Guidelines for Authors

1. General Submission Policy
   Creativitas: Critical Explorations in Literary Studies welcomes submissions of original, unpublished research in English studies and allied disciplines. The journal seeks to promote critical, creative, and interdisciplinary engagements that enrich literary scholarship and cultural discourse.
   
   All submissions must adhere to the MLA Ninth Edition for citation, referencing, and formatting.
   
   Creativitas follows a two-stage submission process: authors must first submit an abstract for preliminary consideration. Only authors whose abstracts are approved by the editorial board will be invited to submit the full manuscript for peer review.
   
   All correspondence and submissions must be sent to creativitasjournal@gmail.com, with a copy (CC) to sapientia2024@gmail.com.
   


2. Abstract Submission
   Authors are required to submit an abstract of approximately 300 words, accompanied by up to five keywords. The abstract should concisely outline the research problem, theoretical framework, methodology, and key argument of the proposed paper.
   
   Submission Format and Procedure:
   
   • File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
   • Subject line: Abstract Submission for Creativitas (Volume [insert number], Issue [insert number])
   • Send to: creativitasjournal@gmail.com (CC: sapientia2024@gmail.com)

Evaluation Criteria: All abstracts are reviewed by the editorial board based on originality, scholarly potential, clarity of purpose, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

Notification: Authors whose abstracts are accepted will receive a formal invitation to submit the full manuscript within the specified timeframe.

Unsolicited full manuscripts will not be considered unless an abstract has been approved.


3. Full Manuscript Submission
   Once an abstract is accepted, the corresponding author will be invited to submit the full manuscript.
   Length and Format:
   • Word count: 4,000–7,000 words, including notes and references.
   • Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).
   • Citation Style: MLA Ninth Edition.
   • Subject line: Manuscript Submission for Creativitas (Volume [insert number], Issue [insert number])
   
   Anonymization: All manuscripts must be anonymized for double-blind peer review. Authors should:
   • Remove all identifying details (name, institution, acknowledgments, biography).
   • Clear document metadata.
   • Replace self-citations with neutral references such as “the author” or “this study.”
   
   A separate cover page must be attached in a different file containing:
   • Author’s full name and institutional affiliation.
   • ORCID ID (if available)
   • Contact email
   • Manuscript title
   • A short biographical note (100–150 words)


4. Peer Review and Editorial Decision
   All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review by at least two qualified reviewers. Each submission is assessed on:
   
   • Originality and intellectual contribution.
   • Theoretical and methodological strength
   • Clarity and structure of argument
   • Relevance to the journal’s disciplinary focus
   
   Authors typically receive a decision—acceptance, revision, or rejection—within 8–10 weeks of submission.
   
   Following review, the final decision on acceptance or rejection rests solely with the Editor-in-Chief, based on reviewers’ recommendations and editorial judgment.
   


5. Ethical and Editorial Standards
   Creativitas upholds the highest standards of academic integrity.
   • All submissions are screened for plagiarism using Turnitin and Drillbit, internationally recognized plagiarism detection software.
   • Any instance of plagiarism, duplication, or unethical conduct results in immediate disqualification.
   • Authors must ensure transparent acknowledgment of all sources, funding, or institutional support.
   • The journal follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for best practices in research publication and editorial management.


6. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
   Creativitas enforces a strict no-AI authorship policy.
   Manuscripts containing AI-generated or AI-assisted content—including text, analysis, translation, or visuals—are not accepted. Authors must certify that all work is the result of original human authorship.
   


7. Open Access and Article Processing Charges (APC)
   
   Creativitas operates as a diamond open-access journal.
   
   There are no submission fees or article processing charges (APCs). All content is freely accessible online to readers worldwide.
   
   This model supports the journal’s commitment to equitable knowledge dissemination and academic inclusivity.
   


8. Copyright and Licensing
   Authors retain full copyright of their published work. Upon publication, they grant Creativitas the right of first publication under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.
   
   This license allows readers to:
   
   • Share the work with proper attribution;
   • Not use it for commercial purposes;
   • Not alter, transform, or create derivatives.

This ensures that Creativitas remains both freely accessible and protective of authorial integrity.


9. Frequency and Eligibility
   Creativitas is published annually, though abstracts are accepted throughout the year.
   
   The journal welcomes submissions from academics, independent researchers, and postgraduate scholars in English and Cultural Studies and allied fields.
   
   By maintaining an inclusive and selective submission process, Creativitas fosters academic diversity, rigorous scholarship, and constructive global dialogue.
   


10. Correspondence and Queries
    For questions related to submission procedures or the review process, authors may contact: sapientia2024@gmail.com (Queries are typically answered within 5–7 working days.).