I’ve published my share of books and was hired by someone who’d never published. She did nothing but put me down for months before I finally left, without notice.

Words cannot describe the horrors of this woman, a raving beast she was, complete with a snakish, Prada-wearing appearance. The lesson I learned is to get out sooner rather than later.

I’d love it if you addressed this issue in your posts. I’ve had this experience for years, due in part because I’ve written for almost every industry in most media and had success as a humor writer. And it’s a no go in the commercial world. And I’m neither the only person who knows this from experience, nor am I exactly Grandma Moses.

No sour grapes message here, just the facts, ma’am.

I am the editor of a magazine (that shall remain nameless) who sifts through hundreds of resumes every time I post a vacancy.

Each time, I am shocked that a very basic principal escapes so many of the applicants: When you are applying for a position as a feature writer, why on earth would you write your cover letter any differently?

The letter should be written in the same way you would approach an article. Before I even read your work samples, I am already convinced that not only can you tell a story, but you are clever and understand how to get a reader’s attention.

That’s cover letter gold in my book.

Food for thought…

However, I always stayed out of office gossip. So maybe I missed the club meetings.

The secret editors club exists!

Great post as usual.
I agree with not dwelling on those we don’t; if you’re a good writer and are applying for a lot of jobs, you should have work in no time.

My biggest challenge lately? Those editors who respond back to queries and say “keep ‘em coming” without accepting an article. I move them to the top of my “to book” list

Erika

I always ask the vague ones for more info.

There can be a certain cache (don’t know how to add accent market in this format) to showing one doen’t need the work…in other words, if you have a Web site, you can invite someone there to see your work.

I know a few established writers who do this. I don’t do this, but provide links to a few clips (along with cover) and invite people to google my name for more. But I don’t even go that far if I feel the job isn’t a fit. Those opportunities that aren’t (an example for me would be sales writing) aren’t good for me, even if offered.

Generally I don’t answer vague ads especially if they don’t give a payment range. I’ve found that too often these are assignments below my accepted level of pay or are SEO work that I choose not to do. When I do respond, I generally say something about how I am well-rounded and have experience writing about a wide range of topics because I have been freelancing for xx years. If the post doesn’t give specifics, then it is hard to create a targeted cover letter.

But how do you handle those 5 line announcements that may or may not be legit with very vague subject guidelines (ie health or travel)? I mean, there’s not enough to go on to target the employer, and there’s a good chance that whatever you send will receive a response in the form of a mass email.

In short, my question is: do you always submit cover letters for all types of announcements or do you only do so when you have enough info about the company or employer to adequately address them and their job opening?

Sue’s response reminds me of this buddy of mine, whose female acquintance went to hollywood to make it as an actress. she returned in five years, saying that as beautiful and talented as she was, there were thousands and thousands of women just as pretty and talented as she was.

So, how about some suggestions, a little boilerplate, or examples of cover letters that made you hire someone?

No matter how difficult an editor may be, I always try to make it work somehow. Even if the job part doesn’t work out, maintaining good relationships really helps. As large as the Internet is, the health writing field is still small. Many people know other people who know you.

I’ve even had a situation that occurred a few years ago and it still makes me smile. I was an editor with a freelance team. I had to let them go because the project was finished but I kept in touch with a few of the writers, one in particular. A year or so later, she was an editor somewhere and she knew I liked to do a certain type of freelancing – and she offered me the work. The timing and the work were both perfect.

It really is a case of what goes around, comes around. Now that I write full-time, I really am very aware of the impression I leave on others and do my best to cultivate that.

Thanks for yet another good post.