Every author who wants to sell their work will find themselves crafting a query or cover letter at some point in their career. This is frequently a requirement for submission to a magazine or contest.

Some authors despise that process so much that they go indie, thinking they won’t have to leap that hurdle. But there is no escaping it.

The difference between queries and cover letters is this: while both are letters of introduction, cover letters assume the editor will read the attached work. Editors ask for them when they have open calls for short stories.

Queries are letters requesting permission to submit unsolicited work to an agent or publisher. They have not requested it, so don’t assume the attached synopsis and first chapter will be read—your query must convince the editor to look at your work.

Writing these kinds of personal introductions is a pain—but only because…