of all, consider subscribing to literary magazines, if you can. Regularly reading the new issues of journals in which you hope to publish can often lead to breakthroughs in your work. Remember: there are no good writers without good readers. Here are some helpful resources and links:

NewPages posts calls for submissions for magazines in their classified section.
Duotrope & Chill Subs both house databases containing information about thousands of literary magazines and journals, so you don’t have to scour the interwebs all by yourself.
We’ve even gotten into this data compilation action ourselves by running a quarterly “Where to Submit” blog series to let you know who is currently open and looking for your poems & manuscripts!

A Duotrope account also comes with the ability to log your submissions and responses on the site, which helps you track your submissions while also contributing data to the statistical information that Duotrope gathers & provides for each lit mag profile.

Start a little smaller at first: submit to literary magazines that focus on work by emerging and/or unpublished writers. You can always find this information on the publication’s website.

Most literary magazines and journals receive submissions online (some exclusively) and many of those use the submission management platform Submittable for receiving and responding to those submissions. So, you should also go ahead and set up your free Submittable account. Other literary magazines either receive submissions by email or through an alternative submission management platform.

How to Craft a Cover Letter

Most literary magazines and journals will ask you to include a brief cover letter to accompany the packet of poems you’re submitting. Although most publications will not disqualify a submission based on the cover letter, it is important to make a professional first impression. There is definitely an art to the submission cover letter, so here are some tips for how to do it right:

Use the appropriate editor’s name in your opening address (you can find this on their website, usually on the masthead page),

Briefly state your intention (“I am submitting my poems XYZ for consideration for a future issue of Lit Mag Name .”)

If this is a simultaneous submission , let them know here, but you don’t have to say where else you’re sending your work. (“These poems are simultaneous submissions but I will inform you promptly should they be accepted elsewhere and need to be withdrawn.”)

Do not describe your poems or give your life story . If you choose, you can give a very brief third-person biographical note (generally 50–100 words). But this is usually optional.

Briefly thank the editor(s) for considering and reading your work.

Close with your first and last name, and your contact information.

Cover Letter Template:

Dear [Insert Editor Name],

I would like to submit my poems [insert poem titles] for consideration for a future issue of [ Insert Magazine/Journal Title ]. I have also included a brief biographical note below, should that be needed.

[Insert brief bio here.]

This is a simultaneous submission. Thank you so much for reading my work!

[Your Name]

[Your Mailing Address]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email Address]

How to Track Submissions

This is so incredibly important to remember: you are responsible for keeping track of your submissions! This is the information you need to keep a detailed record of:

The titles of the poems you submitted.

The title of the publication to which you submitted them.

The date you submitted the poems.

The submission fee you paid (if any).

The type of response you receive (acceptance, personalized rejection, form rejection, or author withdrawal).

We recommend keeping a spreadsheet customized for this purpose. If you simultaneously submit poems to multiple places (which is standard practice, but check the guidelines), and one or more of those poems are accepted by a publication, you will have to know which places you need to withdraw those accepted poems from. It is your responsibility to keep track of this. It is also your responsibility to withdraw those accepted poems from the lit mags still considering them in a timely manner — which means the same day you receive the acceptance for the poem(s) in question.

What to Expect (When You’re Waiting & Waiting & Waiting)

It will take anywhere from two months to one year for literary magazines to send you a response. Check the submission guidelines for this information. Many times, they will let you know how long they tend to hold onto submissions before responding. They will also let you know when it is acceptable to query about a submission — do not do this before the prescribed response time has lapsed. You don’t want to annoy the editors who are often working on hundreds of submissions at any given time.

You will want to make sure you are checking your email account regularly, so that when you do receive a response, you are able to get to it right away. Always check your spam or junk folder because sometimes they get erroneously filtered there! It’s also a good idea to log in to your Submittable account at least once a week to check the status of your current submissions because sometimes those emails can go astray.

If you receive an acceptance, don’t leave the literary magazine waiting! Make sure you respond to their message as soon as possible — in the precise manner and with the exact information they request — so that you don’t end up missing out on this publishing opportunity. Some publishers have a shorter turnaround time for issue production, so letting them know they have permission to publish your work sooner rather than later will be most helpful for the editors. If an accepted poem is simultaneously submitted elsewhere, you need to make sure you withdraw the accepted poem (from the lit mags still considering it) as soon as possible. If another publisher sends you an acceptance letter for the same poem, you’ll find yourself in an uncomfortable situation where you have to disappoint one editor or the other. If you receive a rejection, first of all, don’t take it personally. Allow yourself to feel the disappointment briefly, then let it go. There will be more of these than you will want to count. Second, do not reply to a rejection letter, unless it is absolutely clear that the letter has been personalized.

