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Submission Guidelines

How to prepare, format, and submit a manuscript. Submissions from high school and college students are open for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Submit a Manuscript
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Selectivity

Not every manuscript we receive is accepted. We look for clear writing and for conclusions that follow from the evidence.

Editors and subject experts review each manuscript. If your work shows promise, we may invite you to revise it before a final decision. Revision requests address argument, structure, evidence, and clarity.

Who Can Submit

The first author must be a student currently enrolled in an accredited high school or college.

What You Can Submit

Original Research Articles: In-depth studies that report new findings, supported by data, analysis, and scholarly references.

Literature Reviews: Focused syntheses of existing scholarship that identify the main debates and gaps and point to directions for future work.

Interview Features: Structured interviews with technology leaders, written in a journalistic or academic style and including the author's own analysis.

Submission Rules

  • No dual submissions. Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is considered unethical.
  • The manuscript must be original and unpublished.
  • Manuscripts are evaluated for rigor, clarity, integrity, and relevance.
  • Submit as Microsoft Word (.docx). PDF and Google Docs are not accepted.

Formatting Requirements

All manuscripts must follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition, in both formatting and citation style. Where APA 7 permits more than one option, follow the single option specified on this page.

File Format & Layout

  • Format: Microsoft Word (.docx)
  • Length: 6,000 words maximum, excluding references and appendices
  • Page: 8.5" × 11" (US Letter), 1 inch margins on all sides
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
  • Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including the abstract, block quotations, table notes, and references
  • Paragraphs: Left-aligned with a ragged right margin, first line indented 0.5 inch

Title Page & Abstract

  • Title: Bold, centered, title case, in the upper half of the page. 12 words or fewer.
  • Below the title: Author name, school affiliation, and date, each on its own line
  • Abstract: On its own page, 250 words maximum, one paragraph, not indented
  • Keywords: 3 to 5, indented, with Keywords: in italics

Headings

APA 7 uses five heading levels, all in 12 pt Times New Roman.

  • Level 1: Centered, Bold, Title Case
  • Level 2: Flush Left, Bold, Title Case
  • Level 3: Flush Left, Bold Italic, Title Case
  • Level 4: Indented, Bold, Title Case, ending with a period. Text begins on the same line.
  • Level 5: Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, ending with a period. Text begins on the same line.

Tables & Figures

  • Do not paste tables as images.
  • Table number: Table 1, Table 2, and so on. Bold, flush left, on the line above the title.
  • Table title: On the line below the number, in italics and title case, flush left.
  • Table note: Below the table, beginning with Note. in italics
  • Place within the text, near where it is first mentioned.
  • Figures: Follow the same order. Figure number in bold above the figure, figure title in italics on the next line, then the image, then the note below.

References

  • APA 7th edition is required
  • On a new page, with References bold and centered
  • Alphabetical by first author's surname, hanging indent of 0.5 inch
  • Every in-text citation must appear in the reference list, and every reference must be cited in the text

Need help with APA 7?

Review Process

  • Research articles go through double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
  • Editorial feedback is typically provided within 4–8 weeks.
  • Accepted papers may require revision before publication.

License and Copyright

By submitting to The Journal of Young Innovators, authors agree that their accepted article will be published open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Authors retain copyright of their work and grant JYI a non-exclusive license to publish. Full details on our Policies page.

Fees

A one-time, non-refundable submission fee of $65 USD is required for each manuscript submitted to The Journal of Young Innovators (JYI). This fee covers the administrative processing and review of the manuscript and does not guarantee acceptance or publication.

After you submit your manuscript, our secure Stripe checkout opens on the same page, and your confirmation email also contains a payment link. Payment must be completed before the manuscript can proceed to editorial review. Failure to pay the submission fee will result in your paper not being considered for publication by the JYI Editorial Board. A parent, guardian, or school may make the payment on the author's behalf.

The submission fee is non-refundable, including when a manuscript is declined or withdrawn by the author. If you cannot afford the fee, tick the waiver box on the submission form and tell us why; an editor will reply before review begins. Full payment and waiver details are on our Policies page.

Need Help?

For questions, email our editorial team ateditor@young-innovator.org. Please include your full name, school, and grade level, along with a short description of your question.

Submit a Manuscript