Advice to Young Poets:

Don’t spend too much time composing a cover letter. If the editor likes the work, it doesn’t make much difference what is in the cover letter, or if there is one.
Don’t say that your teacher told you to send your poems to this magazine. This shows how recently hatched you are as a writer. It also implies that you are otherwise not acquainted with the publication.
Don’t say that you have published in more than 60 magazines and then list them. In fact, don’t list more than five magazines.
Don’t be cute or say amusing things about yourself in an effort to get the editor’s attention.
Don’t drop names of writers you have taken classes with or met at parties.
Don’t begin your letter “Dear Sir” or “To Whom It May Concern.” If you don’t know the name of the editor, you should not send your work there.
Don’t ask the editor to comment on your work. If the editor wants to offer a thoughtful comment, she will do this without your asking.

Back to Getting Published

Do simply state your credentials and list the most recent publications.
Do say something personal about yourself, such as the kind of work you do.
Do be as straightforward and direct as possible, especially in your first submission to the magazine.
Do say something that demonstrates that you are familiar with the magazine, or comment on a specific work you enjoyed reading.

Poet and editor Eleanor Hamilton lives in Seattle and has served as a board member for Copper Canyon Press. This article is an amended version of one that first appeared in the AWP Chronicle (now called The Writer’s Chronicle) in May / Summer 1997. Used by permission of Eleanor Hamilton.