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Hi Celine When I submitted my first manuscript I got really worried about getting the covering letter 'correct', though I'm sure that the cover letters only get a glance! I found the APA Publication Manual really helpful (http://www.apastyle.org/manual/). If I remember correctly they even have a template in there. Also read the journal's advice - every one is different - and be very polite. Good luck with your paper! Jennifer Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:59:10 +0000 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Cover letter for journal submission To: [log in to unmask] Hi Celine, I have submitted to a few journals and as a cover letter I have only written a few lines again along the same lines that Brian has suggested saying thank you for their time etc. If you have the time to spend on a decent covering letter it may be worth it but as I say I wrote only a few lines and many have been accepted so possibly find some middle ground such as 2 short paragraphs Thanks Nikki > Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:13:17 -0600 > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Cover letter for journal submission > To: [log in to unmask] > > Hi Céline, > > I usually look at the cover letter as a top level attempt to get the > editor's interest in reading your manuscript, and helping them justify > why they should give you the journal space over someone else. It's > almost a sales pitch as to why it fits with their journal and would be > appropriate to their readership, or why they would want to see it > published in their journal rather than a competing journal in the same > field. In no more than two paragraphs I'd very generally describe what > the study was about (i.e. the design and scope of the study, what the > rationale for doing it was); what the main result was (i.e. one positive > take home message); why that is relevant to their readers (i.e. if it's > a medical journal does it have an implication for clinical practice); > and what the main strength of the study is (i.e. large sample size, > unique methodology, first in the area). > > I'd also include a thank you for their consideration. You could suggest > potential reviewers, if appropriate and not asked for elsewhere. And you > should check in the Instructions for Authors if there are any statements > you are required to make e.g. all authors have agreed the content, and > this manuscript is not being considered for publication elsewhere etc. > > Hope that helps, > > Brian > > > On 21/Nov/2011 14:33, [log in to unmask] wrote: > > Hello everyone, > > > > I have a quick and possibly slightly stupid question... I am in the course of submitting a manuscript to a journal online (which I've done before) and it asks me for a cover letter: > > > > 'Enter or paste your cover letter text into the "Cover Letter" box below. If you would like to attach a file containing your cover letter, click the "Browse..." button, locate your file, and click "Attach this Cover Letter." Answer any remaining questions appropriately. When you are finished, click "Save and Continue."' > > > > This is all the information that is provided and there's nothing else on the online submission website - does anyone know what such a cover letter should look like? What do I need to include in this? So far I've only heard of cover letters when re-submitting a paper, so I'm a bit clueless here. Oh, it's a US journal, not sure if that makes a difference. > > > > Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has a template for example, that would be perfect. > > > > Thanks a lot. > > > > Céline > > > > Céline Rojon > > PhD Researcher in Occupational Psychology > > Department of Psychology& School of Management > > University of Surrey > > Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH > > +44-(0)1483-686870 > > [log in to unmask]