I didn’t think this was for magazine publishing. I work for book publishers, and everyone uses the serial comma. Choose one style and stick with it. Your application will get trashed if it has incorrect grammar and spelling, but a serial comma is stylistic, not grammatically incorrect.

My only twinge was the “I have grown to like editing” line (it seems to imply an initial dislike). May be overthinking this though.

What I liked about it was that the writer’s personality came through.

I completely agree that there’s no right or wrong with the serial comma, especially in the online world. I was always taught to include the comma, until journalism school. Writing English papers with the comma and journalism articles without the comma was always fun.

I probably sound like a stuck up snob online but, like you, I’m very critical of myself. The thrill of getting an occasional short story published, for example, is lost on me. Rather than enjoying the small glory, I’m usually busy rethinking how I’d have done this or that differently. I’m also a Midwesterner, but some people do take me seriously. Whether or not they really should is another matter all together.

Anyhow, I agree with everything you said above re: cover letters. Just with the small ezine I run, I get hundreds of queries a week. When I get one that’s well written AND original, I’ve gotta smile. Of course, if someone told me they’d cured cancer, I’d be apt to smile a little more.

Lauren,

I think you’re brave for submitting your letter. That goes for all the others whose letters have been ripped posted also.

After all of this talk about serial commas, I guess I’m going to have to learn what one is. :-\

If you are attaching, or either pasting your resume into an email, the reviewer will look further into your background if interested.

The cover letter is used to pique the reviewer’s interest; if it does it’s job right then he/she will definitely want to find out more about you.

I only paste or attach a resume when requested. I would only attach the latter if the company specifically requires an attachment. If there are no guidelines then I paste it because attachments may get deleted.

What you basically need to do is read the ad or posting very carefully and develop a letter that fits their requirements.

I think your 5 year background is a definite plus, especially if it’s related to the industry or position you are applying.

You need to cut out the fluff and stick to the nitty, gritty… don’t tell (by dressing up your words) but show what you have down.

Despite what I might sound like here and on other boards, I have a terrible lack of confidence in my ability to write or do anything. I never read any of my stuff after it’s published because I simply HATE it.

I also hate 99% of everything that’s written, but I give other people more slack than m’self.

With that in mind, I really to think that the most important thing you can do is put yourself in the other person’s place. Assume that they have HUNDREDS of these things. Why the Hell should they care about yours?

First of all, you have to be brief. Second, your writing should be easy on the eyes, and make them feel relaxed. Third, they should be able to imagine working with you.

That’s a lot to ask from a cover letter, but it’s my goal. The rest of the blather about how wonderful I am and how I cured cancer, etcetera, is just a buncha details. I try to tell it like a story – a brief one.

I’m a Midwesterner, so they need to like me. If they’re all formal and want prose that’s dressed up in a suit and tie, they are not going to like me even if I pay them to. I will get over that and go on to the next gig.

But think what it must be like to read hundreds of letters like yours. If the thought horrifies you, write something a bit more pleasant. See where that goes.

Naturally, this is only my opinion. And since I already said that I don’t think too highly of my own stuff, you can disregard every word.

After receiving a new assignment, I always read the editor’s style guidelines. If it doesn’t specify the use of AP style, I’ll use a serial comma. Here’s why. At one point I stopped serial comma usage because I assumed that all editors and webmasters adhered to AP style. While this format is common in print publications, some webmasters aren’t English majors, nor are they familiar with AP style. Hence, they prefer a serial comma. Right after I started using AP style comma’s, I had two editors email me and request that I use serial commas.