Cover letters: Address to "Editor," or to a specific name/person?

rosalind · Apr 20, 2008

Hello, all:

This might be a nitpicky question, but, as I think we all know from experience, _every_ point is something you obsess over when you're submitting fiction.

So: It's frequently cited advice that, when cold-submitting an essay or short story to a publication, one should always address the submission specifically to the editor in question. I don't know how many times I've heard this: Always use the editor's name! Never just write "Dear Editor"!

For example, here's an excerpt from a page of cover-letter advice at http://www.writing-world.com/basics/floyd.shtml :

'Send it to the Right Person. Always address your letter to a specific individual when possible, not just "Dear Editor." Use market listings or the Internet or the masthead of the publication itself to find the appropriate editor's name, and spell it correctly in your letter.'

Okay. So what I'm wondering about is: is this good advice, and is it true, even when the publication specifically asks you to send submissions to "The Editor"? For instance, let's say I want to send a fiction submission to Granta. (Obviously, it's a long shot, but even a cat may look at the king, right?)

Well, on their web site, Granta says:

The address for submissions is: The Editor
Granta Magazine
12 Addison Avenue
London W11 4QR
United Kingdom
( http://www.granta.com/Magazine/Submissions-policy )

From other research, it is possible to learn the name of the current editor in chief (Jason Cowley). Wikipedia has the information, as does an actual copy of the magazine. But what I'm wondering is, should I really use this name -- should I address an unsolicited fiction submission to the EiC -- when the submissions guidelines specifically ask writers to do otherwise?

What are your thoughts (or experience) on this question? What's the best practice?

Like I said before, this is sort of a nitpicky question. But maybe I'm not the only one who's been there.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Bubastes · Apr 21, 2008

My opinion: always address it to a specific person where possible.

Gray Rose · Apr 21, 2008

If you can find out the name of the editor, do it. If not, Dear Editors is usually acceptable. "Dear Sir/Madam" aand "To whom it may concern" are not. Just my 2c.

mikeland · Apr 21, 2008

My feeling is that if the guidelines ask for you to do something in a certain way, follow them. If the mag is going to be that specific about who to address it to, there is probably a reason that fits with its system. Maybe it helps them sort the mail and get things into the right pile on the first try. Who knows?

I almost always address cover letters to Fiction Editor or Editors. Sometimes if I've had a personal response from an editor, I will address the next letter to that person specifically. I don't think having an editor's name in the letter or on the envelope helps that much. I suppose there are some who like to see it there. Others may take it as a sign you did some research.

If you are going to put a name on a letter, make sure it is the right name. That seems obvious, but I do some reading for a litmag and you would be surprised by how many letters come addressed to previous editors (and occasionally the wrong publication). I would never trust a print source for a name -- always check the website.

Judg · Apr 21, 2008

In that case I would put "The Editor" on the envelope and the editor's actual name in the greeting. You've followed the instructions on how to address it (thus ensuring that it gets opened even if the editor moves on suddenly) and also added the personal touch.

I am not speaking from extensive personal experience, nor do I have the inside scoop. Take it for what it's worth.

Phaeal · Apr 21, 2008

I always go to current guidelines of a publication (so many are now online) and address the submission accordingly.

scope · Apr 21, 2008

We all go by the guidelines for reference to as to who to refer to, address, materials, etc. - why should this be any different?

The guidelines specifically say send to: "The Editor" - not a specific person. That's how I would go, unless I was friendly enough with a specific editor to email them or call them and ask for clarification.

Summonere · Apr 22, 2008

If Jason Cowley is "The Editor," how many other "editors" (no "the" and therefore unnamed) work for him? Your manuscript will probably end up in their hands before it ends up in his.

rosalind · Apr 22, 2008

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who's ambivalent about this.

Judg, I think I'll go with your suggestion: use the magazine's suggested "The Editor" in the envelope address, and use the actual editor's name inside; at least that will indicate I've done a little reseearch.

Summonere, I'm sure you're correct about the editorial hierarchy at such magazines, but I'm not sure what you're suggesting that I do in your post?

Summonere · Apr 23, 2008

Ah, that's probably because I didn't suggest anything. Sorry 'bout that. See, one of the magz I've written for has several editors, but only one of them is "The" editor, so I simply send stories addressed just as Granta suggests. Any one of four of the other editors may get what I send and respond to it. Sometimes they buy, sometimes they don't. I seem to recall different names on the checks, depending on who's picking up the work.

MumblingSage · May 15, 2008

I figure that if you can't be sure who will recieve your submission, say 'Dear Editor' or 'Dear Sir/Madam' or what have you. I don't seem to do any worse addressing the editor by job title than I do by name. But using the name does show you did your research.

Using the wrong name, however, is a horrible embarassment to all involved XD. As is misspelling it.

Adam Israel · May 15, 2008

I usually stick with "Dear Editor" because it's commonly accepted. Oftentimes, the person reading the cover letter, at least initially, is an assistant or slush reader so I don't necessarily address the specific editor, even if I know their name, because there is no guarantee it will even reach that person.

RickN · May 24, 2008

I'd address the submission envelope the exact way the guidelines say to. Inside the envelope, my cover letters always have a person's name in them. Between magazine websites, Writer's Market, and Duotrope I always have a name for the letter.

MumblingSage · May 24, 2008

What about place that has multiple editors, and submissions are judged by committe? Flash Me Magazine has that type of organization. I titled my submission 'Dear Editors'. Should I have done differently?

Mike Coombes · May 25, 2008

Don't overthink it. 9 times out of 10 the editor you address it to won't be the one who reads your submissions, and 9 times out of 10 your covering letter will go unread. And whatever, unless you write something incredibly dumb in the covering letter, the editors are looking at the story. Whose name is on the top of the covering letter really won't make the tiniest difference.

MumblingSage · May 25, 2008

Unless it's misspelled. Elisabeth Waters apparantly got mad at some Sword & Sorceress submissions that spelt her name with a 'z'. Always pays to be safe.

Mike Coombes · May 25, 2008

I was working on the assumption that a writer would manage to get basic spellings right.

Stupid, stupid me.

MumblingSage · May 26, 2008

You'd be surprised

Mike Coombes · May 26, 2008

MumblingSage said:
You'd be surprised

No, I've read enough slush to know that, if statistics were directly linked to the definition of words, writer would mean "Barely literate".

MumblingSage · May 26, 2008

Heh. I'd ask if I could sig-quote that, but I don't want to prompt anyone to suicide.

Cover letters: Address to "Editor," or to a specific name/person?

rosalind

Bubastes

bananaed

Gray Rose

Beware of the Thorns!

mikeland

Call me Pookie

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Summonere

rosalind

Summonere

MumblingSage

Inarticulate Herb

Adam Israel

Formerly known as StoneTable

RickN

MumblingSage

Inarticulate Herb

Mike Coombes

Guru

MumblingSage

Inarticulate Herb

Mike Coombes

Guru

MumblingSage

Inarticulate Herb

Mike Coombes

Guru

MumblingSage

Inarticulate Herb