Submission Guidelines

The Vernal Pool is interested in original creative textual expression.

Here are the general guidelines:

For fall 2016, submissions are open to UC Merced undergraduates from September 15 to Deccember 15. Submissions received outside of these submission periods will not be considered for publication.

Please use your ucmerced.edu email address when submitting.  Emails not originating from ucmerced's domain won't be considered.

Submissions should be typed, preferably in twelve-point font.

Submissions should be in a single file and should not exceed 2500 words.

Poem submissions should be from 1 to 5 poems, all in one file.

Multiple submissions will not be considered for a single submission period -- please have one file that contains your sole submission for the submission period.

Original texts that center on creativity have the greatest opportunity for publication. While we hesitate to define creativity in any absolute way, pieces that share their imagination and move us to laugh, to cry, to wonder, and/or to react with a wider audience are more likely candidates for publication. Typical creative forms include poetry, fiction, drama and creative non-fiction. But there are many others. We hope to see new ones.

If you're ready to register and submit work, go to the journal!