Writing Your Cover Letter
Every submission to Dark House should be accompanied by a covering letter.
A covering letter is your opportunity to introduce both yourself and your manuscript. It should provide a concise overview of the project, demonstrate an understanding of its audience and help us understand why you believe it may be a good fit for Dark House.
A strong covering letter does not need to be lengthy. In most cases, a single page is sufficient.
We recommend including the following:
Your Manuscript Pitch
Provide a brief pitch that captures the essence of your manuscript. How would you describe the story in a single compelling sentence?
Brief Story Overview
Include a short summary of the story in two or three sentences. This should introduce the premise, central conflict and main characters without revealing the full plot. Your synopsis will provide the complete story outline.
Audience & Comparisons
Who is the intended audience for your work? Are there any authors, books, films or television programmes that readers may recognise as useful comparisons?
About You
Tell us a little about yourself. Include any relevant writing experience, publishing history, professional background or information that may be relevant to your work.
Previous Publication History
If the manuscript has previously been self-published or published elsewhere, please provide any relevant sales figures, readership statistics, awards or notable achievements.
Why Dark House?
Tell us why you have chosen to submit to Dark House and whether the manuscript is currently being considered by any other agents or publishers.