The Writer's Camp Journal

For Authors

Submit Manuscript

Article types

  • Pre-Submission Query (starting point for all authors)

If a positive query is received, the editorial staff will indicate which manuscript type to select for the submission:

  • Research Report and Companion Essay
  • Writer’s Camp Feature
  • Invited Submission

Instructions for a Writer’s Camp Feature or Invited Submission will be provided to the authors with the response to their query. Instructions for the Research Report and Companion Essay are below.

Submission requirements

Pre-Submission Query

  1. Authors should begin by submitting a Pre-Submission Query at the Writer’s Camp Journal portal through Scholastica.
  2. At the submission portal, authors will submit:
  • Manuscript title (12-15 words); make it clear and descriptive so people can find your article.
  • Keywords (5-7); do not repeat words that are in the title.
  • Abstract (250 words): Structured, with the following headings: Background, Purpose, Methods, Results, and Conclusion

You will paste the above information in boxes at the submission portal, so have everything ready when you start. Two files will be submitted through the portal:

  1. Pre-Submission Query (file): The query should briefly explain the manuscript’s relevance to the scope of The Writer’s Camp Journal.
  • Provide a brief statement (250 words or fewer) describing the manuscript and why it is likely to be of interest to our readership.
  • Authors may also use this space to explain any unique features of the submission or to raise questions about fit, scope, or article type.
  • There is a $15 non-refundable charge for the Pre-Submission Query.
  1. Title Page (file)
  • Manuscript title: 12-15 words (make sure it is the same as the title previously pasted in the box)
  • For all authors: Name(s); credentials (as you wish them listed); Email address; ORCiD ID(s). Authors should be listed in publication order.
  • For the corresponding author include complete contact information: address, telephone, and alternate email address.
    • Clearly identify the corresponding author on the title page.
    • The corresponding author and the first author may be the same person, or two different people. Please make sure this is clearly identified.
  • Acknowledgements
  • Conflict of Interest Statement (if necessary)
  • Funding Statement (if necessary)
  1. At the submission portal, you will be asked to:

  • Provide ORCiD IDs for all authors (this information is also included on the title page).

  • Complete a CRediT statement to identify author contributions.

  • Complete a Funding Statement (if applicable; if no funding, that section can be skipped).

  • Agree to the following statements:

    • All authors listed meet the ICMJE authorship criteria.
    • The research reported herein complies with ethical policies and has been reviewed by an IRB or exempted, when appropriate.
    • The authors declare no conflicts of interest or have stated all conflicts of interest on the title page.
    • This manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
    • This manuscript has not been posted on a preprint server or if it has, details (including the DOI) are included on the title page.
    • All authors have read and agree to the Writer’s Camp Journal AI policy.
    • The authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of this manuscript, including any content developed with the assistance of AI tools.
    • All authors have read and agree to the Writer’s Camp Journal policy for the listing of academic credentials.
    • The authors understand that if the manuscript is accepted for publication, there will be a $175 fee to cover the cost of production.
    • The authors understand that the Writer’s Camp Journal is open access and articles are published using a CC-BY-ND 4.0 license.

    If the Pre-Submission Query is positively reviewed and the authors are invited to submit a complete manuscript, it will be submitted as a revision within the system. All previously submitted information will be retained. Authors can edit or update information as necessary.

Research Report Requirements

  1. Title page (separate file; previously submitted; can resubmit with updates, if necessary)
  • Manuscript title: 12-15 words
  • For all authors: Name; credentials (as you wish them listed); Email address; ORCiD ID. Authors should be listed in publication order.
  • For the corresponding author include complete contact information: address, telephone, and alternate email address. Clearly identify the corresponding author on the title page. The corresponding author and the first author may be the same person, or two different people. Please make sure this is clearly identified.
  • Acknowledgements
  • Conflict of Interest Statement (if necessary)
  1. Main Manuscript File includes:
  • Structured Abstract (maximum of 250 words)
  • 5-7 keywords (do not repeat words that are in the title)
  • Research Report (3000-4500 words; start on new page)
    • Do not include any identifying information in the manuscript to facilitate anonymous peer review. However, you do not need to hide names on the reference list.
    • 1" margins, standard 12 pt font (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Aptos, etc)
    • Continuous line numbering throughout
    • Double spacing throughout
    • If you use a Reference Manager (such as Endnote, Paperpile, etc), remove citation codes before submitting your manuscript. Note that we encourage the use of a Reference Manager to assist with accuracy and correct formatting.
    • References (AMA 11th edition style; maximum of 50 references). Authors are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all references.
  • Tables and Figures (included in the main file)
    • Not required but may be included as appropriate to the study.
    • There is a maximum of 3 tables and/or figures.
    • Tables may be single spaced.
    • Tables must be editable, cell-based objects created using Microsoft Word’s table builder.
    • Refer to all tables and figures in the text; place tables and figures in the text near to where they are referenced.
    • Do not have a table break over a page; an individual table should not be more than one page long.
    • Each table and figure should have a title, presented thus: Table 1. This is the title or Figure 1. This is the title. Note the use of periods.
    • Number all tables and figures consecutively.

