Mslexia, the magazine for women who write | www.mslexia.co.uk
Writer's tip
#2: Covering Letters
A well-informed and informative cover letter can ensure that your work will receive a proper reading – provided you have sent it to the correct person in the first place. Use a businesslike tone to introduce yourself and your submission. Be as concrete as possible. Avoid abstractions like 'at a turning point', 'voyage of discovery' or 'zeitgeisty'. Say: 'It's about a woman who goes bald and sets off to Africa in a yacht'.
Use a shorter letter focusing on yourself for smaller submissions.
DO
- use plain white A4 paper.
- type every word, even (especially) your name at the bottom. You can sign it as well if you like.
- use nice wide margins and short paragraphs.
- use 11-12 point typeface, and no fancy fonts.
- include daytime and evening telephone numbers.
- keep it short: say who you are and describe what you are sending in no more than 200 words. If you have more to say, enclose a separate CV and a separate summary of your mansucript.
DON'T
- use coloured paper, lined paper, art paper, paper with little flowers or endangered animals or goddess symbols in the top right corner, or as a border, or printed tastefully and ever-so faintly in the background.
- use small paper, thin paper, paper torn from a spiro-bound pad, notelets, compliment slips.
