Editor Interviews
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Read all the editors' answers to Duotrope's interview question: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you? Learn more.
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Here is a small sampling from our recent Editor Interviews. We have interviewed over 2,275 editors.
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: I don't require cover letters, but most writers are used to sending some sort of introduction, and that's fine. I encourage writers to include previous publication credits and any awards/accolades they've received in their bios, but they bear no weight on my decisions or on my impressions of the writer.
A: We enjoy a short cover letter. It should include a short (50-100 word) third person bio that lists a few of your publications. Please avoid sending long lists of previous publications.
A: Whoops, guess I just answered this with the last question. Again, we just want to know who you are – today. A concise cover letter addressed to the editors, with the name of your piece, the word count, its publication history (if any), and your short bio is all we need. I think the perfect submission gives us an idea of you, but does not force a carefully crafted image of you into our minds before we read. Personally, I like to imagine the person who could've written my new favorite short story, after I've finished reading it.
A: We do not read cover letters until we accept a piece.
A: I only look at the poems submitted. If I accept something, then I look at the bio.
A: I do read cover letters and bios, but the only thing that matters to me is the merit of the work and how much it appeals to me. Someone may be a poet with stellar publishing credentials, but I still would have to deny them if the work they have submitted to Ghudsavar does not appeal to me.
A: We don’t need to know every detail about the person submitting, but it’s always nice to understand a bit about the person behind the work. A brief introduction or note about your creative journey or what inspired the piece can give us valuable context, especially if it helps us connect with the work on a deeper level.
As for cover letters, while they’re not mandatory, they can definitely help us get a sense of who you are as a writer or artist. We’re more interested in your voice and your story than a long list of previous publications. However, if you have past work that you’re proud of, feel free to share it’s always great to see where you’ve been, but it’s your current work that we care about the most
A: Lists of previous publication credits aren't important; only the current submission is relevant.
A: Yes, we absolutely care. We’re here to build relationships, not just take in poetry like a machine. I often have conversations with submitters outside of the realm of poetry because it’s fun to connect on a personal level. Cover letters are nice to read and can be refreshing at times; they remind me that there’s a human behind the submission with stories and experiences of their own. While lists of previous publications can be helpful, they’re not the most important thing to us. We’re more interested in the person and what they’re bringing to the table in the moment, not just their resume.
A: Please feel free to tell us anything about you that you feel will enhance our understanding of your work. Cover notes are optional and previous publication credits don't matter in the slightest – if you've never published before we'd be honoured to read your submission and perhaps provide a first-ever home for your work.
A: Nothing whatsoever.
A: We would love to know how you learned about The MacGuffin and why you selected to submit your work to us.