15 Sample Cover Letters for Manuscript Submission

Submitting your manuscript to a publisher can feel like sending your creative work into a black hole.

You painstakingly craft your cover letter, follow all the submission guidelines to a T, and hit send with trembling fingers, only to be left waiting and wondering for weeks or months.

Will an editor connect with your story?

Will they even read past the first page?

While there is no magic formula for getting your work accepted, a compelling cover letter is an essential tool for catching an editor’s attention.

Sample Cover Letters for Manuscript Submission

The ideal cover letter is professional but personable, concise but informative. It should pique the editor’s interest while showing that you’ve done your research and are familiar with their publication.

To help inspire your submission, we’ve compiled 15 sample cover letters that successfully led to manuscript requests or publication.

Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or children’s books, you’ll find a variety of approaches represented here.

Let’s explore them!

Sample Cover Letter #1

Dear [Editor’s Name],

Please find attached my 80,000-word upmarket women’s fiction novel, THE LOST YEARS, for your consideration.

Charlotte Hawkins had an idyllic childhood—until the day her best friend Jenny disappeared without a trace. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte is a successful attorney in Boston, engaged to a senator’s son, her past trauma buried deep. But when she receives an anonymous letter hinting that Jenny is still alive, everything unravels.

Traveling back to her hometown in Maine, Charlotte must confront unsettling truths about her family and the events surrounding Jenny’s disappearance. As she edges closer to answers that could rewrite her entire history, she risks losing everything she’s worked so hard to build. THE LOST YEARS explores the ripple effects of childhood secrets and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love.

I am a graduate of the Lighthouse Writers Workshop novel program and my short fiction has appeared in Carve Magazine, The Chattahoochee Review, and Rosebud. I believe THE LOST YEARS will appeal to fans of Jennifer Weiner and Jamie Brenner.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #2

Dear [Agent’s Name],

I am seeking representation for my 75,000-word contemporary romance novel, LOVE ON THE VINE. Given your interest in wine country settings and swoony but smart love stories, I thought it might be a fit for your list.

Mia Reeves planned to save her family’s struggling Sonoma winery—not fall for the wealthy wine collector trying to buy them out. But Andrew Walker is charming, passionate, and offers a tempting way out of her financial woes. As they work together to revitalize the vineyards, their chemistry ignites. There’s only one problem: Andrew is poised to acquire the winery that’s been in Mia’s family for generations. Caught between her heart and her legacy, Mia must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for love.

LOVE ON THE VINE is a standalone novel with series potential, featuring a diverse cast of characters, mouthwatering culinary delights, and an emotional, sensual romance. I envision it appealing to readers who enjoyed Jasmine Guillory’s THE WEDDING DATE or the Napa Valley wine country setting of Meg Donohue’s EVERY WILD HEART.

I have been an avid romance reader for over a decade and am an active member of my local RWA chapter. This is my first novel. The full manuscript is available upon request.

Thank you for your consideration! I’m excited to share LOVE ON THE VINE with you.

All my best,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #3

Dear [Agent’s Name],

I am writing to submit my picture book manuscript, EVERYBODY HAS A BELLYBUTTON, for your review. At 650 words, this humorous and educational story will help curious preschoolers understand why all mammals have navels, with charming illustrations of different baby animals and their adorable tummies.

When a curious young girl named Layla asks why her puppy Biscuit has a belly button just like her, Mama explains how all mammals—from cats to elephants to humans—grow inside their mothers and are born with a navel. Excited by this news, Layla runs to tell her friends that she has something in common with all different kinds of animals. EVERYBODY HAS A BELLYBUTTON lightly touches on themes of curiosity, empathy, and finding connections with others.

With a background in early childhood education and two children of my own, I was inspired to write a story that celebrates children’s natural curiosity about their bodies and the world around them. Similar titles include:

• I WISH YOU MORE by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

• NOT QUITE NARWHAL by Jessie Sima 

• THE RABBIT LISTENED by Cori Doerrfeld

This is my first picture book submission. I would be happy to send the full manuscript for your review.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #4

Dear [Editor’s Name],

I am pleased to submit four poems for your consideration: “Bone Orchard,” “The Glassblower’s Daughter,” “Demeter in Winter,” and “Persephone, Reimagined.” Totaling approximately 300 words, these pieces explore themes of loss, transformation, and mythology through a feminist lens.

