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Submission  Guidelines

 

The Weight Journal publishes teen voices.

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We're looking for writing that has something honest to say. Something that releases the WEIGHT. 

(Read more about that here).

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No topic is off-limits. This is not about being "school appropriate."

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Don't be afraid. Submit! 

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  • To get a feeling for what we like, read through what we've already published, and take a look at this page.
     

  • We are always accepting new submissions from high school aged students from anywhere in the world. 

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  • We publish once or twice a month (depending on submissions). 

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Follow the guidelines below or we won't be reading your work

(and that would be sad)

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  • We DO NOT accept submissions from teachers or parents! If you're old enough to write, you're old enough to submit on your own. 
     

  • We DO accept simultaneous submissions! Please let us know if you've sent it elsewhere, and tell us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. 

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  • We do NOT accept previously published submissions (but your personal website/blog/social media do NOT count).

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  • Do include a short bio (100 words max) about yourself in the third person, including things like where you are, what you do, any past publications, hope and dreams, glass half full/empty. Submissions without a bio will not be considered.

Example: Jane Doe is future National Book Award winning writer who currently spends her days writing, playing frisbee golf, and drinking way too much coffee. Her publications include The Last Dance Lit Mag, the Are We There Yet? Review, and The Rainbow Farts Journal. Even though she is only a sophomore, Louise is ready to move out of her small town in Nevada.

 

  • Do submit only one (1) genre at a time & wait to hear back from us before sending more. 

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Poetry: 1-3 poems, up to 6 pages of poetry 

 Note: we don't publish a lot of rhyming poetry unless it's straight FIRE!

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Also, don't send center-justified poems unless they are centered for a reason.

Click here to understand why.

 

Slam Poetry: 1 video, under 8 mins.

Note: send text of poem with submission.

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Flash Fiction: 1-2 pieces, up to 800 words each

 

Short Fiction: 1 piece at a time, max 3000 words

 

Creative Nonfiction: 1 piece at a time, max 3000 words

 Note: we publish narrative (story-based) nonfiction. Not analytical or expository essays.

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Hybrid: 1 piece 1 at a time, max 2000 words

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  • Do identify the genre you're submitting in the subject line (e.g. poetry, flash, fiction, CNF, hybrid, slam).

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  • DON'T put your submission in the body of an email.

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  • DON'T put your submission in a link to a shared Google doc. 

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  • DON'T send pdf files.

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  • DO be patient. We're all teachers over here reading submissions in our 'off time.' Youwill hear back from us.

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We ask those published by The Weight Journal already, to please wait two (2) months before submitting further work. 

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The Weight Journal is not interested in publishing work generated by AI. If you submit something we later learn was generated using any AI system, we will immediately remove your work and not consider any of your future work.
 

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We shouldn't have to say this, but works that are focused on promoting racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, or other forms of hate-filled ideas will not be published; however, pieces that respond to or fight against these ideas are fair game.

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By submitting you confirm that the work(s) submitted is original and of your composition. You grant The Weight Journal first English-language electronic rights to display your work on our website and through social media. All other rights remain with you upon publication. If the piece is reprinted elsewhere, please be sure to acknowledge The Weight Journal as its first publication.

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