Author Guidelines
SoulClap is now accepting original, unpublished work from African diasporic writers inspired by, or situated in, Black Joy and nature. We invite work that balances the pain and injustice caused by oppressive systems with joy – especially joy experienced in green and blue spaces. Such pieces might be set, or inspired by, mountains, forests, oceans, rivers, parks, and trails. We are particularly interested in writing that explores these spaces as potential sites of rest, restoration, and resistance.
All submissions to SoulClap should be made using the online submission form.
Writers who do not have access to the Internet – those incarcerated, for example – may submit paper submissions to Vince Omni, McKnight Doctoral Fellow, Florida State University, 329 Williams Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1580.
Please ensure that you consider the following guidelines when preparing your manuscript. Failure to do so may delay the processing of your submission.
Manuscript Preparation Guidelines
The submission includes a cover page with names of all authors, their institutional affiliations (if applicable), emails, and ORCID numbers, if available, that will be uploaded separately from the main text of the manuscript.
The document of the main text of the manuscript has been appropriately blinded, with personally identifiable information removed.
Accepted genres include:
- Poetry: 3-5 poems, not to exceed a total 10 pages
- Short fiction: up to 2,000 words
- Creative nonfiction (including autoethnography): up to 2,000 words
Correspondence
All correspondence should be addressed to the editors.
Plagiarism Policy
SoulClap will not publish manuscripts where plagiarism or text recycling has been identified. All manuscripts are checked for plagiarism using the Crossref Similarity Check / iThenticate service. Common examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to verbatim copy, improper or failure of attribution, and text replication. For further guidance on types of plagiarism and how to avoid them, authors should consult the interactive chart provided by iThenticate.
Peer Review Process
The SoulClap peer review system ensures the quality of our journal. All manuscripts submitted to our Research and Creative Writing sections are assessed by independent reviewers with knowledge of the subject area.
SoulClap uses a double-blind peer-review system, where the reviewers do not know the names or affiliations of the authors and the reviewer reports provided to the authors are anonymous.
Submission will generally be reviewed by two experts who will evaluate work based on originality, coherence, validity, interest, significance, and other factors.
Conflicts of Interest
To ensure the trust and credibility of the journal, we have established this Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy to address potential conflicts of interest that may arise during the publication process.
Relevant interests include, but are not limited to, financial interests, employment, affiliations, grants, funding sources, consulting relationships, personal relationships, and any other situations that could be perceived as compromising the objectivity, impartiality, or decision-making related to the publication of research articles.
Failure to disclose conflicts of interest or violations of this COI Policy may result in actions such as manuscript rejection, withdrawal, or other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the editorial team and may be reported to relevant institutions, universities, or funding agencies.
Authors
Authors are required to disclose all relevant interests during the manuscript submission process, including sources of funding, financial relationships, or any other potential conflicts of interest related to the research. If there are no relevant interests, authors should explicitly state so.
Depending on the nature and significance of the disclosed interests, the journal may publish the information alongside the article or take other appropriate actions to ensure transparency.
Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide an impartial and unbiased review of a manuscript. If a reviewer believes they have a conflict of interest, they should decline the request so the journal can reassign the manuscript to another reviewer.
Editors
Editors are responsible for managing and overseeing the peer-review process. In cases where an editor has a conflict of interest with a submitted manuscript, they should recuse themselves from the review process. The journal's Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editor will assume responsibility for the manuscript's review and decision-making process.
Authorship & Contributorship
SoulClap is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency in academic publishing. To achieve this, we have established clear guidelines for authorship and contributorship. This policy outlines the criteria for authorship, the responsibilities of authors and contributors, and the process for resolving authorship disputes.
Authorship of a manuscript submitted to SoulClap is based on the following criteria:
- Substantial Contribution: Authors must have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis.
- Drafting and Revising: Authors are expected to participate in drafting and revising the manuscript and approve the final version for submission and publication.
- Accountability: All authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the work and should ensure that the manuscript represents their original research and ideas.
- Acknowledgment: Contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship but have provided valuable assistance or support should be acknowledged in the manuscript.
Authors submitting manuscripts to SoulClap are expected to:
- Ensure that the manuscript represents original work and cite all sources appropriately.
- Ensure that the manuscript reports methods and results accurately and transparently, providing access to data and research materials if requested and permitted by applicable data privacy laws.
- Disclose any potential conflicts of interest, financial or non-financial, that could influence the interpretation of the research.
The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal, responding to editorial queries, and ensuring that all authors have approved the final manuscript for submission.
Authorship disputes should be resolved in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Disputes will be investigated by the journal's editorial board, and all parties involved will be given an opportunity to provide input. Decisions will be made to ensure fairness and adherence to this policy.
Any changes to authorship, including additions or removals, must be justified and agreed upon by all authors. Requests for such changes should be made in writing and submitted to the journal editor.
This authorship and contributorship policy is subject to periodic review and may be updated to align with best practices and ethical standards in academic publishing. Authors are encouraged to review this policy before submitting their manuscripts.
SoulClap is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in research and publication, and adherence to this policy is essential to uphold the integrity of our journal.
AI Policy
SoulClap recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic research and acknowledges its impact on various academic fields. This policy outlines the standards for the appropriate use of AI in articles submitted for publication.
AI Authorship Levels
SoulClap recognizes three levels of AI authorship:
- AI as a Co-Author: AI systems that substantially contribute to the conceptualization, design, analysis, or interpretation of the research should be considered co-authors. In such cases, the AI system's contributions should be explicitly acknowledged as co-authors on the article.
- AI as a Contributor: In cases where the AI system plays a significant role but does not meet the criteria for co-authorship, it should be acknowledged as a contributor. The AI's role should be clearly described in the article.
- AI as a Tool: If the AI system's contribution is limited to providing tools, software, or data without any significant intellectual input into the research, it should not be considered a co-author or contributor. In such cases, the AI system may be acknowledged in the methods or acknowledgments section.
Ethical Considerations
Authors are expected to adhere to the following ethical principles when using AI in their submissions:
- Fairness and Bias: Authors must acknowledge the potential for bias in AI models and data and should take steps to minimize and report on such biases.
- Transparency: Authors should provide clear and transparent explanations of the AI methodologies used in their research.
- Privacy and Data Protection: Authors are responsible for complying with all relevant privacy laws and regulations when collecting and processing data. Informed consent for data usage should be obtained when required.
- Accountability: Authors should consider and discuss the ethical and social implications of their AI research. They are encouraged to reflect on the potential consequences and be accountable for any negative impacts of AI applications.
Review Process
SoulClap is committed to maintaining rigorous review standards for research articles that involve AI. Reviewers will assess submissions according to the following criteria:
- Scientific Quality: Articles should meet the journal's standards for sound methodology, data analysis, and scientific rigor.
- Ethical Considerations: Submissions must demonstrate a clear understanding of ethical issues and make efforts to address potential ethical concerns in AI research.
- Innovation and Contribution: Articles should advance the field of AI and make a substantial contribution to knowledge.