Additional Required File: Companion Essay

Every manuscript must include a Companion Essay (1000-2000 words). The Companion Essay interprets, contextualizes, and extends the research for a broader scholarly audience. Rather than repeating the study methods and results, it should emphasize significance, practical implications, lessons learned, connections to existing scholarship, and the relevance of the work to writing, publishing, peer review, scholarly communication, or professional practice.

The Companion Essay will be published at the same time as the Research Report on the Writer’s Camp site. The Research Report and the Companion Essay will each have their own DOI and be archived on Zenodo as two separate publications.

The Companion Essay is uploaded as an additional file. Note that the button does not say, “Companion Essay” but this is where it goes.

Guidelines

  • Include a descriptive title (which should be different from the research report); 12-15 words maximum (shorter is better).
  • Include a 50 word summary.
  • Use headings to organize the content and make sure to include a Conclusion.
  • Format requirements: single spaced with a space between paragraphs; 1" margins, standard 12 pt font; AMA 11th edition style for references.
  • Include tables, figures, or references as appropriate, but they may not be necessary, depending on how the essay is written. Remember, readers will have access to the Research Report at the same time, so don’t repeat information verbatim; use the essay to share new and interesting insights, tell the story of the study, or expand on information that could not be included in the Research Report.

Optional Files

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Supplementary Materials (use discretion; WCJ does not publish complete research instruments, consent forms, letters to participants, etc.)
  3. Ethics Documentation (if necessary beyond what is stated in the text).

Editorial and Peer Review Process

All submissions begin with a Pre-Submission Query, which is reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and/or a Senior Editor for Research to assess fit with the scope, mission, and publication model of The Writer’s Camp Journal. Authors whose queries are approved are invited to submit a full manuscript.

Following submission, manuscripts undergo initial editorial screening for completeness, scope, ethical considerations, and overall suitability. Manuscripts that do not align with the scope or editorial standards of The Writer’s Camp Journal may be declined without external review. Not that the Pre-Submission Query process is designed to minimize this eventuality.

The following review process applies specifically to Research Reports and Companion Essays submitted through Scholastica. Research Reports and Companion Essays typically undergo double-anonymous peer review by one or more reviewers with relevant expertise. Generative artificial intelligence may be used for part of the review process. Reviews are considered alongside editorial evaluation by the Editor-in-Chief, Senior Editors for Research, and, when appropriate, Associate Editors. The WCJ uses a developmental editorial approach that emphasizes constructive feedback and scholarly improvement.

Final publication decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief and/or Senior Editors for Research after consideration of reviewer comments, editorial evaluation, and author revisions.

Publication details

After acceptance, authors will be invoiced a $175 Editorial Processing and Production Fee. This fee supports copyediting, production, DOI registration, metadata preparation, hosting, indexing, and long-term archiving.

Authors should expect to participate in copyediting and publication preparation, including review of edited files, responses to editorial queries, verification of author information, and approval of final publication materials. Minor revisions to the Companion Essay may also be requested during production.

Additional files may be required after acceptance, including a signed License to Publish agreement and any materials needed to complete production and archiving.

WCJ aims to publish accepted manuscripts within approximately 4–8 weeks of final acceptance, although publication timelines may vary depending on editorial workload, author responsiveness, and production requirements.

Authors retain copyright to their work. As a condition of publication, authors grant Maine Desk LLC a nonexclusive license to publish, distribute, archive, preserve, and identify the work as the version of record. Published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution–NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) License. Authors will need to sign a License to Publish after acceptance.