Magazine Submission

Upcoming Issue: Fall/Winter 2023

We want to hear your stories!

Missouri Humanities (MH) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen communities and enrich lives by connecting Missourians to the people, places, and ideas that shape society. Submissions may be in the genre of a perspectives piece, personal narrative, poetry, historical or nonfiction essay, short story, personal reflection, book or film review or findings from original research, geared towards a public humanities audience. Submissions should be between 350 to 1,000 words in length.

Articles and creative submissions may be focused on any subject of the author’s choice. Preference will be given to submissions related to the MH annual theme. We are curious about what comes to mind when thinking of the relationship between discovery, innovation, and the human experience, and how Missouri has played a role. How can technology-driven change be an opportunity to build empathy and create a more inclusive, human-centered future that positively impacts families, the environment, and communities? Missouri Humanities is excitedly looking toward its 2024 Signature Series that will delve into these questions. We invite you to submit work that speaks to this topic, both in the past, present, and future, especially as it pertains to Missouri and Missourians.

Submission Periods

Spring/Summer: Submissions are open January 1^st – February 28^th

Fall/Winter: Submissions are open June 1^st – July 31^st

The best way to familiarize yourself with the preferred style and structure of MO Humanities magazine articles is to read previously published issues.

Guidelines

In general, these are the word count totals we request for 1 or 2-page articles, depending on the number and sizes of the images accompanying the article:

• 1 page: 350–500 words
• 2 pages: 500–1,000 words

Please include your full job/position title(s) and degree title(s), as well as those of any co-authors. If your article contains notes from research or for reference, please incorporate them into the article’s body. Do not include footnotes or endnotes with your article.

Articles should be submitted as text documents (such as .DOC or .RTF). Do not submit articles in .PDF or .PAGES format. Articles should follow Chicago Manual of Style guidelines, which are summarized for free online at Owl Purdue or can be read in full with a subscription.

Art or photography should be submitted in .PNG, .JPG, or .TIF format, 300 dpi minimum, and at least 4″ in width (larger if possible). Please attach images as separate files, independent of your article, and please include any information relevant for captions. If a file is too large to submit, you may upload it to Google Drive and send a link, though please note to adjust the privacy settings so we may view your work. Any inaccessible files will not be considered.

Submissions with excessive formatting or in need of extensive copyediting may be returned to the author for revision; please only submit clean copy with minimal formatting.

Intellectual Property

Copyright for contributions published in MO Humanities magazine is retained by each author with publication rights granted to the magazine. An author’s submission grants MH the right to publish the article in MO Humanities digital and print editions of the magazine. Content is free to users and the public.

Important Dates

July 31st, 2023: Deadline for submissions
August 11^th, 2023: Authors will be notified if their article was chosen for this issue
January 1, 2024: Issue is published

Submission Instructions

Please email your submissions to mailmohumanities@gmail.com.

Space is limited. Not all submissions will be published. After an author submits an article, MH staff, editorial staff, and/or a volunteer committee will review each submission and determine which articles are the best fit for the magazine. MH staff will keep all authors informed as to the status of their submissions throughout the process. Articles not chosen for the upcoming issue may be filed and considered for future editions. Authors will be notified via email within one month of the submission deadline and told the outcome of their submission.

The MH and editorial staff may recommend rejection, revision, or proceeding to publication. If a piece is deemed appropriate for publishing, authors will consult with editorial staff or staff members to maximize the effectiveness of the submission.

After a piece has been accepted for publication, MH staff will provide line edits in consultation with the author to reach a layout-ready version of the work. Authors will have the opportunity to review the final version of the laid-out piece prior to publication.

While there is not a contest or honorarium for the Spring/Summer edition, contributors will receive bonus print copies of the magazine and be automatically entered into the Fall/Winter contest.