Journal of First-Year Writing header with portraits of notable writers and educators

Submit to the Journal

The Journal of First-Year Writing welcomes submissions that address first-year writing pedagogy, theory, and research. Articles must clearly address First-Year Writing and/or must situate settings of instruction or institutional agency in explicit relation to First-Year Writing concerns.

Submission Guidelines

Manuscript Length: 25–30 pages (7,500–9,000 words) including Works Cited
Format: Follow current MLA guidelines
File Type: Submit as Word document or Google Docs link

Manuscript Requirements

Cover Page: Include author name(s), institutional affiliations, contact information, and a brief bio
Second Page: Title only (no author information), a 250–300 word abstract, and 5–7 keywords
Notes: Use minimal endnotes
Student Work: Excerpts from student writing require written permission and IRB documentation

Preferred Topics & Approaches

The journal welcomes submissions that employ a variety of methodological and theoretical frameworks, including:

  • Antiracist and social justice frameworks
  • Second-language writing theory
  • Ethnographic and qualitative methods
  • Digital composing and multimodal pedagogy
  • Writing center practice and research
  • Translingual approaches

Review Process

Authors will receive a confirmation of receipt, followed by notification about whether the submission will be sent for peer review. The review process typically takes 6–8 weeks.

Publication Schedule: The journal publishes spring and fall issues annually with support from the CUNY Office of Academic Affairs.

Guest-Edited Issues

Proposals for guest-edited special issues are welcome. Please contact the editors at jbwcuny@gmail.com to discuss your proposal.