Information for Authors

We accept year-round submissions exploring the history, science, and culture of play. As a peer-reviewed publication, the American Journal of Play adheres to a rigorous double-blind review process to ensure scholarly standard and integrity.

Before external review, all submissions undergo an internal review by the editorial team to evaluate manuscript research quality, timeliness, and overall fit with the Journal’s focus. We do not accept manuscripts previously published (in print or online) or under consideration for publication elsewhere. As a matter of conviction and policy, the American Journal of Play assesses written material for inclusive language—terminology that does not exclude or disparage people.

Preparing Your Manuscript

While final articles may vary in word count, a typical paper published in the American Journal of Play is 6,500 to 8,000 words (not including endnotes). Given our multidisciplinary readership, we recommend authors define discipline-specific terms, provide full names prior to the use of acronyms, and avoid professional jargon and shorthand.

To ensure timely response and processing, please follow these guidelines before you submit:

Format the manuscript in the Journal style.

All text should be double-spaced, 12-point typescript in a Word document with one-inch margins. In general, the Journal prefers endnotes, but accepts submissions with author-text citations to accommodate the wide disciplinary scope of play studies. We recommend that any discursive material or “see also” references (in the endnotes) be used sparingly. We do not accept author-text citations and endnotes in the same manuscript.

Review the manuscript’s bibliographic information.

Submissions should reflect the most recent edition of Chicago Manual of Style with the following exceptions:

• Book citations do not require a publisher’s name or location.
• Article citations do not require a month or season of publication.

Create a separate cover sheet with author information.

To ensure double-blind review, all author details should only appear on a cover sheet submitted separately with your manuscript. On the cover sheet, provide the following information for each author: name, mailing address, academic/professional title, institutional affiliation (if applicable), and email.

Include an abstract and 5-7 keywords.

Within the manuscript, please include a one-paragraph abstract (100 to 150 words) detailing the argument and the significance of the article. Under the abstract, provide keywords or terms that reflect the manuscript’s focus.

Attach images, tables, figures, and illustrations separately.

Do not embed images, tables, figures, or illustrations into the manuscript. Submit any visual assets as separate email attachments in high resolution JPEG/TIFF formats with clear descriptive titles (such as Table 1.jpeg or Figure 2.tiff). Filenames should directly match with corresponding in-text references, such as [Table 1] or [Figure 2], that denote the intended placement of the Tables/Figures in the manuscript.

For any visual assets in the manuscript, provide a title and short explanatory caption, date (if applicable), and credit to the originating source. It is the author’s responsibility to obtain any necessary print and electronic rights and permissions for copyrighted material used in the manuscript.

Submit

Submissions should be saved as Word documents and sent to submissions@journalofplay.org.