Your manuscript is the star and your cover letter is the gateway in the high-stakes world of academic publishing. An introduction that is done incompletely may come to a halt of a brilliant paper before the editor even reads the abstract.
Here at Mars Publications, we make a living out of transforming years of research into published reality. We do not edit, but we plan. Through our premier Journal Submission Support, our package allows you to compose every aspect of your work in the language of the elite editors.
What Is a Cover Letter?
A journal cover letter is a formal business letter which presents your research to the editor-in-chief. It is the elevator pitch of your manuscript. Although the data is presented in the manuscript, the context is presented in the cover letter. It talks about why what you do is important now, and why it is in that particular journal.
This is a document that is usually uploaded separately as required by most submission portals. It serves a purpose of being an interim between your uncooked scientific results and the editorial interests of the publication.
The Reason Why the Cover Letter is Your Favorite Asset
A cover letter is considered as a formality by many researchers. This is a mistake. The editors of top journals are usually dealing with hundreds of submissions in a week. They make desks and reject decisions with the use of the cover letter.
It produces the impression of the First Instance
An editor first reads the cover letter. A well written letter that is formatted by a professional will show that you are a serious scholar. It shows that you have read and understand the standards of the journal and do your homework.
It Highlights the “So What?” Factor
In your abstract, it is your summary of results, however, in your cover letter, you present an argument of their importance. You need to describe what a gap in the existing knowledge your research will fill. In case you are unable to explain why your work is significant using 3 sentences, chances are the editor will not recognize its significance either.
It Proves “Journal Fit”
Each journal has a particular Aims and Scope. With a cover letter, you are able to associate your research with the mission of the journal. An example is when a journal focuses on interdisciplinary work, be sure to use your letter to point out how your results can be used in two different areas.
Critical Elements of an effective cover letter
In order to achieve the best effect of your submission, there are a number of non-negotiable aspects that should be included in your letter. Our Journal Submission Support team is dedicated to the following areas as per compliance and persuasion:
- The Salutation: Use the editor’s name whenever you can. Avoid “To Whom It May Concern.”
- The Hook: The first paragraph should contain the title and the type of your manuscript (e.g. Original Research, Case Study).
- The Significance: Explain the key findings and their implications on the field.
- The Justification: Clearly indicate the reason why the readers of the journal will be interested in your work.
- The Declarations: assure that the work is original, it is not being reviewed elsewhere, and that the work has been approved by all the authors.
Writing hints: Active Voice
Good cover letters are written in the active voice. It makes your writing in-your-face, assertive and interesting.
Rather than: It was discovered that our team found that the protein inhibited growth… Application: “Our group found that the protein suppresses growth….
Active voice makes a word economy and ensures that the emphasis is laid on the actions and the outcomes. It is a depiction of you as an active researcher who is behind his or her findings.
The transformation of your submission by Mars Publications
It is tiresome to manoeuvre through the idiosyncrasy of various journals. A journal may insist on a list of proposed reviewers, whereas another one will demand particular ethos statements. Mars Publications provides Journal Submission Support to make the process of doing so a guess.
We help you:
- Personalize the Pitch: Custom cover letters We develop bespoke cover letters to match your research with the interests of the editor.
- Make sure You do not miss any requirement: We cross-examine all the technical requirements, including word counts and disclosure of conflict of interest.
- Edit the Language: Our editors’ refiners are fine-tuning your writing so your genius does not languish behind wordy expressions and passive voice.
The Ruling: Does It Matter That Much?
In a word: Yes. Consider the cover letter as the electronic age handshake. A letter of submission is a competitive document in the sea of submissions; a convincing letter may be the factor that helps to push your manuscript to the peer-review phase. It is the only opportunity you have to defend your work earlier before the formal (and sometimes cruel) evaluation process starts.
Do not take your hard work by chance. The competitive advantage of a strategic cover letter, supported by the professional Journal Submission Support, provides the competitive edge you will want to be published in the highly impactful journals.