If you’re passionate about writing and want to write for a living, submitting your work to magazines and newspapers might not seem like a bad idea at all. However, if you’re looking for a job in journalism or any other form of creative writing, you might have to do a little more than write great articles. You’ll also need to learn how to write a cover letter, because more often than not, you’ll have to do some convincing to get an editor to even look at your work. To help you out with this, we’ve put together some expert tips on writing a cover letter for a writing job. So sit back, pour yourself a nice cup of tea, and get ready to write!
Know The Publication
Before you even start writing the cover letter, you need to know what publication you’re applying to and what their current needs are. Bear in mind that not all publications are created equal, so do some research before you make your decision. You can also find the contact information for the magazine’s editor in chief, if you don’t have access to the website. You also need to determine whether you’re sending this letter to be published as-is or whether you want to make some revisions before you send it. Knowing how important this is can really help you decide what tone to use and whether or not to use certain language. For example, if you’re writing to apply for a job at a feminist magazine, you might want to use a more feminine language.
The Purpose Of The Cover Letter
As the name would suggest, a cover letter is used to cover the letter’s contents, such as the applicant’s resume. For job applications, the cover letter serves several purposes. Primarily, it provides the reader with a quick summary of the applicant’s qualifications. In addition, it allows the reader to get a sense of the applicant’s demeanor and personality. Furthermore, the cover letter can be used to highlight why the reader should hire you over other applicants. Typically, the cover letter is the first part of your email, so make sure that you write it in a way that makes it stand out. Consider using a simple yet elegant font and spacing it out properly.
The Elements Of A Great Cover Letter
A good cover letter should have the following elements:
- A compelling introduction
- Clear and compelling writing
- Proper formatting
- A call to action
- Other helpful information
- A prayer for the well-being of the reader
- An honest and concise summary of the applicant’s skills
- A short but sweet biography of the applicant
- References/Citations
- An employment history
- A copy of the applicant’s resume
- Other relevant documents (i.e., writing samples, etc.)
- A compelling conclusion
As you can see from the list, a great cover letter is quite a bit more than just a simple résumé. It needs to have a compelling introduction, proper formatting, and a call to action. With these things in mind, you’ll be able to write a cover letter that gets the job.
How To Write An Effective Conclusion
With most of your story now told, you want to bring the article to a close in a way that feels natural and pulls the reader into action. An effective conclusion always includes some sort of call to action, such as a suggestion about what the reader should do next. However, you don’t want to make the call to action too obvious, so as not to seem too sales-y. Instead, you want the reader to think of something themselves. Here’s an example of a great conclusion for a story about a famous band’s history:
“Having seen this band in concert and read their biography, I can honestly say that they are living proof that with enough hard work and determination, any writer can succeed in their field. If you’re interested in writing for a living, there are many opportunities out there for you. Good luck.”
In this case, the conclusion almost serves as the reader’s guide to what they should do next. It gives the reader some helpful information, draws them into the action by mentioning a specific upcoming concert or event, and gives them a call to action, encouraging them to take action and make a plan to see the band perform. This sort of open-ended conclusion makes the letter stand out and helps the editor know what to expect. You also should always feel free to throw in an unexpected twist at the end of the story. This not only makes the story more interesting, it also helps the editor know that you’re a unique individual and that the story will be different from everything else they’ve read.
So, as you can see, there’s more than one way to write a cover letter. Sometimes you’ll need to use your feminine wiles to get an article published in a feminist magazine, while at other times you might need to use your considerable persuasive powers, such as in your proposal to become an editorial writer. As long as you’re able to write clearly and concisely, using the right language, and are able to follow a simple outline, you’ll be able to write a cover letter that gets you the job you want. And that, my friend, is all you need to know to write a successful cover letter.