Best Practices

The best advice we can give you is this: always read the submission guidelines! They will be slightly different for each publication. Make sure you follow them, or your submission could be disqualified without being read. Here are a few terms you will need to become familiar with:

Blind submissions: If a publication says that submissions must be blind, that means that no identifying information is allowed to appear on your submission document: no name or contact information, either within the document or even in the file name.

Simultaneous submissions: This refers to submitting the same poems to multiple publications at the same time. Most journals accept this practice, but you must inform them about it in your cover letter. And, as mentioned numerous times above, you must also be responsible about withdrawing poems promptly if they are accepted at one publication while under consideration at others.

Finally, this is a very important thing to remember for first-timers: posting your poems to Facebook, Instagram, a blog, etc. will count as “previously published” for a literary journal. Most of them (not all — check the guidelines) will only consider work that is entirely unpublished. So, if you want to publish specific poems in literary journals or magazines, do not post them online in any form before publication.

Did you know that Tell Tell Poetry also offers Submission Support services? Reach out to us here for more information. We’re wishing you the best of luck with your poetry submissions!

Pssst. We’re launching a submission course soon! Drop an email to [email protected] if you’re interested in hearing more when we launch!

Comments (1)

This was Indeed helpful!

The Perfect Cover Letter: Advice From a Lit Mag Editor

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

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

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

A little research goes a long way

Seek out the editor’s name, and address the letter to him/her, as opposed to using a generic greeting. Typically, you can find this information either on the magazine or journal’s website, or in the submission guidelines.

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

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

Terms to Know

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

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

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

Cover Letter That Needs Work

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

What Went Wrong?

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

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

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

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

Cover Letter Ready to Be Sent

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

What Went Right?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, february 22nd.

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 Smart Approach to Contest Submissions

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

The Smart Approach

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

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

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

Thanks for the helpful instruction.

Barbarann Ayars

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

What the heck are selfies?

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

Nitwits deserve love too.

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

Tips for The Smart Approach to Contest Submissions

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

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

@kkrousseau taking a "selfie"

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

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

Smart Approach to Contest Submissions

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

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

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

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

extending this advice a bit

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

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

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

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

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

3. Finally, study past winners.

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

paying to enter

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

Phoebe Journal

There are presently no open calls for submissions.

phoebe prides itself on supporting up-and-coming writers, whose style, form, voice, and subject matter demonstrate a vigorous appeal to the senses, intellect, and emotions of our readers. We choose our writers because we believe their work succeeds at its goals, whether its goals are to uphold or challenge literary tradition.

We insist on openness, which means we welcome both experimental and conventional prose and poetry, and we insist on being entertained, which means the work must capture and hold our attention, whether it be the potent language of a poem or the narrative mechanics of a short story. Above all, we seek to publish quality writing. Please review website publications, especially our latest online issue , for an idea of the caliber of writing we publish.

Our Spring 2024 contest is open from January 15 - March 15, 2024 . All submissions will be considered for the contest, as well as publication in the Spring 2024 issue .

Our general guidelines are available here . Please note: At this time, phoebe does not accept work that uses AI generated text or artwork.

phoebe welcomes and hopes to see literary and visual art from writers and artists of all races, ethnicities, national origins, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, genders, gender expressions, ages, abilities, military statuses, and other distinguishing identity traits. phoebe also welcomes and hopes to see literary and visual art from writers and artists of all genres, styles, and aesthetics. phoebe makes every effort to be open to all and closed to no one.

National Federation of State Poetry Societies

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies offers online submission for the Stevens Poetry Manuscript Competition, the College Undergraduate Poetry Competition, the BlackBerryPeach Prizes for Poetry: Spoken and Heard, the NFSPS Founders Award Contest, and the Student Award Contest for students in grades 3 through 12.

If you do not have a Submittable account, you will be asked to open one during the submission process. This free account is yours permanently.

The submission period for all contests vary. Please check back often for contest information. You may also check nfsps.com or current contest information and nfsps.net for convention information.

