Final Manuscript
Introduction to the Final Manuscript
Winter/Spring 2024 Graduating and PDS Students
The final manuscript is required for completion of the MFA in Creative Writing program. These instructions detail how the final manuscript should be formatted and submitted. While
preparing the final manuscript in consultation with the final project period mentor, students collect, revise, and reflect on work written during their semesters in the program. This process provides students with the opportunity to shape a collection of their own works. The final manuscript represents the students’ best efforts during their time in the MFA program.
Students must include plans for the final manuscript in their Project Period Contract. Mentors evaluate and approve (via email, no signature required) the completed paper’s content. Once the mentor approves, students send their papers to the format review team for formatting approval. The paper must be approved by the last day of the project period. Once the paper has received approval from both the mentor and format reviewer, the paper will be archived by the MFA Program Office.
Papers that are sent to the format review team, MFAFormatreview@antioch.edu, after mentor approval (do not send this to the MFApaperwork account):
Final Manuscript
Students Entering a PDS in Summer/Fall 2024
If you're starting a Professional Development Semester (PDS) next semester, you must still have the required minimum pages of your final manuscript completed this semester, even if it's just a draft. Your current mentor will check the content of your paper as well as the minimum page number. Cumulative annotated bibliographies must meet the minimum number of annotations (30 minimum) and they must be in alphabetical order. Your current mentor will confirm that both requirements have been met before you move on to the PDS. Continuing PDS students will complete the formatting review of their final manuscript and cumulative annotated bibliographies during the PDS.
You will be expected to complete the format review process of your final manuscript and cumulative annotated bibliography (CAB) during your PDS term. Both manuscript and CAB must be completed and approved in order for your MFA degree to be processed.
Review the resources below before sending work to your mentor and/or format review team.
Before you submit:
Read through the guidelines.
Download the appropriate template and copy/paste your work or type directly into the Microsoft Word document. See the section below "How to Download Templates" for more details.
Once your paper is complete, check your work by running through the checklist.
Once you have completed the checklist, email your paper to MFAFormatreview@antioch.edu.
Templates
The final manuscript templates are formatted correctly and include some useful MLA and MFA formatting notes throughout the body. You will need to download the appropriate template and copy/paste your work or type directly into the Microsoft Word document. DO NOT use Google Docs to work on your papers as this will distort the correct page format in the templates. You MUST DOWNLOAD the document in order to access the correct page format.
How to Download Templates
Click on one of the template links below to open the document in your browser.
Click "File" in the window that pops up.
Click "Download" in the "File" dropdown menu.
Click "Microsoft Word" in the "Download" dropdown menu. The document will download to your computer as a Microsoft Word document. You will then be able to open the template on your computer and save it for future use.
Final Manuscript Guidelines_2.2023.pdfFinal Manuscript Formatting Checklist_2.2023.docxHow To Tips-Final Manuscript Formatting.pdfFinal Manuscript Templates: Prose & Poetry ONLY
CLICK HERE for the final manuscript template that includes prose and poetry ONLY. This template includes all optional preliminary pages including copyright, dedication, acknowledgment, and epigraph.
CLICK HERE for the final manuscript template that includes prose and poetry ONLY. This template does not include optional preliminary pages, it only includes what is required by the MFA Program.
Final Manuscript Templates: Writing for the Screen & Playwriting ONLY
CLICK HERE for the final manuscript template that includes writing for the screen and playwriting ONLY. This template includes all optional preliminary pages including copyright, dedication, acknowledgment, and epigraph.
CLICK HERE for the final manuscript template that includes writing for the screen and playwriting ONLY. This template does not include optional preliminary pages, it only includes what is required by the MFA Program.
Final Manuscript Templates: Dual Concentration & Genre Jumpers that include Writing for the Screen & Playwriting
CLICK HERE for the multi-genre final manuscript template that includes writing for the screen and playwriting. This template includes all optional preliminary pages including copyright, dedication, acknowledgment, and epigraph.
CLICK HERE for the multi-genre final manuscript template that includes writing for the screen and playwriting. This template does not include optional preliminary pages, it only includes what is required by the MFA Program.