From members of my workshops I often get e-mailed questions  about cover letters, word counts, queries, etc.  It may be of use to some of you out there in Blog-land if I include  in my Blog the responses I send to inquirers.

WORD COUNT: One member asked if she should include a word count at the head of each poem she is submitting. IF the editorial guidelines for that publication indicate a line-limit, then it would be appropriate–but certainly not mandatory–to give a line count.  But not a word count.

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Another question came about simultaneous submissions to contests and to editors of publications.  If the guidelines state "no simultaneous submissions," on either the contest rules or the publication's guidelines, is probably not wise to submit the same story/article to more than one at a time.  This would be rare in a contest. However, most editors of publications will say "responds in a month to queries; three months to manuscripts" or rules to that effect.  If you have sent a piece to an editor and come upon a contest you want to enter, most contest rules state "submission must not have been published elsewhere at the time of entering the contest."  Contest deadlines and winner announcements are normally three to six months following announcement of the contest.  That is a long time to have your manuscript out of circulation.  If you happen to gain publication for a piece you entered in a contest, and are declared a winner in the contest, just notify the contest chair.  Usually gaining publication for a piece that you have entered in a contest is an endorsement of the contest judges decision.  Just don't enter a contest with a piece that has already appeared in print.