Cover Letters That Worked

We writers get worked up about cover letters.  I know I do. I stare at the screen every time, trying to decide what to say.  So, to help me, and you, or perhaps simply to dispel the myth that cover letters matter at all, here are the cover letters that I used for my last five fiction sales.  See the anxious and obsequious submitter in action!

DeShaun Stevens’ Ship Log –

Hello, My name is Marie Vibbert, and I’m a current student at Clarion, and this is a funny little story at an odd length – about 1,400 words by Word’s count.  My publications credits are all poetry, unfortunately.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

The Time Mechanic –

Thank you for your time and consideration, I have attached a story about 4,100 words in length, in .rtf format.

Jupiter Wrestlerama –

Was submitted through a form, with no coverletter.

Trash –

Dear Editors,

Please consider the story pasted below, titled “Trash“, it’s about 4,100 words long. Thank you so much for accepting my earlier story “Deshaun Steven’s Ship Log”.  I tried my best to wait a while before sending you another. 🙂

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Warm Regards,

Marie

Keep Talking –

Dear Editors,

Thank you for your kind words on my previous rejection.  I hope you will consider the attached story, “Keep Talking,” which is about 3,500 words long and in .doc format.

I just sold a story to Lightspeed, and I had a story on Escape Pod recently.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Warm Regards,

Marie

It doesn’t help the unpublished author to say “talk about your publications!” and it should be noted that my next submission to Escape Pod, which also mentioned their previous purchases of my work, got a form rejection.  Having used variations on these letters for countless rejections, my opinion stands confirmed: your cover letter does not help one bit.