Submissions
Submissions for Rabble are generally open during the summer and first half of the fall semester, but exact dates are announced on Pwatem’s instagram and discord. Similarly, the Spring Anthology accepts submissions during winter break and into the spring semester. When in doubt, check discord or reach out to the inner staff for any deadlines.
All undergraduate VCU students are welcome to submit work, regardless of their major, and we encourage writers and artists to edit and re-submit their works based on feedback from our editor team. Although students are welcome to submit as many pieces as they would like, Pwatem will not include more than 5 works from a single individual in one publication. We do not require cover letters or charge fees for submissions.
Writing Requirements
Pwatem accepts a variety of creative works, including fiction, non-fiction, scripts, plays, and all forms of poetry. We welcome submissions in all styles and genres. Typically, we publish pieces that are no longer than 3500 words. To submit your work, please attach your entire submission as one file (if submitting multiple poems, please include them in one file). Format your submission in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and include your name in the body of the file name.
ex. [Submission Title] _ [Your Name]
We do not accept AI generated writing. This includes the use of AI to outline, edit, or generate ideas for a written work.
Some submissions will also be chosen by the staff to be featured on our website, with permission from the authors. Contributors whose works are published on our website will have the opportunity to include direct links to their personal social media platforms.
Art Requirements
Pwatem accepts a wide range of media, including but not limited to sculpture, photography, paintings, prints, illustrations, graphic arts, and comic art. For comics, we accept submissions of up to 10 pages. Due to the size of our anthology, Pwatem may need to put multiple comic panels on the same page for publication. We do not accept comics that have already been accepted into other Student Media Center publications.
To submit your work, please include the title of the piece and your name in the body of the file name. Attach an individual high-resolution, well-documented image of the work in .png file format. You may also include a link to an online portfolio in the submission email.
We do not accept AI generated art
We also welcome submissions of film, musical recordings, spoken word, and kinetic imagery for website publication as well.
Editing Process
All submissions are reviewed by our editor team in the order in which they are received. Editor meetings are held twice a month, so please allow 3-6 weeks for our response, depending on the date works are submitted. For written pieces, an editor may be assigned to propose edits and work closely with the writer to develop the piece. Ultimately, the writer will make the final decision on what changes will or will not be made. This process typically takes 3-4 weeks. For pieces that we want to feature on our website, please allow at least 2-4 weeks for publication.
We look forward to seeing your submissions!