Invitation to Submit

Creative Saplings (CS) is primarily a peer-reviewed research journal dedicated to the scholarly study of English language and literature. Our core mission is the publication of rigorous academic research, and the majority of each issue is devoted to peer-reviewed research articles and critical essays. In keeping with our long tradition of nurturing both the critical and creative dimensions of literary culture, Creative Saplings also welcomes a limited selection of original creative contributions — poetry, fiction, and literary reviews — in a dedicated creative section of each issue. Contributors submitting creative work are kindly requested to note that the journal's identity, editorial priorities, and indexing aspirations are firmly grounded in scholarly research. Creative submissions are considered as a supplement to, not a replacement for, the journal's research content. All submissions — research and creative alike — must be original, unpublished, and submitted in a polished, near-final form in accordance with the guidelines below.

1. Scope and Accepted Content Types

Creative Saplings accepts two categories of submission: Research Submissions and Creative Submissions. Different guidelines apply to each category. Please read the relevant section carefully before preparing your manuscript.

Category A — Research Submissions (Primary Focus)

Research submissions constitute the core content of Creative Saplings. A Research Article (5,000–8,000 words) presents an original argument or scholarly finding and is subject to double-blind peer review. A Critical Essay (4,000–6,000 words) is a theoretical or argumentative essay with a sustained critical focus. A Review Article / State-of-the-Field Essay (4,000–7,000 words) offers a comprehensive survey of scholarship on a literary topic, author, or critical debate. Word counts cover body text only, excluding the title page, abstract, keywords, and Works Cited list. The minimum body length for any research submission is 4,000 words.

Thematic areas covered include but are not limited to: English and Anglophone Literary Studies (British, American, Indian English, Postcolonial, African, Caribbean, and Diaspora literatures); Comparative Literature and Translation Studies; Literary Theory and Criticism (poststructuralism, feminism, ecocriticism, Marxist criticism, new historicism, postcolonial theory); Cultural Studies (identity, representation, and discourse analysis); Gender and Sexuality Studies; Ecocriticism and Environmental Humanities; Children's Literature and Young Adult Fiction; and Language and Linguistics as applied to literary texts.

Category B — Creative Submissions (Supplementary Section)

The following types of creative contributions are accepted: Poetry — 1 to 5 poems per submission, any form or style, original and unpublished only. Short Fiction / Flash Fiction — up to 2,500 words; original, literary-quality fiction, not genre or commercial fiction. Literary Essay / Personal Essay — 1,000 to 2,500 words; reflective or creative-critical essay with literary merit. Book Review — 800 to 1,500 words; review of a recently published work (within 3 years) of literary scholarship or creative writing. Film / Theatre Review — 800 to 1,500 words; review of a film or theatrical production with demonstrable literary or cultural significance. Translation — variable length; must be accompanied by a Translator's Note of 300 to 500 words. Interview — 1,500 to 3,000 words; interview with a writer, scholar, or literary figure, with a brief biographical introduction.

Creative submissions are evaluated on literary quality, originality, relevance to the journal's readership, and the contribution the work makes to literary or cultural understanding.

2. Originality and Ethical Requirements

2.1 Originality (All Submissions)

All submissions — research and creative — must be original and unpublished. The work must not have appeared in any form in any journal, magazine, anthology, website, blog, social media platform, conference proceeding, or edited volume, in whole or in substantial part. Manuscripts currently under consideration at another publication will not be accepted. Simultaneous submission is a breach of publication ethics and will result in immediate rejection. Authors and contributors are required to confirm originality at the point of submission.

2.2 AI-Generated Content

2.3 Plagiarism (Research Submissions)

All research submissions are subject to the journal's full Plagiarism Policy. All research articles are screened using Turnitin before entering peer review. The maximum acceptable similarity index is 10%. All sources used must be correctly cited in the text and listed in the Works Cited, following MLA (9th edition) requirements. Self-plagiarism — republishing the author's own previously published work without proper attribution — is not permitted.

2.4 Authorship (Research Submissions)

All named authors must have made a substantive intellectual contribution to the work. Ghost authorship, guest authorship, and honorary authorship are not permitted. Any change to the authorship list after submission must be formally requested in writing to the editor and approved before it can be made. Changes will only be approved if a valid reason is presented and if there is unanimous agreement among all authors. Once a paper is published online, no further alterations to the authorship can be made.

3. Manuscript Preparation — Research Submissions

3.1 General Formatting

Submissions must be in Microsoft Word (.docx) format only, using Times New Roman 12pt throughout with 1.5 line spacing and fully justified text. Set page margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides, A4 paper size (210 × 297 mm), and number pages at the bottom centre starting from page 1. The minimum word count for the body text is 4,000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, keywords, and Works Cited. Submissions not conforming to these specifications will be returned for reformatting before entering the editorial process.

