Submission Guidelines | Agora Review

Agora Review Submission Guidelines

This page explains what Agora Review accepts and how authors should prepare their submissions. For details about what happens after you submit, including review stages, timelines, decisions, and revisions, please see Review Process

Who Is Eligible to Submit?

At this time, Agora Review accepts submissions only from authors between the ages of 14 and 18.

What Do We Publish?

Agora Review publishes writing across a wide range of genres and disciplines. We are especially interested in work that reflects strong critical thinking, engages thoughtfully with important societal issues, and supports claims with credible evidence when appropriate. In addition, we expect submissions to be logically organized and use clear, effective language.

We currently accept submissions in the following categories:

Research Article

A research article presents a sustained, evidence-based analysis of a topic. This may include original empirical research or interpretive, historical, or theoretical analysis grounded in credible sources.

Review Article

Rather than presenting entirely original findings, a review article synthesizes and evaluates existing research on a topic, identifying important perspectives and gaps in the existing literature.

Opinion Article

An opinion article presents a clear argument or perspective on a current issue, idea, policy, or debate. Strong opinion pieces are grounded in evidence and reasoning rather than personal feeling alone.

Creative Writing

We welcome creative writing that explores meaningful themes or societal issues. This may include short stories, poetry, personal essays, flash fiction, scripts, or other original literary forms.

Word Count Guidelines

Most submissions fall between 1,500 and 5,000 words. Exceptions may be made, especially for creative writing or unusually ambitious research projects. However, submissions that fall within this range are more likely to be accepted for publication.

Author’s Note Requirement

One of the unique features of Agora Review is that, much like the agora in ancient Greece, we are interested in stimulating meaningful public discourse about important issues. For that reason, every submission must include an Author’s Note of 250–500 words.

In the Author’s Note, we encourage you to explain what motivated you to create this piece; why you believe the issue, theme, or question explored in the work is important; what you hope readers will think about, question, or discuss after reading it; and any personal, academic, or intellectual background that shaped your perspective.

The Author’s Note is not evaluated in the same way as the main submission, but it helps the editorial team better understand the intentions behind the work and how it contributes to broader public conversation, and it will be published along with the work itself.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

All submissions must be shared as a Google Docs link. Sharing settings must be set so that “Anyone with the link” can view the document.

Please use a readable standard font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in 11-point or 12-point size, and keep formatting simple and consistent. Please use single spacing throughout.

Authors do not need to match Agora Review’s final publication layout exactly at the submission stage. What matters most is clarity, consistency, and ease of review.

If your piece uses headings, please format them consistently. In most cases, main headings and subheadings should be clearly distinguished and placed on their own lines. However, authors of humanities and social-science essays may also choose a more continuous structure with fewer internal headings if that better suits the flow of the argument.

For scientific and other source-based academic papers, please use Vancouver-style citations throughout. In-text citations should appear as bracketed plain-text numbers, for example [1] or [2]. Full references should appear in a numbered References section at the end of the piece in the order of first citation. References should use bracketed numbers and should include one blank line between entries. If possible, please include a DOI or stable URL for each source.

If your piece includes tables or figures, please label them clearly and keep formatting straightforward. Tables should be easy to read and figures should be placed close to the relevant discussion when possible.

Accepted pieces may be reformatted by the editorial team before publication.

Recommended Structures by Submission Type

At Agora Review, we recognize that strong academic and creative work can take many forms, and we do not expect all submissions to follow a single standardized format. What matters most is clarity of thought, coherence of argument, and the strength of the ideas being communicated. As such, the structures below are intended as flexible guidance rather than strict requirements.

Research Articles may take different shapes depending on the discipline and method of inquiry. In some cases — particularly in STEM fields — authors may choose a more conventional empirical structure that includes an introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. In other cases, especially in the humanities and social sciences, research is more interpretive in nature and may unfold as a sustained analytical essay. These pieces often begin with an introduction that frames a research question or thesis, followed by sections that develop historical, theoretical, or cultural context and proceed through thematic or chronological analysis of evidence. Rather than reporting experimental results, these works build insight through interpretation, synthesis, and argumentation across sources.