General Contest Rules are located here.

Additional rules for Submittable entries are below.

11. How to submit via Submittable:

(a.) Read carefully. Any violation will disqualify entry. Some rules for electronic submissions differ from the printed brochure.

(b.) DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ANYWHERE ON THE POEMS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY.

(c.) You may submit poems in any of the following formats: Upload a pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf, wpf, odt, or wpd.

(d.) Place number and name of contest in upper left corner on document submitted for each contest. Do not place your name anywhere on the submitted poem.

(e.) Prepare a document for submission under *Member or Non-member Submission Cover Sheet and Payment Contests 2-50 that lists poet’s name, address, phone number, E-mail address (if available), state society membership (or “Non-Member" ) List on the document the number of the contest and the title of the poem, but not the title of each contest you are entering. List the total number of poems submitted.

Because of the nature of contests 2-50 and Submittable system requirements, poets need to submit payment when submitting their cover sheet. Please use the appropriate Member or Non-member Submission Cover Sheet form. Poems are submitted in the individual contests.

CONVENTION MADNESS! POETRY CONTEST

Win Your Way to NFSPS Convention

June 5 - June 10, 2024

Roswell, Georgia

Must attend to receive prize

1st Place— 5 nights stay at the Doubletree Hilton ($800.00)

2nd Place—All meals (package) (approximately $200.00)

3rd Place—Registration Fee ($125.00)

Any form, any subject, limit one page, 12-point type. May be previously published. Simultaneous submissions acceptable.

Fee: NFSPS, Inc. Members 3 poems for $15.00. Non-members 3 poems for $20.00.

No limit on number of submissions, so long as a new entry fee is included for each set of 3 poems.

Name, address, phone number, e-mail, and State Society membership to be included in Submittable information. No identifying marks or your name on actual poems. No acknowledgements for previously published; if a winner, poem will be acknowledged. No illustrations or pictures.

DEADLINE: April 6, 2024.

Must attend to receive prize.

1st Place— 5 nights stay at the Doubletree Hilton ($800.00)

DEADLINE: April 6, 2024.

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March 20, 2024 | Shawn Kornegay - Neag School of Education

Connecticut’s 2024 Letters About Literature Contest Winners Named

UConn's Neag School of Education, Department of English, and Connecticut Writing Project, co-sponsors of the 31st annual Letters About Literature contest, are proud to announce Connecticut’s winners for the 2023-24 academic year.

Male educator gives certificate to young male student while another male educator in the background looks on.

Doug Kaufman, left, congratulates a winner from the Letters About Literature contest in 2023; Jason Courtmanche is pictured in the background. (Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

UConn’s Neag School of Education , Department of English , and Connecticut Writing Project (CWP) , co-sponsors of the 31st annual Letters About Literature contest, are proud to announce Connecticut’s winners for the 2023-24 academic year.

Each year, students in grades four through 12 are invited to read a text, broadly defined, and write a letter to the author (living or dead) about how the text affected them personally. Submissions are grouped according to grade level (grades four to six; grades seven and eight; and grades nine to 12).

All submissions were read and scored by Neag School alumni teacher-volunteers. Of the 878 submissions from Connecticut students this year, there were 526 students who received honorable mentions. Each Letters About Literature semi-finalist and honorable mention recipient received a letter of recognition.

A second set of judges, all pre-service teachers, then read and scored the 91 semi-finalists — twice for each submission — and selected a total of nine winners, three per grade level. Then one student per grade level was named Top Prize. Each of the nine winners will receive a gift card: the three Top Prize winners get $200 each and the six others get $100 each. The winning recipients will be recognized at a ceremony later in the spring.

Neag School associate professor Doug Kaufman , CWP director Jason Courtmanche , and Department of English Ph.D. candidate Margaret McFarlane served as the contest’s representatives for the state of Connecticut.

Letters About Literature Finalists for the State of Connecticut

The following are the contest finalists, listed with their respective school’s and teacher’s names, as well as the work of literature that is the focus of their essay, with access to their winning submissions in PDF format.

