top of page

SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! 

​

Make sure you read both the general and content-specific guidelines listed below.

Wheelchair Racing in the Paralympic Games. A United Kingdom Paralympic athlete in a wheelchair (wearing a helmet and red sports shirt with the blue, white and red national flag on it) is celebrating their finish.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • We are only accepting work from people ages 12-26 with disabilities. Our definition of disability can be found here.​

​

  • You may submit up to one piece of art, one piece of poetry, one piece of prose, and one music video. There is no submission fee. We will not be counting any additional submissions.

​

  • We are looking forward to reviewing work on any topic! If you choose, your work can illustrate the concept of disability or feature characters with disabilities.

​

  • Write a brief statement in English (1-2 paragraphs, double spaced, Times New Roman font of 12 pt. size) and answer this question. Why did you choose to submit this piece, and how does it connect with you as a person with a disability?

​​

  • All submissions must be original material and may not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity. If you have submitted your work to other competitions/magazines/media, you are responsible for getting permission to submit to Perceptions.​

​

  • After proofreading your work, submit to perceptions.submissions@gmail.com! With your submission, also include your full name, age, email address, and country. In your email, you must state that you identify as having a disability, that you understand and have followed the guidelines, and that your work is original. Write the name of your piece in the subject of the email. If you are under the age of 18, please include a note from your parent or guardian giving parental consent to your participation in this contest.​

​

  • Please be sure that your application adheres to all related requirements (read specific requirements for writing, art, and music listed below). You may be disqualified and/or ineligible to receive an award if you fail to comply with any of the requirements.

Researching and Writing: A person's hand is holding a pen (the image is focused on this pen). In the background, blurred, there is a coffee cup and a notebook.

CREATIVE WRITING

Content:

  • Please submit creative nonfiction, poetry, or fiction (short story or an excerpt from a novel).

​

  • Prose entries should not exceed 1,500 words; poetry entries should not exceed 5 pages.

​

  • Submissions must be in English. If words or phrases in another language are used, translations must be included.​

​​

  • We are looking for submissions that have creativity, originality, a sense of depth and strength, and proper grammar (with no spelling errors or grammatical mistakes).

​

Format:

  • Typed, double-spaced, using only Times or Times New Roman font of 12 pt. size.

​​

  • Please include your title and word count on the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Please do not: place your name nor any awards, publications, etc. anywhere on your submission.

​

  • Uploaded documents must be Word or PDF files. No other format will be accepted.​​

Art Supplies: paints, a ruler, paper, a paintbrush, an eraser, and a pencil are on a orange backdrop.

VISUAL ARTS

Content:

  • Please submit paintings, drawings/illustrations, and photography.​​

​​

Format:

  • ​Do not place your name, a watermark, or any identifying information in or on your submission.

​

  • Please make sure to use natural sunlight and a neutral background when taking a picture of your art (so the lighting is good and there are no shadows or a glare).

​​

  • Format your submission in a JPEG (JPG), PDF, or PNG file only.

Submission Info
An incomplete sheet of music, a hand holding a pencil, its tip at the beginning of on an empty staff

MUSIC

Content:

  • Please submit original instrumental and vocal songs. You must write your own lyrics and music. ​​​

​

  • You may choose any instrument, style, and language (non-English lyrics are accepted) for your song.

​​

Format:

  • ​Do not say your name or any identifying information during your submission.

​

  • If your song has lyrics, include them in a Word or PDF file (typed, using Times New Roman font of 12 pt. size). If there are non-English lyrics, an English translation must be included as well.

​

  • Please make sure to use natural sunlight and a neutral background when recording your song (so the lighting is good and there are no shadows or a glare).

​

  • Dress appropriately and set your camera at a distance that frames your body and shows your facial expressions.​

​

  • When downloading, make sure that the video plays smoothly. Save and name the submission the title of the song. 

bottom of page