3.2 Title

The title must be concise, descriptive, and written entirely in English. It must clearly reflect the subject matter, theoretical framework, or central argument of the paper, and must not exceed 12 words. Titles must not contain special characters, mathematical symbols, numbers, abbreviations (unless universally recognised), or symbols of any kind. Italicise titles of literary works within the paper title, as per MLA convention.

3.3 Author Names and Affiliations

Author names and affiliations must appear on the title page only and must not appear anywhere in the body of the manuscript. Author names must be presented without honorific titles (no Dr., Prof., Mr., or Ms.). For a single author, provide: full name, designation, department, institution and university, city and country, correspondence email address, and ORCID iD (strongly encouraged — register free at orcid.org). For multiple authors, list each in agreed order of contribution and mark the corresponding author with an asterisk (*). A maximum of four authors is preferred; for five or more authors, include a brief Author Contribution Statement of up to 60 words.

3.4 Abstract

Every research submission must include an abstract in clear, standard academic English; it must be self-contained and fully informative to a reader who has not read the full paper. Length is strictly 150 to 250 words; abstracts above 250 words will be returned. The abstract must cover all five of the following elements: (1) Background / Context — briefly state the literary, theoretical, or critical problem addressed; (2) Objective / Aim — clearly state the central research question, thesis, or purpose; (3) Methodology / Approach — identify the theoretical framework or critical methodology employed; (4) Main Findings / Argument — summarise the central argument or finding in 2 to 3 sentences; (5) Conclusion / Contribution — state what the paper contributes to existing scholarship in the field. Abstracts must NOT contain undefined abbreviations, citations, footnotes, references to figures or tables, or vague statements such as "this paper discusses X."

3.5 Keywords

Provide 5 to 7 keywords or short keyword phrases immediately after the abstract. Keywords must be specific and drawn from established academic terminology. Avoid broad standalone terms such as "literature," "English," or "India" — combine them for specificity. Do not repeat words already used in the title. Separate keywords with semicolons.

3.6 Body of the Article

All body text must be in Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, fully justified, with all pages numbered. The minimum body length is 4,000 words; the recommended length is 5,000 to 8,000 words. Do not include the author's name or institutional affiliation anywhere in the body. The title, author names and affiliations, abstract, and keywords must all be in single-column format.

3.7 Headings and Sub-headings

Number headings sequentially: 1. Introduction, 2. Theoretical Framework, 3. Analysis, 4. Conclusion, and so on. Level 1 headings (major sections) should be bold, Title Case. Level 2 sub-headings should be bold italic, sentence case. Level 3 sub-headings (if needed) should be italic, sentence case. Do not use ALL CAPS for any heading.

3.8 Quotations

Short quotations of fewer than 4 lines or under 40 words should be integrated into the text within double quotation marks. Long quotations of 4 lines or 40 words or more should be set as a block quotation, indented 0.5 inch from the left margin, in single spacing, without quotation marks. All quotations must be followed immediately by an in-text MLA citation. Use square brackets [ ] for additions to quoted text and ellipses (. . .) for omissions.

3.9 Tables and Figures

Number tables and figures consecutively (Table 1, Table 2; Figure 1, Figure 2) and refer to each in the body text. Each table must have a descriptive title placed above it; each figure must have a caption placed below it. Provide source information below any table or figure if data are drawn from external sources. Tables must be formatted in Word (not as images). Figures must be at minimum 300 dpi resolution.

4. Manuscript Preparation — Creative Submissions

4.1 General Formatting (Creative)

Creative submissions must be in Microsoft Word (.docx) format only, using Times New Roman 12pt throughout. Apply 1.5 spacing for prose and single spacing for poetry. Use left-aligned text for poetry and fiction, and fully justified text for essays and reviews. Margins should be 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides, paper size A4, with pages numbered at the bottom centre from page 1.

4.2 Title Page for Creative Submissions

Every creative submission must include a separate title page containing: title of the work (or titles of poems if submitting multiple poems); full name of the contributor (without honorific title); designation and institutional affiliation (if applicable); city and country; a contributor biography of 50 to 80 words in the third person; and correspondence email address.

4.3 Poetry

Submit 1 to 5 original, unpublished poems per submission. Each poem should appear on a separate page with its title centred at the top. Maintain the poet's intended line breaks, spacing, and visual arrangement. A brief note of 50 to 100 words on the inspiration or context of the poem(s) is optional. Translations of poems must be accompanied by a Translator's Note of 300 to 500 words discussing the translation choices made.