Level I (Grades 4-6)

Top Prize Winner: Erioluwa Shokunbi , John Ferrero, Macdonough Elementary (Middletown), Gone by Michael Grant
Winner: Ema He , Lucinda Kulvinskas, King Phillip Middle School (West Hartford), The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown
Winner: Ria Shenoy , Ximena Franco-Bao, West Woods Upper Elementary School (Farmington), Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Level II (Grades 7-8)

Top Prize Winner: Emma Allen, Kristin Liu, The Country School (Madison), Instructions Before Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Winner: Ella Yu, Jessica Kerelejza, King Phillip Middle School (West Hartford), Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Winner: Ava Hill, Sara Tamborello, Segwick Middle School (West Hartford), The Wish by Nicholas Spark

Level III (Grades 9-12)

Top Prize Winner: Brian Park, Lennoz Debra, Hotchkiss School (Salisbury), Theme for English B by Langston Hughes
Winner: Noah Tork, Lucy Abott, Notre Dame (West Haven), Night by Ellie Wiesel
Winner: Emerson Smith , Katherine Gabbay, Ridgefield High School (Ridgefield), The Virgin Suicides by Jefrey Eugenides

Letters About Literature Contest Judges

Alumni, students, and friends of the Neag School of Education and the University of Connecticut judged the Letters About Literature contest submissions this past fall. The judges selected semi-finalists at each of the three competition levels. Thank you to the first-round contest judges:

Sarah Abbey
Lea Attanasio
Leah Baranauskas
Sian Charles-Harris
Celina DaSilva
Caitlin Davidson
Mirelinda Dema
Kristina Dukette
Hayley Gomez
Migdalia Gonsalves
Denise Grant
Katie Grant
Jill Kneisl
Lindsay Larsen
Lindsey Le-Gervais
Laura Milligan
Melissa Oberlander
Katie Owens
Alex Andy Phuong
Jamie Pisacane
Christy Rybczyk
Jaclyn Sanzari
Allison Stroili
Robert Zupperoli

Students in the Neag School and Department of English judged the Letters About Literature semifinalist essays this past month. Thank you to the contest judges, who are current students in the Neag School of Education Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s program with a second major or concentration in English or UConn students majoring in English:

Grace Carpenter
Mckenzie Dayton
Amanda Faubel
Emily Feest
Chloe Goodi
Vashonti Mac
Brenna McNeec
Evelyn Mcname
Georgia Mills Rent
Molly Morga
Thomas Murray
Sofia Oyola Morale
Shannon Palme
Lillian Sol
Grian Wizne

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Poetry & Poets

Explore the beauty of poetry – discover the poet within

What Is A Cover Letter For A Poetry Submission

Writing Style

A cover letter for a poetry submission is your opportunity to market yourself to a publisher. A successful cover letter for poetry submissions should be concise, include relevant information, and be sure to grab the attention of the reader. That’s why it’s important to make sure it includes the right elements. When writing a cover letter for poetry, it’s best to use a professional writing style. Start with a polite and friendly greeting, such as “Dear [Name]” followed by a sentence thanking the reader for taking the time to consider your work. Explain the reason for your submission and make sure it’s tailored to the publisher’s particular interests and needs. Be sure to include a brief bio that tells the reader who you are and where you come from. Include educational and professional accomplishments, awards, and any relevant publications. Mention any specialized knowledge or work experience you may have relating to poetry. Be sure to keep this section short and to the point, so the reader doesn’t become overwhelmed.

When writing a cover letter for poetry submission, make sure to focus on the content of your work. Explain in detail what the poetry is about and the main themes or topics it covers. Explain what the reader can expect to find in the poems and why readers should give them a chance. Also, don’t forget to include a link to an online sample of your work if you have one available. This will give the reader the chance to get a sense of your style and get a better idea of what to expect. Finally, be sure to end the letter on a positive note. Include a line that thanks the reader again for their time, and express your appreciation for the chance to submit your work.

Manuscript Format

When submitting poetry, it’s important to use the right format. Generally, publishers prefer to receive manuscripts that are typed using a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial. The font size should be 12-point and double-spaced. The cover page should include the title of the poem, your name, and contact information. If you have already published your work, include the titles and publishers where it appeared. If you are submitting multiple poems, include a brief description of each one and list them in the order you prefer.

Before you submit your work, it’s important to make sure it’s free of typos, spelling errors, and grammar mistakes. Read and reread your work carefully and ask someone else to read it and provide feedback. A second set of eyes can often spot mistakes and give you a better idea of how readers may perceive your work. If you are unsure whether or not your poetry is ready for submission, consider taking advantage of professional editing services. These services provide a thorough review of your work and help you catch any small mistakes you may have missed.

