We encourage you to read our current issue and explore our archive before submitting to Script. This will help you get a sense of what we are looking for. In addition, below you will find advice on preparing your submissions. 

Personal Essays:
  • Nonfiction essays portraying personal experience.
  • Think beyond the diary entry; reach out to the audience.
  • Elements of fiction (scene, dialogue, sensory detail) help in creating an engaging story.

Academic Essays:
  • Appropriate tone for academic audience (no informal language).
  • Clear, logical structure.
  • If it was for a class, keep in mind it should be adapted to a different audience. Assume your audience knows nothing about your subject.
  • Notes on adaptation:
    • Include works cited, even if your professor didn't require it.
    • Be mindful of 3000-word length limit.
    • It can be from any subject, not just English courses.
    • The Writing Center is a great resource for preparing your submission.

Fiction Short Stories:
  • Keep in mind the elements of great fiction: clear point of view, well-developed characters, compelling plot, purposeful setting.
  • Avoid clichés.
  • We are not looking for excerpts of a novel or longer piece of fiction.

Drama:
  • This category is for play scripts and screenwriting.
  • We prefer one-act plays/screenplays so that we can include the full story. However, we will consider excerpts from longer works.
  • The characters should be well-rounded and the plot should be clear, even if it’s only a portion of the drama. Consider your audience.

Poetry:
  • Avoid clichés.
  • The formatting should make sense with the content of the poem.
  • Keep in mind that poetry offers new insight into ideas, emotions, and experiences.
  • We love specificity, sensory detail, and surprising language.

 Visual Art:
  • The art you submit should be yours. Make sure what you submit is original and creative.
  • Keep basic design elements in mind: focal point, balance, proportion, light, etc.
  • Be sure to include the medium information (type of art, size, etc.) in the comment field in the Blackboard submission manager.

Music:
  • High quality recording.
  • If your song has lyrics, don’t forget to include them in the comment field in the Blackboard submission manager.

Film:
  • Highest quality possible.
  • Should have a plot or meaningful message.
  • Please note additional instructions when submitting via Blackboard.