
Submission Guidelines
We are now using a Google form to submission process. This requires you to login with your Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you can make one for free. If you cannot access the submission form, are running into trouble, or have other questions/concerns about submitting, email us.
​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.
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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.
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We are always accepting new submissions from high school aged students from anywhere in the world.
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We publish about once a month or every other month (depending on the quality of 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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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 be patient. We're all teachers over here reading submissions in our 'off time.' You will 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.