You’ve mastered query and cover letters but guess what? There are a few "other" letters writers need. The following are five examples of business letters a children’s writer uses throughout their career. Since editors are busy, remember the rule of threes in children’s writing. Keep each of these letters to three short paragraphs.

Editors want submissions tailored to their publications. That’s why they offer guidelines, samples and catalogues. The first paragraph of this letter states your request. In the second paragraph tell the editor what you’ve enclosed. Thank them in the third paragraph:

Address this letter to the editor listed for submissions. Mark the outside of the envelope with "Guidelines Request".

You sent your polished manuscript off to the editor. Now the response time in the market guide listing has passed. Don’t assume your manuscript is under consideration; it could be lost in the mail or even within the publisher’s office.

The first paragraph of your status inquiry letter tells the editor why you’re writing. The second paragraph asks them if they received your submission. State any enclosures and thank the editor in the third paragraph:

The enclosed postcard should have choices for the editor to check:

_____ Received and considering

_____ Never received

_____ Received and rejected

Whether you submit book or magazine manuscripts, you will use this letter at least once in your career. Some magazines hold manuscripts indefinitely and pay on publication. That may be okay in some instances, but if a writer has a chance for guaranteed acceptance of that manuscript, they should take it.

A few book publishers take only exclusive submissions, but most understand why a writer may decide to submit non-exclusively. If you submitted exclusively, but haven’t heard from an editor after the allotted consideration time in the market listing, it’s in your best interest to make the submission non-exclusive.

Begin the first paragraph with your submission information. This helps the editor locate your manuscript. In the second paragraph inform the editor of your decision. Thank them in the third paragraph for complying with your decision:

This letter doesn’t require a SASE enclosure. If your request was to have the manuscript returned, the editor will have the SASE on file from your original submission.

Magazines like Science Weekly and book publishers like Capstone Press are examples of work-for-hire publications. They ask for writers to send specific information to be considered for an assignment. Your cover letter to them should recap that information.

This letter is three "tell them" paragraphs. The first paragraph tells them you are a freelance writer that would like to work with them. Tell them in the second paragraph what your enclosures are, and in the third paragraph tell them thank you:

These editors want to see if your writing style fits with the writing style of their publications. Your work samples should be specific to what they publish, nonfiction samples to a nonfiction publisher.

If you have any pending business with a publication, a manuscript on hold or contributor copies, send them a letter notifying them of your change of address.

Ask them to update and note your address in the first paragraph. Use the second paragraph to remind them of the pending transaction. Again, thank them in the third paragraph:

There is no need to include a SASE with this letter.

It won’t take long to master these "other" letters. Set up a template for each of these letters in your word processing program, then tweak them to fit your current need. These letters can also be adapted for e-mail inquiries.

Using these guidelines, you will have mastered queries, covers, and others!