4.4 Short Fiction and Flash Fiction

Submit original, literary-quality short fiction of up to 2,500 words. The work must demonstrate literary craft, thematic depth, and engagement with language. Commercial genre fiction is generally outside our scope unless it has demonstrable literary or cultural significance. Flash fiction of 500 words or fewer is equally welcome.

4.5 Book Reviews

Reviews must be of a work published within the last three years, running to 800 to 1,500 words. Include a complete bibliographic reference of the work being reviewed at the top of the submission in MLA format. Reviews must offer critical evaluation and situate the work within its literary or scholarly context — not merely describe it. Reviews of academic monographs as well as creative works (novels, poetry collections, translations) are both welcome.

4.6 Film and Theatre Reviews

Reviews of films or theatrical productions with literary, cultural, or postcolonial significance are welcome, running to 800 to 1,500 words. Include full production details (director, year, production company / theatre) at the top of the submission. Reviews must offer critical analysis, not merely description.

4.7 Translations

Literary translations — poems, prose extracts, short stories — from any language into English are welcome. Submissions must be accompanied by a Translator's Note of 300 to 500 words discussing the source text, challenges, and interpretive choices. The contributor must confirm that they hold the right to translate and publish the work, or that the source text is in the public domain. The source text in its original language must be submitted alongside the translation.

5. Citation and Referencing

Creative Saplings follows the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style, current (9th) edition throughout. This applies to all research submissions and to any reviews or essays that cite sources.

5.1 In-Text Citations

Use the author–page format: (Bhabha 45) or (Said 112–15). When the author's name appears in the sentence, only the page number is needed: Said argues that... (112). For works with no page numbers, use the author's name or a shortened title. For two authors use (Gilbert and Gubar 67); for three or more authors use (Spivak et al. 203).

5.2 Works Cited List

The Works Cited list must begin on a new page at the end of the manuscript, headed Works Cited (not "Bibliography" or "References"). Entries must be listed alphabetically by the last name of the first-named author, using hanging indent format (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inch). Every source cited in the text must appear in the Works Cited list, and vice versa.

Creative submissions (poetry, fiction) are not required to include a Works Cited list unless sources are cited within the work.

6. Similarity Index and Plagiarism Policy — Research Submissions

All research submissions are checked for plagiarism using Turnitin. A Turnitin similarity report must be attached to every research submission as a supplementary file; submissions without an attached report will be returned without review. The threshold applies to body text only — the title page, abstract, keywords, direct quotations, and Works Cited list are excluded from the calculation.

A similarity index of 10% or below is acceptable and the manuscript proceeds to peer review. A similarity index of 10% to 15% will be reviewed by the editorial team to determine whether similarities arise from legitimate reasons; the author may be asked to revise and resubmit with a clean report. A similarity index of above 15% results in immediate rejection with formal notification to the corresponding author.

7. Multi-Author Submissions (Research Only)

For papers with more than one author, list all authors in agreed order of contribution on the title page (see Section 3.3). A maximum of four authors per article is preferred. For five or more authors, include a brief Author Contribution Statement of up to 60 words explaining each author's role. The corresponding author is responsible for all communication with the editorial office. All named authors are assumed to have agreed to the authorship list and order before submission. Author disputes will not be adjudicated by the editorial office.

8. Submission Process

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal's online submission portal. Submissions sent directly to personal email addresses will not be considered. Creative Saplings charges no submission fees, article processing charges (APC), or publication fees of any kind.

• Submission Portal: https://creativesaplings.in/index.php/1/about/submissions
• Editorial Queries Only: editor@creativesaplings.in
• Article Template: Download the official English Article Template
• No APC Policy: https://creativesaplings.in/index.php/1/7

8.1 Files to Upload at Submission

For Research Submissions, upload: (1) the main manuscript file (.docx) containing the abstract, keywords, body text, and Works Cited — author names and affiliations must NOT appear in this file; (2) a separate title page (.docx) with full paper title, all author names, affiliations, email addresses, and ORCID iDs — not shared with reviewers; (3) a Turnitin similarity report (PDF) clearly showing the overall similarity percentage and matched sources; and (4) a cover letter (recommended) confirming originality, declaring any AI tool use, and summarising the paper's contribution.

For Creative Submissions, upload: (1) the manuscript file (.docx) — the complete creative work with contributor name NOT appearing within the body; (2) a separate title page (.docx) with title(s), contributor name, affiliation, biography (50–80 words), and email; and (3) for translations only, the source text in the original language as a separate file.