Marketing Strategy

Before you submit your work, create a personalized marketing strategy. Take the time to research potential publishers, read interviews with practitioners in the field, and review the current market. When you find a publisher that seems like a good fit, read their submission guidelines carefully. Make sure to craft a custom query letter tailored to the publication and highlight your unique writing style and experience. Doing this will help publishers identify you as a unique writer and increase your chances of getting accepted.

Professionalism

When submitting poetry, it is important to be professional and courteous. Always follow the submission guidelines and don’t forget to include a copy of your work. Be sure to thank the editor for reviewing your work and give them a reasonable timeline for when you expect to hear back. Don’t forget to include contact information in case they have any questions.

Be sure to follow up with editors if you don’t hear back after submitting your work. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a positive response, as it’s part of the process. If a publisher is interested in your work, they will typically get back to you and let you know. It’s also a good idea to keep a record of the publications you have submitted to. This will help you track your progress and identify any potential patterns. Once you identify a publisher who is interested in your work, you can use that to your advantage when submitting to other publications.

Networking is an essential part of the poetry submission process. It can be beneficial to attend literary events and workshops. This will provide you with the chance to meet other writers and publishers, and develop connections with other members of the literary community. You may also want to consider joining a professional organization. Joining a different organizations related to poetry and writing can provide you with access to networking opportunities, literary reviews, and other resources that can help you hone your craft and get your work published.

Dannah Hannah is an established poet and author who loves to write about the beauty and power of poetry. She has published several collections of her own works, as well as articles and reviews on poets she admires. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, with a specialization in poetics, from the University of Toronto. Hannah was also a panelist for the 2017 Futurepoem book Poetry + Social Justice, which aimed to bring attention to activism through poetry. She lives in Toronto, Canada, where she continues to write and explore the depths of poetry and its influence on our lives.

See your artwork in space: Students and educators invited to participate in art contest

Is your artwork out of this world? It just might be, and now you have the chance to actually see it in space.

Astronaut and contest visionary John Shoffner is inviting students and educators from around the world to submit a drawing, painting or written poetry showcasing what it would look like if we lived up there.

Participants from around the globe will have the chance to showcase vivid color and curiosity as they take us on a journey into space as they envision it. Students and educators are encouraged to submit art and poetry showcasing vivid color, thoughtful words and wild imagination, according to a press release about the contest. The goal is to promote the “A” in STEAM education.

In February, native York County artist Jeff Koons made history with the lunar landing of the Odysseus spacecraft, allowing one of his creations to be the first “ authorized ” work of art on the moon. Could another York countian join his work?

Who can enter?

Eight category representatives will receive special recognition from the International Space Station (ISS) in addition to receiving physical prints of their creation sent down from space.

Entries will be categorized by age division : 5 through 8, 9through 13, 14 through 18, and a newly added educator category, as well as by genre: visual art and poetry.

More: Jeff Koons on the moon: York-born mega artist has work en route to the lunar surface

How to enter

To enter, submissions can be made by filling out the contest form through www.spaceartcontest.com. Contestants can upload their files to the form and will need to submit a short response to the question: What was the inspiration behind your art/poetry?

Submissions for the 2024 International Space Art and Poetry Contest close on April 5. Selected category representatives will get to see video footage of astronauts in space, showcasing their winning artwork. They will receive prints of their creations sent down from space, as well as gift packages provided by Crayola Experience, and more.

Submissions for the 2024 International Space Art and Poetry Contest close on April 5. Selected category representatives will receive prints of their creations sent down from space, gift packages provided by Crayola Experience, and more.

IMAGES

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission
Sample Cover Letter: Best Examples Of A Cover Letter For Poetry
Sample Cover Letters for Poetry Submissions
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission
How to Make a Poetry Cover Letter
How to Write a Poetry Cover Letter

