| I will never forget a truly disastrous gift exchange | | | | a sneak preview in the cover letter. This helps |
| with my husband when we were newly married. | | | | them know if the manuscript is going to be right |
| It was my birthday and my husband told me he | | | | for their publication. Your first paragraph gives the |
| had a gift for me. He then handed me a paper | | | | editor something to hold onto and shake. Tell |
| sack and said, "I'm sorry, but I didn't have time to | | | | them something about the manuscript that is |
| wrap it." The smile on my face was gone and | | | | inside the envelope. You can quote a particularly |
| was replaced with a look of disappointment. To | | | | good passage or arouse their curiosity with a |
| this day I can't tell you what was in that sack | | | | statement that shocks, surprises, or delights |
| because the joy was over for me. I opened the | | | | them. Whatever you do, you need to make them |
| bag and held it upside down. The gift fell into my | | | | want to read the manuscript. |
| lap. There were no fancy ribbons, no pretty paper | | | | Be original and be clever in your cover letter. I |
| and there was no card. I thanked my husband for | | | | imagine editors get tired of reading the same |
| the gift, but he could tell by my expression that I | | | | boring cover letter format over and over again. |
| was not happy. He got the message loud and | | | | You should customize the cover letter for each |
| clear and he has never done that again in our 19 | | | | editor. Don't just change the name at the top and |
| year marriage. | | | | send it off. Research each publisher and find out |
| Now, imagine you are an editor at a magazine. | | | | what kind of manuscripts they are looking for. If |
| You open up an envelope and expect to find a | | | | you have written one that they might like, tell |
| neatly wrapped package containing a cover letter, | | | | them why your manuscript is perfect for them. |
| a manuscript, and a SASE. You dump the | | | | RIBBONS, BOWS, AND ALL THE TRIMMINGS |
| contents on your desk and find a sloppy | | | | Just like a gift has ribbons, bows, and fancy |
| manuscript, single-spaced with no cover letter and | | | | details, so do packages prepared for editors. Make |
| no SASE. What a disappointment! | | | | sure to use quality paper to print your manuscript |
| GIFT WRAP OR GIFT BAG? | | | | and your cover letter. It should be crisp and clean. |
| You must write a cover letter for every | | | | The ink in your printer cartridge should be dark |
| manuscript you submit to a publisher, period. If | | | | and easy to read. Check your cover letter over |
| you took the time to polish your manuscript and | | | | not once, but twice for mistakes. The editor's |
| check it over carefully for mistakes, then you | | | | name should be spelled correctly. Your cover |
| should take the time to write a sparkling cover | | | | letter should be double spaced and laid out so that |
| letter to go with it. The cover letter announces | | | | there is some white space. The editor has to |
| the arrival of your manuscript just like a birth | | | | read hundreds of cover letters every week. |
| announcement tells about a new arrival. | | | | Address labels should be printed on your |
| Not all cover letters need to be formal, dressed | | | | computer, but if this is not possible, you should |
| up in ribbons and bows. If you are submitting your | | | | write on the labels in your neatest handwriting. |
| manuscript through the mail, you will want a more | | | | Please don't confuse my gift-wrap metaphor with |
| traditional cover letter, or gift-wrap. Your cover | | | | the actual giving of gifts to editors. Do not bribe |
| letter will contain three or four brief paragraphs: | | | | an editor with gifts. This is highly unprofessional. |
| the first will introduce the manuscript; the second | | | | Your manuscript will not be given higher |
| will tell about your publications, the third will tell | | | | consideration because you included brownies or |
| why you sent it to this publisher and thank them | | | | gift certificates in your envelope. |
| for their time. If you submit a manuscript | | | | FLATTER THE RECIPIENT |
| electronically you will still need some type of | | | | Finally, you should flatter the recipient of your |
| cover letter. The email cover letter is more like a | | | | package just like you would flatter the recipient |
| gift bag, than a traditional gift-wrap. My | | | | of a gift with a nice card. A card usually tells the |
| experience has taught me that you can be a little | | | | recipient how young, beautiful, or smart they are. |
| less formal in email correspondence. However, the | | | | Tell the editor how much you love their publishing |
| first time you send a manuscript to a particular | | | | company. They are probably curious about why |
| publisher it is best to be very professional. After | | | | you chose to send your manuscript to them. If |
| you develop a relationship with an editor, your | | | | you have read their books or magazine articles, |
| cover letters can take a more casual tone. | | | | tell them. If your book is similar in style to others |
| THE GUESSING GAME | | | | they have published, mention that in your cover |
| Just like little kids want to shake their presents | | | | letter. Editors like to be flattered just as much as |
| and try to guess what's inside, editors like to get | | | | recipients of gifts. |