You can submit your collection of poems to literary magazines and poetry publishing houses if you want to share them with the world. Poetry publications permit writers at all levels to submit poems, provided they follow the submission guidelines.
Each publishing company has a different submission process. However, almost all companies will require you to include a cover letter addressed directly to the editor of poetry. If you want to be considered for publication, a strong cover letter could make all the difference.
Three elements of a good cover letter
The perfect cover letter should accomplish the following:
- An introduction: Introduce yourself and your work.
- Be respectful: Respect literary magazines, journals, and publishing houses to who you are submitting.
- Describe: Your poems in the correct context.
How to write a cover letters for poetry submissions
Poetry publishers are most interested in your poetry and not your biography. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when you create a cover letters to accompany your submissions to literary magazines and publishing houses.
- Keep it on the topic. You shouldn't make your cover letters a full-fledged summary of your entire resume. Mention publications you have had in your cover letter. However, don't go over your GPA, degrees and personal recommendations. An MFA or advanced degree may be helpful, but the most important thing is the quality and originality of your poetry.
- Make contact with easy Include contact information in your pitch letter, including your full name, email and phone number.
- Link your past work. Online submissions should link to published works if allowed by the submission form. These links should be included in your application, not just the cover letter. For consideration, you may need to include paper copies from published works if you must mail your submissions.
- Be direct. Directly address the editor with respect and a friendly tone. The publication masthead will usually include the name of an editor. It may be useful to include this information in your query letters. Start your letter with "To whom it may concern" if you don't know who the editor is. This is more standard than a salutation such as "Dear Editor". Double-check to ensure you've correctly paired the names of the publishers with simultaneous submissions.
- Please follow the rules. Respecting submission guidelines is more important than knowing the name of an editor. First, confirm that your collection or poem is acceptable for submission under the magazine's guidelines. The submission section on a journal or magazine's website usually contains instructions for the submitter. Some publications allow submissions all year. Others may limit poets to submissions at specific times. You won't get the best cover letters if you upset the editor/submission manager. So treat their rules with respect.
- Understand that may be required to pay. Poetry journals and magazines that are considered the best in contemporary poetry generally do not charge submission fees. However, smaller publications may require donations to continue to operate. Poetry contests are the most common places to find a reading or submission fee.
- Please understand that it is more difficult to get book publishers. Some book publishers are more open to submissions from agents than others. A cover letter is not necessary if you are being presented by an agent. You can also approach small presses to self-publish your first collection of poems. This makes it easy to submit your first poetry book.
Example of a poetry cover letter
You should keep your cover letter short if you're writing a poem. Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial to keep your words low and direct the topic towards your actual.
Creativity requires creativity, without relying on small talk or unctuous praises. A cover letter to poetry should look something like the following:
To Whom it May Concern:
I am a New York-based poet. It would be a huge honor to have any of my poems published within Harper's Magazine.
Since I was a teenager, my poetry has been published in literary journals like the Kenyon Review as well as in Dayton Quarterly. A self-published collection of poetry was published in 2018. It received high reviews in various alternative weeklies. My poetry can be accessed online through my website.
I hope that you will consider my submissions as some of the most outstanding poems for your forthcoming issue. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Your Name
It won't take long to submit letters if you have a template of this type of letter. You might get a response from the publisher in a matter of days or even months. Sometimes, you might think that you've been ignored completely but you find an offer to publish your work almost one year later. Persistence is key in creative writing. Most queries will be rejected. However, if your work is truly impressive and you are dedicated to success, don't lose heart. If you have strong poetry, believe that an editor will appreciate it and award it publication.