COMMENTS

Sample Cover Letters for Poetry Submissions
Dear Poetry Editor. Please consider the enclosed poems—"Watching the Ice Melt," "My Father," and "Relevant"—for possible inclusion in a future edition of Dayton Quarterly. After reading several sample poems online and the most recent print edition (especially work by emerging poet J. Alfred Prufrock), I feel like my work may be a fit with ...
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission
The specific submission process will vary among publishing companies, but in nearly all cases, you'll want to preface your submission with a cover letter addressed to the publisher's poetry editor. A strong cover letter may be the difference between being considered and ending up in the slush pile, so it's important to know what you're ...
How To Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission in 6 Steps
3. Use direct, respectful language. Throughout your cover letter, try to use direct language. In addition, try to only include necessary information or details that a journal specifically requests. This can allow you to keep your cover letter brief and concise in respect of editors' time as they consider your work. 4.
How to Write a Poetry Submission Cover Letter
Addressing the Organizers/Publishers by name shows your professionalism and due courtesy. Covers letters that achieve this are bound to face warm reception and that is a good start for your submission. 3. Link to your past work. If it's your first submission, don't worry, your work will speak for you.
How To Write A Cover Letter For A Poetry Submission
19. Reading Series and Contests. 20. Networking Through Social Media. Writing an effective cover letter when submitting a poetry submission is an important step that should not be overlooked. It allows the editor or publisher to quickly understand what you are submitting and why it is suitable for their publication.
How To Write A Poetry Cover Letter
13. Write Useful Reviews. 14. Set Up a Blog or Website. 15. Learn from Others. Writing a cover letter for a poetry submission can be intimidating and overwhelming. However, it is a critical part of the poetry publishing process. An impressive and insightful cover letter can help an editor to quickly evaluate a submission and make a favorable ...
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission
Typically, cover letters for publication will make do with just 30 words while applications for poetry retreat, poetry residency, or a job will require 1 to 2.5 pages. Submission requirements contain all the information regarding the format of a cover letter. Our builder is a perfect way to get a cover letter in just about 8 minutes.
How to Write a Cover Letter for A Poetry Submission
First, begin with the date. Next, write the salutation to the magazine, press, or publishing company. You can also address the poetry editor to personalize the greeting. Look at this template as an example of how to format it. The next step is to write the body of the letter. In the above example, you'll notice he mentions the names of his ...
How To Write A Cover Letter For Poetry Submission
A cover letter is an important part of the poetry submission process, as it serves as the first impression of the poet and the poem. It should succinctly state the poet's qualifications and the merits of their poem. When writing a cover letter, the most important thing to keep in mind is that it should be professional.
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission
This part of your letter should only be a few sentences long. You should say what you are submitting: "Attached please find three poems for the New Voices contest: 'Strawberry Spring,' 'The End' and 'With the Lilies.'". You should also include some credits, awards or other professional information if you have any.
How To Write A Cover Letter For Your Poetry or Prose Submission
Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash. Note: This article was updated in July 2020. Cover letters are a requirement for almost every lit mag submission process. In this article, we'll go over ...
How to Write a Cover Letter for Poetry Submissions
Make sure then, to include the titles of the poems you are submitting, in quotations. And also reference the publication you are submitting to, the title of the publication in italics. But that is not nearly enough information, so we will want to include a few more things. Include your contact information and relevant social media accounts ...
Creative Cover Letter For Poetry Submission
Poetry Submission Cover Letter Example - Text Format. My name is Constance Stevens, and I am a written and spoken word artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. I am writing to you to submit three of my poems, "Leaving It All Behind", "The Last Strong Woman In The World", and "Changing Labels" for publication in The Beacon Magazine. As a ...
How to write a covering letter
If it's a letter, DO give a postal address and email address in the top right hand corner. - If you are submitting by post, DO include your name and postal or email address on each poem. That way, if the poems get separated from the covering letter, the editor will still know who to contact. - DO give your full name and the names of your ...
Submission Series
We're wishing you the best of luck with your poetry submissions! Pssst. We're launching a submission course soon! Drop an email to [email protected] if you're interested in hearing more when we launch! Crafting a cover letter, writing a bio, and submitting your poems can be easy with the right support. Check out our tips to make it ...
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 ...
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 Submitting Poetry
Submitting poetry is a great way to share your writing, build a portfolio of published works, and reach a wider audience. A well-crafted cover letter, sent alongside your submission, can go a long way to helping get your poetry accepted. Here are some tips for making sure your cover letter stands out and makes a good impression.
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.
The Smart Approach to Contest Submissions
5. Don't get fancy. Let your words win the contest, not your paper or your ink or your fonts or your formatting. Don't print your manuscript on special paper. Keep it in a standard font—for the love of God, no script fonts—and don't include an Oscar-worthy thank-you speech on an acknowledgments page.
[Help] What do I write for the cover letter of a poetry ...
Sincerely, [Name] Key aspects of submissions cover letter: Include the name of the editor and the name of the publication. Be sure to change it before each submission. Look at the pub's masthead if you need the editor's name. Include the # of poems and their titles (unless titles aren't relevant). Say if the poems are previously published.
Poetry
We are now accepting submissions for our annual poetry contest. The winner will be published online this May in phoebe 53.2. We encourage you to take a look at our previous contest winners. ... All entries should include a cover letter with the submission's title and author's contact information (name, mailing address, telephone number, and ...
National Federation of State Poetry Societies Submission Manager
Prepare a document for submission under *Member Submission Cover Sheet and Payment Contests 2-50 that lists poet's name, address, phone number, E-mail address (if available), state society membership (or "Non-Member" ) List on the document the number of the contest and the title of the poem, but not the title of each contest you are entering.
What Is A Cover Letter For Poetry Submission
A cover letter for poetry submission aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to a prospective publisher. It outlines the poet's experience and provides an overview of their work and motivations. By submitting a cover letter alongside their poem, poets can establish a personal connection with their future audience. Summary Close. 1.
Connecticut's 2024 Letters About Literature Contest Winners Named
UConn's Neag School of Education, Department of English, and Connecticut Writing Project (CWP), co-sponsors of the 31st annual Letters About Literature contest, are proud to announce Connecticut's winners for the 2023-24 academic year.. Each year, students in grades four through 12 are invited to read a text, broadly defined, and write a letter to the author (living or dead) about how the ...
What Is A Cover Letter For A Poetry Submission
A cover letter for a poetry submission is your opportunity to market yourself to a publisher. A successful cover letter for poetry submissions should be concise, include relevant information, and be sure to grab the attention of the reader. That's why it's important to make sure it includes the right elements.
International Space Art and Poetry Contest invites students to enter
Submissions for the 2024 International Space Art and Poetry Contest close on April 5. Selected category representatives will receive prints of their creations sent down from space, gift packages ...

