Free Cover Letter Clinic: Submit Your Letters for Personal Feedback!
Happening September 17 to 19!
Dearest Writers,
Hello! While I’m still new-ish here on Substack, you may already know me. If not, let me introduce myself.
I’m Rachel Thompson, a lit mag editor who is passionate about helping writers publish and shine.
I'm excited to offer you a special opportunity to refine your cover letters and boost your submission success.
Join me for a free cover-letter clinic from September 17 to 19!
During this three-day event, you’ll have the chance to submit your cover letters for personal review. This is an opportunity to get tailored feedback that can make all the difference in catching the eye of literary journals.
Here’s how it will work:
Submit Your Cover Letters: Post your cover letters as a response to this post between September 17 and 19.
Receive Feedback: I will review and provide constructive feedback to help you strengthen your letters and improve your chances of getting some lit mag love.
Guidelines for Submission:
Format: Submit your cover letter as plain text in your response.
Length: Keep it concise, under 300 words.
Content: Include the name of the literary journal and any specific information about your submission.
Be Open: I’ll provide honest, constructive feedback aimed at helping you shine.
Tips for a Strong Cover Letter:
Write for Editors: Treat your cover letter as business communication. Address it to the editor of the journal, not the managing editor or publisher, unless they also handle submissions. Be concise and make important information easy to see at a glance.
What to Include: Start with a brief introduction of who you are and what you’re submitting. If the editor invited you to resubmit, mention it without detailing past communication. State where you are located and any ties to the journal’s region.
What to Avoid: Don’t explain your writing or make any requests of the editor. Keep the letter professional and let your work stand on its own. Proofread carefully to avoid mistakes.
Are you ready to get your cover letters today?
I can’t wait to see your submissions and help you refine them.
Warmly,
Rachel
P.S. Have questions about the clinic or need more info? Post those below, too!
See: How to Craft a Compelling Cover Letter
If you need help getting started, I published an article here on how to write a cover letter.
Thanks for offering this, Rachel! My cover letter is a bit different because it's for a writing residency instead of a magazine submission. Here's what they ask for:
*Cover letter*: A letter that introduces your writing; provides a description of the specific project you will undertake during your stay; and explains why you want to participate in this residency and how this residency will help advance your writing career
Here's what I've got:
Thank you for the opportunity to apply to the Atticus Hotel Artist in Residency program. My life is bounded by motherhood and poetry. My days are given over to educating my children and creating space for them to pursue their own art. But mornings are for poetry. The work of those quiet mornings is beginning to bear fruit.
The opportunity to deepen my connection to communities in the Willamette Valley comes at the perfect time. My first full length poetry collection, called The Fixed Hours, is forthcoming from Fernwood Press, located in Newburg. The book is anchored by poems about the English mystic Julian of Norwich.
In October 2023 my first chapbook was published by Bottlecap Press. The poems of Elemental are rooted in the natural world and the changing seasons. The poems are in conversation with both haiku and Imagist traditions. These compact poems show that transformation happens within the daily rounds of waking and sleeping, eating and caring.
In January 2024 my second chapbook was published by tiny wren lit. Every Broken Year is a beautifully produced micro chapbook. These persona poems retell the myth of Demeter and Persephone, imaging more agency for the characters even in the midst of unasked for changes.
Former Poet Laureate Ted Kooser said that if he had 12 new poems at the end of the year, he considered it a good year. For many years I too worked to finish 12 poems a year. I’ve decided to try to push beyond this goal. In 2024 I began the 52 x 52 project, looking to complete 52 new poems before I turn 52 in 2026. Time away from the daily round of responsibilities with space to explore, rest, dream, and write at the Atticus Hotel would be a boon to this project. Again, thank you for creating this vibrant space and for supporting writers.