Paper Submissions

Guidelines for Paper Submissions

Eligible members  are invited to submit one (1) original critical essay or one (1) creative work (creative non-fiction, poetry, or fiction) to be considered for presentation at the annual convention. Critical essays on any topic of interest in the discipline are welcome; papers on the works of our featured speakers, the Common Reader, or on the convention theme are especially encouraged.

Eligible members are also invited to submit a second original work in any genre that responds directly to the Common Reader Work & Days, by Tess Taylor to be considered for presentation at the annual convention. For more information, review the additional rules about what individuals can submit.

Faculty members are encouraged to moderate roundtables and sessions but may not submit papers, whether attending as Advisors or as members of Alumni Epsilon.

Paper submissions must conform to the following guidelines:

Categories of Submissions

Critical Essay

Creative Writing

* For Common Reader submissions, include an explanatory headnote of fewer than 100 words that makes the connection between your own work and the Common Reader clear to your reader. This headnote will not be counted against your word limit.

Paper Format

Contributors must not identify themselves in any way on any page of text submitted. Your work may be disqualified should your name appear on any part of your submission, and you will not be considered for a convention award if your name appears in the document or file name.

Poetry

  1. Polish: Submitted work should be free of grammatical errors and mechanical mistakes.
  2. Formatting: Use a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman or Arial recommended). A collection of poems must be contained in one Word document file (.doc or .docx). Each poem within the document should begin on a new page. Provide the title of your collection at the beginning of your document.
  3. File Name: Use the title of your collection as your file name. Do not use your own name in the file name.
  4. A poetry submission may consist of a collection of poems or one poem; presentations may not exceed 15 minutes, so manuscripts (and any introductory information) must be adjusted accordingly.
  5. Though formatting should be appropriate to the poem, most poems will be single-spaced, and both title and individual lines or stanzas will be left justified, that is, aligned on the left-hand margin. Avoid bold letters or underlining in titles, and do not put quotation marks around your own title(s).

Prose (Critical Essays, Creative Works)

  1. Polish: Submitted work should be free of typographical and grammatical errors. Titles of literary works identified within essays should be properly formatted.
  2. Formatting: Use a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman or Arial recommended). Essays should follow appropriate and updated style guidelines, such as MLA or APA. Work must be submitted as a Word document file (.doc or .docx).
  3. File Name: Use an abbreviated version of your title as your file name. Do not use your own name in your file name.
  4. Manuscripts should not exceed 2,000 words (excluding title, works cited/references, and notes) and should be double-spaced with one-inch margins. Titles should appear at the top of the first page, rather than in a running header or on a separate cover page, and should be centered. Avoid bold letters or underlining in titles; do not put quotation marks around your own title.
  5. Flash fiction: In addition to adhering to all other guidelines for prose, a flash fiction collection must include a title; each new piece should begin on a separate page. Also, be sure to use the phrase “flash fiction” when prompted to provide keywords in the submission process.

Submission Deadlines and Notifications

Submitters will receive confirmation, acceptance, and registration information via the email addresses associated with their accounts. Therefore, it is vital that members use email addresses that they check regularly and that will be active through April 2019.

Submission Link

The submissions link was removed following the October 29, 2018, 5:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) submission deadline. For questions, please contact [email protected].

Please submit using a desktop computer or laptop. Mobile devices are not configured for submissions.

Convention submissions are managed by EBMS event management software through NIU Outreach Services. You will be required to create a new account if you do not already have one. Be sure to set up your account with an email address you will retain through April 2019.

Questions

Questions regarding the online submission process should be addressed to the 2019 convention staff at [email protected].


Instructions for Submitting Paper Submissions Online

Step 1: Sign In

Step 2: Authors

Step 3: Add Submission

Topic: Select your topic from the pull-down menu.

Categories of Submissions

Critical Essay

Creative Writing

NOTE: Creative writing may also respond to the Common Reader Work & Days. Include an explanatory headnote of fewer than 100 words that makes the connection between your own work and the common reader clear to your reader. This headnote will not be counted against your word limit.

Presentation Type: Select Paper Presentation

Step 4: Other Information (required)

Step 5: Review and Save

Step 6: Additional Submission on the 2019 Common Reader

Repeat the submission process to add a second submission if one of the submissions is on the 2019 Common Reader. Read rules: What Individuals Can Submit. You can also exit and add a second submission before the deadline.

Step 7: Submission Confirmation

Please check your confirmation and retain it. The confirmation is a do not reply email from [email protected]. It will include a five digit number that may be used as a reference in future communications with [email protected].

Some Chapter Advisors ask you to forward your confirmation e-mail to them. Please do so.