Editorial Policies

1. Mission and Scope
   Creativitas: Critical Explorations in Literary Studies is an online, open-access, double-blind peer-reviewed journal published annually. The journal seeks to foster critical, theoretical, and creative engagements in English studies and allied disciplines, encouraging multidisciplinary perspectives that enrich literary scholarship. It welcomes research articles, critical essays, interviews, translations, and reviews that contribute to ongoing dialogues in literature, culture, and related humanistic fields.
   


2. Editorial Independence
   The Editorial Board maintains full autonomy in the selection, review, and publication of manuscripts. All editorial decisions are made without influence from sponsors, institutions, or external stakeholders. The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team ensure integrity, fairness, and transparency in all editorial processes.
   


3. Peer Review Policy
   • All submissions undergo an initial editorial screening to determine relevance, originality, and adherence to submission guidelines.
   • Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent for double-blind peer review—both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the process.
   • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two qualified experts in the relevant field.
   • Reviewers are selected based on their scholarly expertise, impartiality, and ethical standing.
   • Editorial decisions (acceptance, revision, or rejection) are based on reviewers' evaluations, originality of contribution, and alignment with the journal's aims.


4. Publication Ethics and Integrity
   Creativitas upholds the highest standards of ethical conduct as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to the following principles:
   
   • Originality: Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
   • Plagiarism: All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening. Plagiarized content or academic misconduct will result in rejection or retraction.
   • Conflicts of Interest: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
   • Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant scholarly contributions should be listed as authors.
   • Corrections and Retractions: In cases of significant error or ethical breach, the journal reserves the right to issue corrections, clarifications, or retractions.


5. Open Access and Copyright
   • Creativitas is fully open access. All published content is freely available without subscription or access barriers.
   • The journal supports the principles of knowledge sharing and intellectual accessibility.
   • Authors retain copyright of their work while granting Creativitas the right of first publication.
   • Published works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license, allowing non-commercial use with proper attribution.


6. Submission and Review Timeline
   • The journal follows an annual publication cycle.
   • Submissions are accepted year-round. Accepted papers are scheduled for publication in the forthcoming issue.
   • The average review period ranges from 6–8 weeks, depending on reviewer availability and revisions required.


7. Editorial Responsibilities
   The editorial team commits to:
   
   • Maintaining confidentiality of submissions.
   • Ensuring fair and unbiased peer review.
   • Communicating decisions clearly and promptly.
   • Upholding ethical and professional standards in all interactions.


8. Author Responsibilities
   Authors are expected to:
   
   • Follow the journal’s submission and formatting guidelines.
   • Ensure accuracy, originality, and proper citation of sources.
   • Respond to reviewers’ comments constructively and within the stipulated time frame.
   • Acknowledge all funding sources and institutional affiliations.


9. Reviewer Responsibilities
   Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining scholarly rigor. They are expected to:
   
   • Evaluate submissions objectively and confidentially.
   • Provide constructive, respectful, and timely feedback.
   • Disclose any conflicts of interest.
   • Refrain from using unpublished material for personal research.


10. Archiving and Indexing
    Creativitas ensures long-term digital preservation of all published content through reliable archiving systems. The journal actively pursues inclusion in academic indexing databases to enhance visibility and citation.
    


11. Policy on Special Issues and Thematic Volumes
    The journal may publish special issues on emerging or interdisciplinary themes within literary and cultural studies. Proposals for special issues are subject to editorial approval and undergo the same peer review standards as regular submissions.
    


12. Contact and Transparency
    For queries related to submissions, peer review, or editorial matters, authors and reviewers may contact the editorial office via the official journal email. Transparency, respect, and open communication define Creativitas ’s relationship with its contributors and readership. The editorial team is committed to maintaining an inclusive, ethical, and intellectually vibrant publication environment.