Submissions

Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review by our student editorial team before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Backstory welcomes two types of submissions from contributors: Research papers/Essays & Alt-text submissions. 

Research Paper/Essay Submission: Works submitted for class assignments such as research papers or essays. Research topics should connect to Backstory’s commitment to centering diverse narratives and may also creatively and flexibly approach the “Research Paper” genre. 

Format and submission requirements: Typical manuscript length is between 2500-4000 words. Please submit as a word document and include a 150-200 word abstract. The submission should not have been previously published, nor submitted for consideration in another journal. All work should include a proper attribution/reference list and use APA style.

Alt-text submission: Works submitted may include original, creative, experimental projects offering an argument in diverse genres and modes. (i.e., art, poetry, video, podcast, technology projects). Alt-text is a form of web accessibility that translates visual information into text, but it is also an emerging artistic practice of creative description that seeks to make multimedia works more inclusive. In that spirit, projects should connect to Backstory’s commitment to centering diverse narratives; we encourage contributors to consider integrating access such as visual descriptions, alt-text, and captions. 

Format and submission requirements: Please upload your audio, text or video file.  In place of the abstract, please also include a one-paragraph description of the work’s argument/author’s objective. All work (including images, media etc.)  should include a proper attribution/reference list and use APA style.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.