MELUS welcomes essays and interviews of interest to those concerned with the multi-ethnic scope of literature in the United States. As the publication of a society of writers, researchers, and teachers, the journal is open to all scholarly methods and theoretical approaches. MELUS seeks, above all, to publish essays that advance ongoing critical conversations about the theoretical, historical, literary, and cultural contexts of multi-ethnic literature, film, and other kinds of texts.
Whether theoretical or analytical, comparative within a single ethnic literature or cross-cultural, the most desirable essays will be between 7,000 and 10,000 words, including notes and works cited. MELUS welcomes articles on American literature not written in English, but translations should accompany foreign language titles and quotations in other languages. Contributors are urged to avoid sexist, racist, and other discriminatory language.
Any individual may submit an essay for consideration to the journal, but only members of The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States may publish articles in MELUS; therefore, if your submission is accepted and you are not yet a member of the Society, you will be required to join. Most articles are sent anonymously to two consultant readers with expertise in the article’s area. Articles recommended by these readers are then reviewed by the Editor, who will consult additional experts if necessary. Final decisions are made by the Editor.
Manuscripts should be prepared according to the most recent edition of the MLA Style Manual. The author’s name should not appear in the manuscript. Authors should not refer to themselves in the first person in the submitted text or notes if such reference might lead to identification; any necessary reference to the author’s previous work, for example, can be in the third person. Electronic submission is required through Manuscript Central: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/melus. Please also include a 250-word abstract with your submission.
All essays will be acknowledged by Manuscript Central immediately. In most circumstances, a decision on submitted essays will be reached in three to six months. Please be sure to update your information in Manuscript Central if your e-mail address or other contact information changes. Please check back with us six months from the date of acknowledgment of your essay if you have not received a final decision. Inquiries may be directed to melus@unlv.edu.
Essays under review at other journals or previously published in any form will not be considered for publication in MELUS.