Poets often ask what should be in an ideal cover letter. As with most things in poetry, there’s no single formula. More important, in most cases a cover letter will not make or break your acceptance. Some editors don’t even look at the cover letter until after they’ve decided to accept a poem. So, my first piece of advice about cover letters is don’t get too hung up on them. There’s no perfect letter, no secret sauce. Your poems matter most.
That said, some journals do ask for specific information. The submission guidelines will tell you what you need to know. Because most journals receive such large numbers of submissions and operate with a very limited staff, submission guidelines help journals manage their workflow and workload. Following them is a great way to support your favorite journal and ensure that your work can be read in timely manner. Following the guidelines shows an editor that you’re familiar with the journal and take the process seriously.
Once you’ve read the guidelines, include the relevant information and then keep your letter short and sweet. You’re aiming for a warm, professional tone. Check out the masthead so that you can address your letter to the correct person. If it’s unclear to whom the letter should be addressed, use “Dear Editors.” Unless the guidelines say otherwise, include the titles of your poems and few brief lines about yourself and your publication history. Don’t worry if you don’t have any publications to list in your cover letter yet. This submission might change that! Just include a few sentences about yourself and submit your best poems. Most editors are thrilled to find and support an exciting new poet. If you’ve been reading the journal, you could add a line about a recently published poem you admired. If you’ve had previous correspondence with the journal or the editor, include that too.
If your poems are part of a larger project or require contextual information, state this briefly. Resist the temptation to explain the poems you are submitting. Most editors do this work out of an abundance of love for poets and poetry. They will read your work with care. Let the editors discover your unique voice and vision in the poems you’ve submitted.
—Kirun Kapur, coeditor, the Beloit Poetry Journal
Photo credit: J. Cash