My poetry has previously appeared in Rattle, THRUSH Poetry Journal, Tinderbox Poetry Journal, and Menacing Hedge, among others. In 2019, I was a finalist for the Autumn House Rising Writer Prize. I hold an MFA from Warren Wilson College and serve as a poetry editor for Longleaf Review.

I appreciate [Literary Journal]’s commitment to publishing powerful, finely wrought verse that engages with social issues. I believe my work may resonate with your readers and would be honored to see these pieces included in an upcoming issue.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. I look forward to your response.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #5

Dear [Agent’s Name],

I am writing to seek representation for THE SHADOW GARDEN, my 95,000-word gothic mystery novel. With shades of Mexican Gothic and Rebecca, this multi-generational tale of secrets and deception may be of interest given your enthusiasm for atmospheric, suspenseful fiction with strong female characters.

When recently divorced painter Sonia Villa inherits a crumbling estate in the Mexican countryside from a grandmother she never knew, it seems like the fresh start she needs—until she stumbles upon human remains in the overgrown garden. But this is only the first in a series of disturbing discoveries that draw Sonia into the tangled history of her enigmatic grandmother Rosalinda and the mansion’s dark past.

As Sonia unearths the shocking truth behind Rosalinda’s hasty marriage to a wealthy older man, her mysterious death soon after, and the whispered rumors of madness and murder that have long haunted the property, she realizes her own life may be in danger. Because now that Sonia has learned the house’s secrets, whatever killed her grandmother is coming for her next.

I hold an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Miami and my short fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. This is my debut novel. I have included the first ten pages below. The full manuscript is available upon request.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience regarding THE SHADOW GARDEN.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #6

Dear [Editor’s Name],

Please find attached my creative nonfiction essay, “Stitched,” for consideration in [Literary Journal]. At 3,500 words, this piece examines the connective threads between memory and handcraft through the lens of the embroidered tablecloth that has been passed down through generations of women in my family.

While the tablecloth itself is a work of art, the essay reveals it as so much more—a document of my family’s history, a representation of the traditionally undervalued emotional and creative labor of women, a love letter, and a memorial. The threads of the tablecloth become a metaphor for the ties that bind a mother to daughter across decades, stitching together family lore, cultural heritage, domesticity, and selfhood.

My essays have previously appeared in River Teeth, Hippocampus Magazine, Under the Sun, and The Rumpus. I am a staff writer for Book Riot, where I cover craft titles and fiber arts-related books. I have an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College.

I believe “Stitched” will resonate with [Literary Journal]’s readership, given your focus on publishing intimate, voice-driven narratives that engage with questions of family and identity. Thank you for considering my work. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #7

Dear [Agent’s Name],

I’ve been an avid reader of your blog and a fan of several authors you represent, so I was thrilled to see that you’re actively seeking middle-grade adventures. I’m writing to share my upper MG fantasy novel, RIVER OF STARS, complete at 75,000 words.

Twelve-year-old Kin has always felt out of place, caught between two worlds. As one of the last descendants of an ancient race that draws magic from the night sky, she should be training in secret with the other starchildren. Instead, she’s stuck living a boring, magic-less life in the bustling port city of Haiyang, helping out at her family’s struggling noodle shop.

But when an evil sorcerer escapes from prison and begins kidnapping starchildren in an attempt to steal their celestial powers, Kin can no longer hide from her destiny. With help from her best friend Lin and a mischievous flying monkey named Feng, Kin must embrace her heritage, master her budding abilities, and figure out how to save her people—all while keeping her double life hidden from the authorities and finishing her homework on time.

Inspired by Chinese mythology and the stories my grandmother told me as a child, RIVER OF STARS is a fast-paced, voice-driven adventure full of magic, humor, and heart. It explores growing up caught between cultures and learning to celebrate what makes you different. This standalone novel has series potential and will appeal to fans of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee and the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series by Sayantani DasGupta.

I hold an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University and am an active member of SCBWI. My narrative nonfiction piece, “Mooncakes with Grandma,” appeared in Stories for Children Magazine.

Per your submission guidelines, I have included the first three chapters of RIVER OF STARS below. The full manuscript is available upon request.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you!

