Cover Letters: Unless the guidelines specifically say no cover letter, your best bet is to send one. A cover letter consists of 3 paragraphs: Introduces your story introduces you, where you've been published. If you haven't been published, don't tell them. Thank you for your time.

Always send S.A.S.E Read the Guidelines! Send a clear manuscript - as few spelling and grammar mistakes as humanly possible. Type your cover letter. Know who you are writing to. Never address your cover letter to "Dear Editor" or "To whom it may concern." Most editors believe that if you are too lazy to do the reasearch to find their name, you are too lazy to write a story they want to read. Always tell the editor if this is a simultanious submission. Always be professional. And as the crab says--NEVER annoy the editor--which in a lot of cases IS the crazy person--or will be after dealing with hundreds of manuscripts everyday that doesn't bother to follow the guidelines.

Never: Send material you know is too long. Editors will never make an exception to their word count. Never: Send several manuscripts and ask the editor to choose the one they like.  Some might have time and be willing to do that--most won't. Never: Tell an editor your entire family loved the story.  Editors don't care how many people like it.  Will they? Never: Tell an editor you are a new writer and don't know what you are doing.  Even if you don't, you should never advertise that fact. NEVER: Handwrite a cover letter or any portion of the manuscript.

Guidelines: Always Be sure your name, address, and phone number, along with your email if you have one, is always in the upper left hand corner of the first page of your manuscript. Know the magazine. Make sure the correct word count is in the upper right hand corner on the first page of your manuscript. Send either a #10 business size return envelope, or, if you want the manuscript back, include a manila envelope with the correct postage for it's return.  (Put as much postage on the return envelope as you did to mail it.

Never: Assume the writers markets lists everything you need to know. Also check websites or write for guidelines and make sure you follow them to the letter. Play games. Don't say the story is 1,500 words, when in reality it's closer to 2,500 words. Authors must build trust with an editor and this is a sure way to get a rejection -- over and over.  If they can't trust you, they'll not read your work. Overload an editor. Check the guidelines. If they say send only three poems or two short stories, then that's all you'd better send. Query short fiction unless the guidelines specifically say to do so. Send the entire manuscript.

Do your reasearch.  Follow the guidelines and send your best work.  Good luck and may you all be on the best seller list.

Comments:   I just wanted to thank you again for speaking to ORA (Ozarks Romance Writers) this month. You gave an excellant program. We had such an excellent turn out for your presentation and people still mention what you talked about. In fact, my critique group quotes you on several things. "Our last speaker said..." has become VERY familiar! Barbara Huddleston, Ozarks Romance Writers, Springfield, Missouri.                       Webmaster: CheyDok Deisgns