Review Articles generally focus on synthesizing and evaluating existing scholarship rather than presenting original empirical findings. They typically begin by establishing the scope and purpose of the review, then organize relevant literature in a way that may be thematic or chronological depending on what best serves the topic. As the discussion develops, authors often compare key debates, highlight areas of consensus or disagreement, and offer a critical evaluation of the strengths, limitations, and gaps within the existing body of work. These articles usually conclude by summarizing the current state of knowledge and suggesting directions for future inquiry.

Opinion Articles are more flexible in form, but they should still present a clear central argument supported by reasoning and evidence. While structure may vary widely depending on style and topic, effective opinion writing typically develops an idea in a logical progression, engages with alternative perspectives where appropriate, and builds toward a concluding reflection that reinforces the author’s position or invites further consideration.

Creative Writing is the most open-ended category in terms of structure. Submissions may take the form of short stories, poetry, personal essays, or hybrid forms, and may follow conventional narrative arcs or experimental structures depending on artistic intent. Regardless of form, creative submissions should feel intentional, polished, and complete.

While these descriptions outline common approaches, we welcome thoughtful departures from them. Submissions that adopt alternative structures will still be considered, especially when the chosen format better serves the content, argument, or artistic purpose of the work.

Academic Integrity and AI Policy

Agora Review takes academic integrity seriously. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. All sources must be properly cited. We recognize that AI can be used responsibly as a support tool, but submissions must reflect the author’s own thoughts and voice. If AI tools were used at any stage of the writing, brainstorming, editing, or research process, this use must be disclosed. Undisclosed AI-generated writing may result in rejection.

Authors should not submit work that presents fabricated evidence, invented citations, manipulated data, or misleading claims about research methods or results. If a submission involves surveys, interviews, experiments, or other work with human participants, the author should be prepared to explain how participants’ privacy, consent, and well-being were protected.

Submission FAQ

How Can I Submit My Writing?

You can submit your writing through our online submission form. However, we strongly encourage you to read the complete submission guidelines before submitting, as failure to follow these expectations may reduce your chances of acceptance.

Is it free to submit?

Yes. It is free to submit through our standard review process. Authors who need a faster decision may choose Fast Track Submission for $135. Fast Track submissions receive a guaranteed editorial verdict within two weeks. This fee is nonrefundable and does not affect the likelihood of acceptance.

If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be required to pay an article processing charge, or APC, of $175. This fee helps cover the costs of preparing and maintaining the publication, including formatting, indexing preparation, hosting, and other editorial and technical expenses.

However, Agora Review believes in making this platform accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds. If the APC represents a financial hardship, you may contact us at contact.agorareview@gmail.com explaining your situation, and exceptions may be made.

Can I submit previously published work?

No. Agora Review only considers original work that has not been previously published elsewhere. This includes publication in another journal, magazine, online platform, personal website, blog, or other publicly accessible venue.

Work written for a class may be submitted as long as it has not been publicly published and the author has the right to submit it.

Can I submit the same piece to Agora Review and another publication at the same time?

No. Agora Review does not consider simultaneous submissions. Please do not submit work to Agora Review while it is also under review by another publication. If your work is accepted elsewhere after you submit to Agora Review, please contact us immediately to withdraw your submission.

What happens after I submit?

After you submit, your work goes through Agora Review’s editorial review process, which may include initial screening, subject-area evaluation, editorial decision, revision, formatting, and publication preparation. For a full explanation, please see Review Process.

What happens to my work after it is published?

Authors retain copyright to their work. By publishing with Agora Review, authors grant Agora Review a non-exclusive right to publish, archive, display, and promote the work online.

Authors may share links to their published work and may cite the publication in academic, personal, or professional contexts. Others may link to published work, but they may not reproduce or adapt it without appropriate permission.

Can I revise my submission after submitting it?

If you notice a serious issue shortly after submitting, please contact us as soon as possible. However, authors should submit the strongest version of their work at the time of submission. If the piece moves forward in the review process, revisions may be requested by the editorial team.

Can I resubmit a rejected piece?

Rejected submissions may not be resubmitted in the same form. However, authors may submit a substantially revised version if the piece has been meaningfully reworked and addresses the concerns that led to the original rejection.

For additional questions, please contact us at: contact.agorareview@gmail.com