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Get it past the editor — A guide to writing a convincing cover letter
Cover letters are among the most controversial aspects of the scientific publishing process. Some people think that cover letters are an archaic remnant that serves no purpose apart from parading status symbols in the form of institutional logos and letters behind the corresponding author’s name. Other people think that the cover letter is the best way for the authors to state the contribution of their paper clearly and succinctly for the editor, who may be too swamped with submissions to read the article in detail. The controversy regarding the purpose of the cover letter is also reflected in the difference in journal policies. Some journals have entirely removed cover letters, others made them optional, and yet others require them as part of the submission. So, if you want it or not, writing a good cover letter is still an essential skill for any academic. Unfortunately, learning this skill is not easy to acquire. Most cover letters are only read by a few people and there is rarely any feedback on the cover letter itself. I was fortunate enough to have excellent mentors with a lot of experience in writing good cover letters and have seen my fair share either as an editor or as a co-author. I decided to share my knowledge to help everyone write a convincing cover letter. This guide will, hopefully, help you to get your paper past the editor’s desk and…