Anyone who has submitted articles for publication?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi all of you with better CVs than mine :) ,</p>

<p>I am told that one needs to include a basic cover letter with an article submission. What should that cover letter look like? My little guide makes the following suggestions:</p>

<p>a) Quote the article title and the name of the journal;
b) State contact details including email;
c) Ask to be sent referees' reports whether or not the article is accepted;
d) Inquire about the current publication lag. </p>

<p>Any confirmation of these points? What does such a letter typically look like? </p>

<p>I am in the humanities, by the way.</p>

<p>Thanks for guidance, if you've got it!</p>

2

<p>Where did you hear that? I just included the citations and added 'in review'</p>

3

<p>That's pretty much everything. I'd skip the pub. lag question - if you're accepted, they'll tell you and if not it doesn't matter. Have one of your advisors review the letter before you seal up the package.</p>

<p>Good luck - the first time is scary!</p>

4

<p>Most publications have an official set of submission guidelines. Have you checked the respective Web sites for those?</p>

5

<p>In my opinion, the publication lag question is not appropriate at the stage of submission.</p>

<p>Dave Berry is correct -- check the official submission guidelines for each journal you're considering.</p>

6

<p>Thanks so much, all. I had actually checked the guidelines, etc., already: I just wasn't sure what tone to take or what stylistic protocols to follow in the letter itself, I suppose. Also I'm feeling insecure. :) Thanks for the good luck, WilliamC: as you say, submission is a little daunting at first. </p>

<p>Can I get feedback on a model I ran across? Someone else directed me to an example cover letter in Semenza's (typically excellent) book Graduate Study for the Twenty-First Century. It goes like this (p. 286):</p>

<p>June 12, 2002 </p>

<p>[title of journal]
[address of editor]</p>

<p>Dear Professor [Name]:</p>

<p>Please consider my manuscript--"Title"--for publication in [Journal Title]. I have enclosed two copies as requested.</p>

<p>Should you need to contact me, I can be reached by phone at (xxx) xxx-xxxx or by email at <a href="mailto:aspiring@medievalist.com">aspiring@medievalist.com</a>. My address is listed below and on the first page of manuscript. Thank you for your time and consideration.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>Name
[Job Title]</p>

<p>Does that sound about right to you all?</p>

<p>One last thing: at the moment I am unaffiliated (between MA and Ph.D.). I have no university stationery, so I'm just going to send it off on plain white letter. None of the professors who recommended that I submit it said anything about letterhead, so I assume I'm okay: ?</p>

<p>Thank you again, anyone who has feedback: I sincerely appreciate the advice.</p>

7

<p>It looks good. Your plain stationery is also just fine.</p>

8

<p>Thanks, Professor X!</p>

9

<p>It's in (whew)! Thanks all.</p>