8.2 Pre-Submission Checklist

Research contributors — confirm the following before submitting:

• Manuscript is in Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 spacing, fully justified, pages numbered from the title page.
• Title is in English only, does not exceed 12 words, and contains no special characters or symbols.
• Abstract is 150–250 words and covers all five required elements.
• Keywords (5–7) are provided below the abstract, separated by semicolons.
• Author names and affiliations do NOT appear in the main manuscript file.
• In-text citations and Works Cited follow MLA 9th edition throughout.
• Turnitin similarity report is attached — overall similarity at or below 10%.
• Paper is original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Any AI tool use has been declared in the cover letter.
• I have read and agree to the Plagiarism Policy and the Terms and Conditions.

Creative contributors — confirm the following before submitting:

• Work is entirely original and unpublished in any form.
• Manuscript file is in Times New Roman 12pt, pages numbered.
• Contributor name does NOT appear within the manuscript file (title page is separate).
• A contributor biography (50–80 words, third person) is included on the title page.
• For translations: source text and Translator's Note are both included.
• For reviews: full bibliographic / production details appear at the top of the submission.
• Work has not been generated by AI tools.

9. After Submission: Review and Decision

9.1 Research Submissions

Creative Saplings is a monthly, peer-reviewed journal that follows a double-blind peer review process. The overall process from submission to final decision takes approximately 5–7 Weeks. Initial screening takes place within 7 days of submission, during which the editor checks scope, format, Turnitin similarity, and originality; non-compliant submissions are returned. The manuscript is then assigned to two or more independent expert reviewers for double-blind review, a process taking 2 to 3 weeks. Following review, the editorial decision is issued. Possible outcomes are: Accept without revisions; Accept with minor revisions; Accept with major revisions (requires re-evaluation); or Reject. Where revisions are required, authors have 1 to 2 weeks to submit a revised manuscript with a point-by-point Response to Reviewers document addressing each comment individually. Where a suggestion has not been followed, a scholarly justification must be provided. The editorial team then evaluates the revised manuscript before issuing a final decision.

9.2 Creative Submissions

Creative submissions are reviewed by the editorial board. Contributors can expect an editorial decision within 6 to 8 weeks of submission. Possible outcomes are: Accept; Accept with minor revisions; or Decline. The editorial board's decision on creative submissions is final. Due to the limited space available for creative content, rejection does not necessarily reflect on the quality of the work.

9.3 Appeals (Research Only)

Authors who believe a rejection decision was made in error may submit a written appeal to editor@creativesaplings.in with a clear written justification. Appeals are reviewed independently by the editorial board, and a final decision is communicated within 10 days. The outcome of an appeal is final.

10. Copyright and Licensing

Contributors retain full copyright in their own work. Creative Saplings does not claim copyright over published content. All content is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Under this licence, anyone may freely read, download, copy, distribute, print, and share the work for non-commercial purposes, provided the original authors and source are properly credited. Commercial use of published content is strictly prohibited. Full licence details: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Contributors grant Creative Saplings the non-exclusive right to publish, reproduce, and distribute the work in any format, including digital. Contributors warrant that the work is original, that they hold the right to publish it, and that it does not infringe any third-party copyright or intellectual property rights. In the event of copyright infringement, sole responsibility lies with the author(s). Translators must additionally confirm that the source text is in the public domain or that written permission to translate and publish has been obtained from the copyright holder.

11. Useful Links

• Journal Home
• About the Journal
• Aims and Scope
• Editorial Team
• Submit a Manuscript
• Article Template (Download)
• Current Issue
• Archives
• Peer Review Policy
• Plagiarism Policy
• Publication Ethics
• Terms and Conditions
• Open Access Policy
• No APC Policy
• Privacy Statement
• Contact
• Register
• ORCID Registration
• CC BY-NC 4.0 License

12. Publication Ethics

Creative Saplings follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): publicationethics.org. By submitting to this journal, all contributors confirm compliance with the following principles:

Originality — the submitted work is the contributor's own, original, unpublished work.

No dual submission — the manuscript is not under review at any other journal or publication venue.

Accurate authorship — all listed authors made a genuine intellectual contribution; ghost, guest, and honorary authorship are prohibited.

Textual integrity — all quotations, evidence, and data are reported accurately and transparently.

Plagiarism compliance — research submissions are checked with Turnitin; similarity must be at or below 10%.

Conflict of interest — any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work must be disclosed.

AI disclosure — any use of AI-assisted writing or editing tools must be declared in the cover letter.

Corrections — contributors who discover errors in published work must notify the editor promptly to arrange a correction or retraction.

For the full Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, visit: creativesaplings.in/index.php/1/4. For the full Plagiarism Policy, visit: creativesaplings.in/index.php/1/3