All my best,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #8

Dear [Editor’s Name],

I am submitting my short story “The Cartography of Ghosts” for consideration in [Literary Journal]. Complete at 7,000 words, this piece of speculative fiction follows a mother-daughter team of paranormal investigators as they attempt to unravel the truth behind a mysterious death in a small Oregon logging town.

On its surface, “The Cartography of Ghosts” is a ghost story, complete with a creepy abandoned sawmill and possible demonic possession. But at its heart, it’s a tale about the memories and emotions that haunt us long after we think we’ve let them go. Protagonist Vera is forced to confront her unresolved guilt and grief regarding her father’s death years before as she and her psychic daughter Sabine investigate the ghost of a logger who died under eerily similar circumstances.

I’m the author of the indie horror novels Night Tide and The Juniper Bones, which have collectively sold over 5,000 copies. My short fiction has appeared in Lamplight, The Dark, and Unnerving Magazine. I am currently working on my third novel.

Given [Literary Journal]’s reputation for publishing emotionally resonant, cross-genre fiction with an emphasis on the strange and unsettling, I believe “The Cartography of Ghosts” would be an excellent fit. Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #9

Dear [Editor’s Name],

I am writing to submit my narrative nonfiction piece “In Praise of Weeds” (3,000 words) for consideration in the spring issue of [Literary Journal].

“In Praise of Weeds” is a lyrical meditation on suburban ecology, motherhood, and finding beauty in unexpected places. Inspired by my young daughter’s fascination with the dandelions and clover that dot our local park, this essay examines the vital role that “undesirable” plants play in supporting pollinators and other wildlife. It also touches on themes of allowing children to experience small freedoms and cultivating a sense of wonder about the natural world close to home.

As an environmental journalist, my work frequently examines the intersections of nature, science, and human experience. My articles and essays have appeared in Sierra, Orion, Catapult, and [Literary Journal]. This piece will resonate with your ecologically engaged readership and would be a timely fit for an issue released just as spring wildflowers begin to bloom.

I appreciate you taking the time to read “In Praise of Weeds.” I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #10

Dear [Agent’s Name],

I discovered your name in the acknowledgments of Courtney Summers’ Sadie, as she credited you with helping bring that powerful book into the world. Given your enthusiasm for gritty, voice-driven YA fiction tackling complex social issues, I believe my novel WHEN WE VANISHED may be of interest.

Complete at 80,000 words, WHEN WE VANISHED is a dual POV contemporary YA that pairs the unputdownable pacing of Karen McManus with Tiffany D. Jackson’s acerbic wit and unflinching look at social injustices. The story follows sixteen-year-old YouTube makeup guru Meena Patel as she and her younger brother are forced to go on the run with their mother after an ICE raid upends their life in Boulder, Colorado.

As Meena, born in the U.S., schemes to turn herself in so her undocumented brother Akash can escape, she clashes with Diego, a former friend whose own father was deported years before. Diego wants to help the Patels forge a new life across the Canadian border, but first Meena must learn to trust him—and find the courage to fight an immigration system intent on tearing her family apart.

I am an immigrant rights activist and community organizer. Like Meena, my parents came to the U.S. from India in the 1980s, and my fears of having my family separated inspired this novel. I hold a BA in Creative Writing from [University].

Attached are the first fifty pages of WHEN WE VANISHED. I’d be happy to send the full manuscript upon request.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to hear from you soon regarding this project.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sample Cover Letter #11

Dear [Editor’s Name],

Nearly one in five Americans live with a mental illness, but misconceptions still abound. I’m writing to submit my completed 65,000-word mental health memoir BEYOND THE BELL JAR for your consideration.

In this book, I recount my experiences as a twenty-two-year-old college student struggling with depression, anxiety, and undiagnosed bipolar disorder against the backdrop of my small Midwestern hometown. Misunderstood by family and friends and failed by an overtaxed healthcare system, I am left to work through the diagnosis, medication, and recovery processes largely on my own—and nearly lose myself in the process.

BEYOND THE BELL JAR is both a coming-of-age story and a clear-eyed examination of the barriers to adequate mental health treatment that persist today. Blending unflinching honesty with biting wit, I tackle heavy topics like suicidal ideation, hospitalization, and the trials and errors of treatment while never losing sight of the wry absurdities of young adulthood. Readers of Esmé Weijun Wang’s The Collected Schizophrenias and Susannah Cahalan’s Brain on Fire will find a similar mix of raw vulnerability, thorough research, and hard-won wisdom here.