How to Write a Poetry Submission Cover Letter

What is a Cover Letter for Submitting a Poem?

Why Do They Need It?

What a Good Cover Letter Should Have

A Courteous Tone

Right Context

What Most Submissions Want In a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

Poetry Publication

Poetry Retreats, Residencies, and Fellowships:

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

2. Address the Organizers/Publishers by name

3. Link to your past work

4. Stay On Topic

5. Skip Unnecessary Pleasantries

6. Provide Contact Information

Poetry Cover Letter Example

Write A Great Cover Letter, Submit Delicious Poetry

Recommended Reading...

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

What is a Cover Letter for Submitting a Poem?

What to Include in a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

Writing a Cover Letter for Poetry Submission

A Basic Template for a Poetry Cover Letter

Sample Cover Letter for Poetry Submission

Tips on Writing a Cover Letter for Poetry Submission

Your Take-Away

You’re Subscribed!

You may also be interested to read

How to Write a Cover Letter for A Poetry Submission

Provide your contact information

Write the greeting and body

Write the closing

Provide exactly what they want

Tips to consider for literary magazines

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How to Write a Cover Letter for a Poetry Submission

Check the guidelines before writing your cover letter for a poetry submission

The purpose of a cover letter for a poetry submission

Starting a cover letter for a poetry submission

The body of your cover letter for a poetry submission

How to write the closing of a cover letter for a poetry submission

Sample of an email cover letter with some credits for a poetry submission

Sample of a regular mail cover letter without credits for a poetry submission

Related posts:

Alex Knepper's Newsletter

WHY You’re Writing

WHAT You’re Submitting

Further Reading:

Creative Cover Letter For Poetry Submission

Cover Letter Sample for a Poetry Submission in .docx Format

Poetry Submission Cover Letter Example – Text Format

How to Write a Cover Lette for Poetry Submission

Follow The Instructions to a T

Help The Audience Learn More About You

Write To The Editor

Keep Everything Relevant

Manage Your Expectations

Be Prepared To Pay

Final Tip: Stop Fawning

Other Cover Letter Samples

How to write a covering letter

Good luck with your submissions! You can find ideas of places to send your work on our list of Poetry Opportunities .

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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?

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

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