Author Guidelines for Expression of Interest (EOI)
Authors are invited to register their interest with an EOI submitted via the idea journal submission portal by 9 February 2024.
Please use the following file name for EOIs: idea journal 2024 EOI_FAMILY NAME
An EOI is a 1-page PDF document that includes the author(s) name, affiliation, email address, working title, the form the contribution will take (text-based or image-based research essay), one key image, five keywords and a brief 300-word abstract outlining the specific topic that will be examined or explored in the full manuscript.
The EOI is reviewed by the editorial team only; it is not refereed. The EOI signals the author’s intent to submit a full manuscript, which is double-blind peer-reviewed. The EOI provides the editorial team with the topics being addressed and the scope of the review process. Authors’ contributions are only accepted or declined for publication after the peer-review process.
Please submit your EOI HERE.
Author Guidelines for Full Manuscript (Test-Based and Image-Based Research Essays)
These guidelines below are for both peer-review and final/revised manuscripts. For peer-review manuscripts, please ensure that all identifying elements are removed, such as author information, acknowledgements, bios, etc. Image permissions and final image files will be submitted at the stage of final/revised manuscript, after peer review.
Manuscripts: There are two research essay categories for idea journal. The Manuscript text (Body text) of each category should be formatted to (Arial/ 10 pt/ 1.5 spacing, left margin justified only, and UK English). Please clearly state which category you are using in your abstract.
Category 1: Text-based research essay
A text-based research essay is an academic essay where text leads and images/figures supplement the text. It is 5000-7000 words long, including notes, captions, and acknowledgements. A title, five keywords, and 300-word abstract should accompany the essay and are not included in the essay's word count. Low-resolution thumbnail images (approx. 30 x 30 mm) should be inserted into the text with figure captions. The manuscript should be submitted for peer review as an A4 Word document (.docx), not a .pdf, and without identifying the author(s). Detailed formatting requirements are outlined below.
Category 2: Visual-based research essay
A visual-based research essay uses the space of the page in a conceptual manner and the compositional arrangement of visual imagery and/or text as a creative work. Visual-based research essays should be submitted for peer review in 2 parts, without identifying the author(s):
- The first part is a Word document (.docx) that includes the title, keywords, 300-word abstract, and notes. A text portion of 0-2500 words (excluding the abstract) may be included to contextualise, introduce, and/or frame the visual imagery.
- The second part is a single .pdf document that includes a maximum of 10 image pages in preferred order, A4, compressed to no more than 20MB. If these pages contain text, save as an .eps file prior to saving as a .pdf file, and submit both. The journal is formatted in portrait orientation, visual-based research essays can be full-bleed on the page, but single page only; not double spread. Save all your original files so that future revisions can be made. Detailed formatting requirements are outlined below. See the following visual essays from previous issues for reference:
Lovers in an Upstairs Room by Maria Gil Ulldemolins
Silvering (slowly)Augmentation, age, and mattering by Carl Douglas, Sue Gallagher, Emily O'Hara, Rafik Patel, Nooroa Tapuni
From the void, the night: A drawing-writing correspondence by Jen Archer-Martin, Lisa Munnelly
Notes/Referencing
idea journal uses a variation of MHRA style (http://www.mhra.org.uk/style/) in which the notes are included at the end of the essay as endnotes and there is no bibliography. Endnotes list each source reference used in text- and visual-essays. References are written in full the first time the source is listed (including page number), and written using a ‘shortened notes’ style (not ibid.) on subsequent citations. Please avoid using endnotes as a place to add further detailed information; best to work that information into the text if it is crucial. Use superscript reference numbers such as this: 1 (not Roman numerals) to indicate each notes location in the text. idea journal follows all other facets of MHRA style guide, including when using quotation marks, acronyms, italics, dates and numbers etc.
Some other style suggestions from the editors:
- Make a habit of introducing people when you mention them for the first time, such as political scientist Maxine Bardeen.
- Spell out acronyms in the first mention, such as Design Institute of Australia (DIA). Offer definitions for key terms, especially if you are using them in a unique way. Avoid jargon.
Video/audio material
idea journal welcomes the use of video and audio material. For the peer-review submission, insert hyperlinks to that material in a location that does not identify you such as a Google folder, a Vimeo site or YouTube. Most video and audio material is too big for the journal portal to be uploaded.
Spelling, punctuation, and grammar
At point of peer-review submission, and final submission, the journal requires each author to take responsibility for checking their essay’s spelling, punctuation, and grammar in relation to MHRA style guide. Essays will be returned if they have not been checked.
Submitting a revised and/or final manuscript
If a manuscript is deemed satisfactory to progress to a next stage of minor or major revisions, authors will be given a date by which those revisions are due. Essays are not formally accepted until the final stage of the publication process when all material has been received and proofs have been approved. Revisions to be made will be indicated using Word’s Track Change function or, in the case of a PDF, using the sticky notes and highlighting function in Acrobat Pro.
Title: (Times New Roman/20 pt/bold/ black)
Author Name: (Times New Roman/ 12 pt/ bold/ black) In the case of multiple authors, list them in the preferred order.
Affiliation: (Arial/ 12 pt/ regular/ black)
Orcid number: (Arial/ 12 pt/ regular/ black). Example: 0000-0016-5273-0211
Keywords: The word 'keywords' (Times New Roman/ 12 pt/ bold/ black) and 5 keywords only (separated by semi-colon, all lower case unless proper nouns, Arial/ 12 pt/ regular/ black)
Abstract: The word 'abstract' (Times New Roman/ 12 pt/ bold/ black) followed by 300 words maximum (not a repeat of the introduction section of the essay), no quotes or footnotes, (Arial/ 12 pt/ regular/ black).
Section Headings: (the first one is sometimes considered an Introduction): Heading Title (Times New Roman/ 12 pt/ bold/ black).
Section Sub-headings: (Times New Roman/ 12 pt/ bold/ black).
Figures: To refer to each figure in the text, insert the notation '[Fig. X]' for each figure at appropriate locations throughout the text, at the end of sentences.
Insert a low-res thumbnail of the image (approx. 30 x 30 mm) after the paragraph that refers to the figure in the text. Under that thumbnail, provide a short caption for each image; do not repeat what is already in the text. Follow the caption with image credit. If the image has copyright permission associated with it, include that also. (Arial/ 8pt/ regular/ black) Example:
In-text insertion:
[Fig. 2]
Figure caption:
Figure 2. The coastal landscape ravaged by the storm. Sally McManus, 2022. With permission from Turnbull Library Archives, Wellington, Aotearoa.
Acknowledgements: The word 'Acknowledgement', 'Thank you', 'Mentors', 'Funding Agencies', 'Acknowledgement to Country' (if appropriate), or other acknowledgements should be titled (Times New Roman/ 12 pt/ bold/ black) and the text (Arial/ 12 pt/ regular/ black).
Author Biography: The words 'Author Biography' (Times New Roman/ 12 pt/ bold/ black) and text 50-100 words/ 50 each if there are more than one author (Arial/ 12 pt/ regular/ black).
Endnotes: (Arial/ 8 pt/ regular/ black), numbered 1, 2, 3 superscript (not Roman numerals) using word endnote function and MHRA referencing conventions for italics, all URLs hyperlinked).
If your manuscript includes a video or sound file, locate were you would like it to be posted as a Figure with a link or just a link and give it a caption and credits the same as an Figure.
