Loretta Said:

A cover letter for a short story submission?

We Answered:

I assume you are talking about an unsolicited fiction submission to a magazine. Always get a copy of the magazine's guidelines and follow them exactly.

The letterhead should have your name and complete contact information: address, phone, fax, cell, email.

Date the letter.

The Re: line should indicate what the reader has in his hand, e.g., Short Story Submission "How I spent My Summer Vacation."

The body of the letter should be very short, three short paragraphs.

First paragraph: what you sent. "I have enclosed a short story for your consideration. It is about the trials faced by a young rugby player following a plane crash in the Andies."

Second paragraph: guideline stuff. "I have enclosed a SASE for your reply. Please discard the manuscript when you are finished with it."

Third paragraph: brief personal information, including publishing credits, if any. "I served as
Solicitor General of the Republic of Peru for 23 years and received a degree in Comparative Sociology and a Doctorate of Laws Degree from the University of Lima. Although I have published many articles of a technical legal nature, this is my first foray into fiction."

That's it. Three short paragraphs covering no more than half a page. Good luck.

Emily Said:

Do you put your contact information on your resume as well as your cover letter?

We Answered:

Put it on both. If a person wants to call you for an interview, you should make that as easy as possible!