How to Write a Cover Letter for Poetry Submissions
A poetry cover letter is a brief, professional note that accompanies your manuscript or poem submission. It introduces you and your work to the editor, provides relevant publication credits, and demonstrates familiarity with the press or journal you're submitting to.
What to Include
A strong poetry cover letter is short — typically three to five sentences, or a brief paragraph followed by a few lines of credits. It should include: your name, the title of the work you're submitting, a sentence or two about the project (for manuscript submissions), a brief list of publication credits (if you have them), and a thank-you.
If you're submitting to a contest, mention the contest by name. If you're submitting during an open reading period, a simple statement that you're submitting for editorial consideration is sufficient.
For manuscript submissions, include a short project statement (100 to 250 words) that describes the collection's themes, structure, or animating question. This is not a summary of every poem — it's a way to give the editor a framework for reading your work.
What to Leave Out
Do not explain your poems. Editors want to encounter the work on its own terms, not through a poet's interpretation of their own imagery or themes.
Avoid listing every publication credit you have. Select three to five of your most relevant or recognizable credits. If you have no prior publications, simply omit the credits section — many poets submit successfully without them.
Do not include personal anecdotes about why you write, your writing routine, or your emotional relationship to the work. The cover letter is a professional introduction, not a personal essay.
Tone and Length
The best cover letters are warm, brief, and professional. Think of them as the literary equivalent of a firm handshake — polite, direct, and confident without being showy.
A cover letter should rarely exceed half a page. If you find yourself writing more than a few short paragraphs, you're including too much.
Address the editor by name if possible. If you can't find a specific name, "Dear Editors" is perfectly acceptable.
A Simple Template
Dear [Editor Name / Editors],
I am submitting [title of manuscript or poems] for consideration during your [open reading period / contest name]. [One to two sentences describing the project, if a manuscript submission.]
My poems have appeared in [Journal A], [Journal B], and [Journal C]. [Or: This is my first submission to your press.]
Thank you for your time and consideration.
[Your Name]
Frequently Asked Questions
If the platform has a cover letter field, use it — even a brief one. If there is no field for it, you can skip it. Never attach a cover letter as a separate document unless the guidelines specifically ask for one.
That's fine. Simply omit the credits line. Many editors are more interested in the quality of the work than the length of a poet's CV. A clean, professional cover letter without credits is far better than an inflated one.
Only if the submission guidelines specifically ask you to disclose simultaneous submissions. Otherwise, it's generally assumed and does not need to be stated.
How Ink & Ribbon Thinks About This
At Ink & Ribbon Press, we read every submission from the first poem, not from the cover letter. A brief, respectful note is always appreciated, but we'd rather spend our time with your work than your biography. If you're submitting to our open reading period or the LemonLight Prize, keep it simple — we're listening for the poems.