The concept of audience is vital whenever we write anything to share with someone
else. This week, your audience is concrete and specific. Picture for a moment the
person who will read your cover letter. Take a moment to actually visualize them.
Where are they? What does their desk look like? Do they have a crowded cubby or
their own spacious office? How busy are they? What personal factors might make
them rushed or grumpy? How excited are they to read your cover letter that is
asking them to do something? Putting yourself in your audience's shoes can help you
calibrate and formulate what information you'll impart to them. Odds are, they are
very, very busy. They don't want you to waste their time. What would waste their
time? Probably a combination of a lack of clarity and unnecessary information would
make them feel restless in this regard. This is why editing is especially important
with a cover letter. Go ahead and write a draft without worrying about this too much,
but when you edit, picture the very busy, perhaps grumpy person reading your letter
at their desk. How you make them feel that you can be of value to them?'
