Cover Letters or Query Letters: Which One Do I Need?

WOW! Women On Writing
Classes & Workshops

Spotlight Course: Writing for Children: Short Stories, Articles, and Fillers

In this issue:

Article: Cover Letters or Query Letters--Which One Do I Need?

Spotlight Course: Freelance Writing: Querying and Writing Non-Fiction Articles

Greetings!

I remember reading Highlights magazine in grade school. We each received our very own copy, which was a thrill! Today, magazine choices for children are numerous--there's something for everyone. It's great for the kids, and an opportunity for writers who enjoy writing for young people.

If you'd like to write for children, Margo L. Dill has a great class to help you get started. She'll teach you the basics of writing for children's magazines, including crafting short stories, nonfiction articles, poetry, and fillers. You'll receive valuable support and encouragement as you learn the ins and outs of writing for kids.

Writing for Children: Short Stories, Articles & Fillers starts Thursday, May 24, 2012, and is limited to 15 students. Sign up now and you'll receive a spring discount of $25 off! (The class is normally $200, now $175) This includes a free story and filler critique from the instructor ($50 value); a free query and cover critique from the instructor ($25 value); and private e-mail discussions with the instructor as needed.

In the article below, Margo explains the difference between a cover and a query letter. These terms are sometimes (mistakenly) used interchangeably. It's important for your writing career to know when to send which one.

We also have several other classes starting soon, including Vampires Optional: Writing Young Adult Fiction (May 23), Spark & Sizzle: Crafting Flash Fiction (June 1), Empower Your Muse, Empower Your Writing Self (June 4), and Querying and Writing Nonfiction Articles (June 4).

We've also added two brand new classes that we're really excited about: Published in 90 Days (May 18), and Writing Contests: The Focused Way to Win (May 23). Be sure to check out the full list of upcoming classes in the section below.

Happy writing!

Marcia & Angela

Marcia & Angela
Classroom Managers
WOW! Classes & Workshops

classroom@wow-womenonwriting.com

Photo Credit: Jason Dean (Creative Commons)

Cover Letters or Query Letters: Which One Do I Need?

By Margo L. Dill

In the WOW! children's writing course, a student and I had a conversation about the difference between a cover and a query letter, and when you use them. She was a bit confused, using the terms almost interchangeably. The terms cover and query are not referring to the same letter. They are two completely different types for different situations. It's important for your writing career to know when to send which one.

A cover letter is a brief letter that accompanies a completed story, novel, article, poem, or essay. It goes with a manuscript that an editor has requested or one that an author is sending on her own to the slush pile. These are very similar to cover letters that you submit with a resume for a job opening. Cover letters should introduce your manuscript and yourself in one page.

A cover letter should have no more than three paragraphs. The first paragraph states a short, short summary of the work and the title and word count. If this is a requested manuscript, you should also state that in the first paragraph. The second paragraph should let the editor know why you are the one to write this manuscript and ideas for why and how it fits in that publication. Finally, put your bio in the last paragraph, stating any previous publications. Always write a cover letter when sending in a complete submission.

A query letter is just that--a query. You're asking the editor or agent whether or not they're interested in your work. You're not sending a completed manuscript when you're writing a query letter. Query letters are usually written for article ideas or to find agent representation for a book manuscript.

For example, if you want to query Highlights for Children magazine about a science article idea, you write a query letter--stating your idea, word count, why it fits in the magazine, and your qualifications to write it. You send in the query, and the editor lets you know if he's interested in the article. If he is, then you write the article. When you send in the completed article, you include a cover letter.

A query letter should also be one page, but it usually includes more details than a cover letter. A cover letter doesn't need as many details because the entire manuscript accompanies it. A query letter needs to explain what you're proposing and give a flavor of your writing. If your article idea is funny, your letter should have humor in it. If you have a horror novel, your query should not be light and fluffy.

A query also has three parts: a hook to get the reader interested; a "facts" paragraph where you state the word count, title, where it fits in the magazine/market, and details about the content; and a bio paragraph that states your previous experience and why you're qualified to write this manuscript. (This is more important if it is nonfiction than fiction.)

So, the next time you get ready to write a letter for your career, you'll know if you need a query or a cover and what to include.

Writing for Children: Everything You Need to Know About Short Stories, Articles and Fillers

Instructor: Margo L. Dill

Workshop Length: 7 Weeks
Price: $175 (Spring Sale of $25 Off! Normally $200)
Start Date: May 24, 2012
Limit 15 Students

Course Description: This class will teach the basics of writing for children's magazines, crafting short stories, nonfiction articles, poetry, and fillers. The student will come away with a short story and cover letter, nonfiction query letter, and a filler or poem. She will also have a list of potential markets, fitting her manuscripts. The instructor will also share an organizational tool for submissions and information on finding other children's writers and networking. A few writing prompts are provided for feedback and creativity.

The course includes access to a Yahoo! group; ability to upload work to Yahoo! group for discussion with instructor and other class members; a free story and filler critique from the instructor ($50 value); a free query and cover letter critique from instructor ($25 value); and private e-mail discussions with instructor as needed. **Please note: Former students have the option of staying in the Yahoo! group.

Visit the Classroom Page for a complete listing and what you'll be learning week by week.

About the Instructor: Margo L. Dill has written for children since she completed a course from the Institute of Children's Literature ten years ago. She has three books coming out: a middle-grade novel and two picture books. Her children's writing has won awards, including honorable mention in the annual Writer's Digest contest. She has had articles, short stories, poetry, activities, and recipes accepted and published in various publications such as Fun for Kidz, Pockets, Sprinkles, Characters, Highlights for Children, and Calliope: A Writer's Workshop. She has taught children's writing at the University YMCA in Champaign, IL. She has spoken to writing groups on subjects such as writing articles, networking, and short stories, and she was the children's writing coordinator for Saturday Writers in St. Peters, MO for six years. Margo is also a contributing editor and columnist for WOW! Women On Writing.

Not interested in writing for children? Consider Margo's Freelance Writing class.

Freelance Writing: Querying and Writing Non-Fiction Articles

Instructor: Margo L. Dill

Workshop Length: 5 Weeks
Price: $125
Start Date: June 4, 2012
Limit 20 Students

Course Description: Students will learn how to query editors with article ideas and follow through to create the article for any publication. Many topics will be discussed, including tracking queries and submissions, repurposing articles, writing strong query letters and article hooks, interviewing experts, and finding publishable topics.

Visit the Classroom Page for a complete listing and what you'll be learning week by week.

About the Instructor: Margo L. Dill is a contributing editor for WOW! Women On Writing and has guest edited several issues, answering query letters and working with writers to perfect their articles. She has had her own articles in publications such as Missouri Life, Grit, Fun for Kidz, Listen!, True Love, The News-Gazette, Chicago Tribune, AOL City's Best, and Teachers of Vision. She has a historical middle-grade novel, Finding My Place, under contract with White Mane Kids due out in 2012. She runs a blog about children's books and how to use them for parents, teachers, and librarians, and she runs her own editing business, Editor 911.

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