Cover Letters

[locustsofdeath!]

Hello all...maybe a silly question, but here goes anyway:

Does anyone have an example of a well-written cover letter to send along with submissions? If not, any tips?

Thanks in advance.

[Jim_Campbell]

Here's a generic one:

(Your Address)
(Current Date)

Dear (Editor's Name)

Please find enclosed one script and several photos of your (wife/mother/child) holding a copy of today's newspaper.

I trust you will look favourably on this submission, for the sake of all concerned. I look forward to your early reply, accompanied by commissioning slip, large cash advance, and poorly prepared contract with significant loopholes that I will be able to exploit at a later date to challenge your ownership of said commissioned material.

Doesn't he/she/they look frightened? Well, that's all that's wrong with them right now. Be a shame if anything ... drastic happened to them.

Yours sincerely

Mark Millar

[Van Dom]

LMAO!!!!!

[locustsofdeath!]

That's perfect Jim!

Ha, if I want to be blacklisted from...everybody  :'(.

[Professah Byah]

You're laughing, but Synnamon had to get commissioned somehow.

[locustsofdeath!]

Through Jim's wicked sense of humor, I can see basically what information should go where - after the intro and brief synopsis, should I then list previous credits?

[Emperor]

I'd keep the synposis of the story on a separate sheet of paper so it doesn't get lost in the covering letter - it is possible that they get tossed aside (as it must be dull going through pretty much the same thing). So keep it short and punchy and don't worry about it to much, at best it will be skimmed on the way to the synposis.

So perhaps something like:

Your address

Dear Tharg,

Enclosed the synposis and script for my story "TITLE." It is a tale of ONE SENTENCE HOLLYWOOD PITCH DESCRIPTION.

You might know me from such stories as "". (NAME A COUPLE YOU ARE HAPPIEST WITH AND/OR THAT THARG MIGHT HAVE SEEN)* If you are interested in seeing any of the finished work and/or scripts then let me know and I can send them to you.

Your sincerely,

YOUR NAME (unless you are Mark Millar, then see Jim's version)

*I'd assume there are copies of the FutureQuake Press comics and other other small press comics from conventions lying around the Nerve Centre

[locustsofdeath!]

Brilliant Emperor, thank you so much!

[Emperor]

I figure that, while it will probably be passed over with a quick glance (as you are not going to convince a good editor about how great you are here), it opens the door for them to start talking to you and/or checking out your other work if they think you have promise (even if you haven't blown his socks off with this submission).

I did wonder about adding: "don't bother sending me the script back" (as these days pretty much everyone is word processing their scripts) but a) they are probably not going to have time to deal with everyone's specific instructions when dealing with a lot of submissions (they'll just want to stick it back in the envelope) and b) if they are sending the script back they might be more likely to pop a note in too (if they are putting it in the bin they might think it isn't worth the effort just sending a brief rejection note).

Of course, while I put Tharg's name in there I'm sure it goes for other editors unless you know them and might be able to go into more detail (if you spoke to them at a Comics Con and they suggested you send them something perhaps, they speak to a lot of people so assume nothing) but still they don't have time to spare reading your meandering ramblings.

[locustsofdeath!]

Again, thanks emperor...

And many thanks for really anchoring the creative common; you've provided a great deal of insight and advice. Much appreciated!

[Emperor]

Worth a bump to point out an older thread on a similar topic which might be useful:

www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,13192.0.html

Also it is worth flagging this as something you might not want to do:

http://buncheness.blogspot.com/2010/02/most-disturbing-submission-letter-ever.html

He has a whole section devoted to them, although they are largely played for laughs, so you'll not get much enlightenment there (although I get the suspicion at least ne was written by Jim but which one?):

http://buncheness.blogspot.com/search/label/SUB-MISSION

[Jim_Campbell]

On the subject of submissions, all aspiring authors should read this, of which I remained blissfully unaware until Charles Stross linked it from his blog on Thursday.

A splendid insight into the submissions process for novelists from the other side of envelope, making it worth its weight in gold.

Cheers!

Jim

[locustsofdeath!]

Now that's an interesting article. I've never taken rejection letters personally, In fact, when I first started submitting (I submitted my first tale when I was 12 or 13), my goal was to get BETTER rejection letter, i.e. letters that offer insight.

Of course rejection letters still leave me feeling a bit down, but as I've had success being published and have grown more comfortable with my writing, I've realized that everything isn't going to please everybody - but if you've competently written something fun or entertaining, someone somewhere will appreciate it!

[Richmond Clements]

Excellent article, Jim- I shall tweet that.