About the Magazine and Submission Guidelines
Updated: Mar 6
CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS!
STARTING DATE: 14/01/23
END DATE: 31/01/23
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https://instagram.com/manvaasammagazine?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Manvaasam is an inclusive, bimonthly (once in two months) magazine for children between the ages of four and thirteen.
The magazine will exclusively feature work produced by children, with the exception of the editorial and the guest page.
The goal of the magazine is to provide a platform for all children to publish and showcase their creativity.
Since the magazine is in its inception, only a digital copy will be published and released.
Children can submit pieces in English, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi.
Submission Guidelines
· The creative piece must be submitted via email to the respective department head. The subject of the email must include the following: Name of child, Age, Title of Creative Piece.
· Children must only submit ONE creative piece for each issue. If they have more work to contribute, they need to wait for the next issue.
· The magazine will not reject any child’s work, and suggestions for improvement will be duly provided.
Children can submit pieces in English, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi.
· No submissions will be accepted AFTER the deadline.
· If there are suggestions for improvement, the work must reach the department head within the deadline in order to ensure its publication.
· Children can look at the ideas and prompts given below, but they can come up with other forms of expression after consulting the respective department head.
· None of the issues will have a particular theme, and children can explore their imaginative potential to the fullest.
Ways to Communicate:
Ms Eesha- Head of the Visual Arts Team
Email Address: ej [fullstop] manvaasam@gmail.com
Mr Jebin- Head of the Creative Writing Team
Email Address: jebin [fullstop] manvaasam@gmail.com
Ms Meena- Head of the Puzzles and Activities Team
Email Address:
meenagnanadesikan2023manvaasam@gmail.com
Ms Megha- Head of the Entertainment Team
Email Address: meghamanvaasam@gmail.com
Ms Priyadarshini- Founder and Chief Editor
Email Address: priyadarshinimanvaasam@gmail.com
Publishing and Release:
· The child’s work will be published in the magazine and released in the form of a PDF.
· The PDF will be sent to the email ID that was provided during the time of submission.
· All the contributors will get a free e-copy of the magazine.
· Chosen creative pieces may also be featured on the Instagram page.
· The copyright of the work remains exclusively with the child and he/ she can choose to republish it elsewhere if desired.
· No child’s work can be extracted from the magazine or distributed without their consent.
The Department of Creative Writing
The department of creative writing endeavours to encourage children to let go of their inhibitions and write freely, without the fear of being judged. A wide and diverse range of topics have been listed out for children to choose from, with both traditional and contemporary forms of literary expression.
Children can work on any of the topics given in the list, but will also have the freedom to think out of the box and come up with new ideas. However, in the case of the latter, they must get prior approval from the respective department head. An approximate word limit is given, but children can use their own discretion and decide how much to write.
List of Ideas and Prompts:
Letters
Letters to friends, relatives, family members or even celebrities can be written. Hand written letters will be preferred over typed ones. Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Book/ Movie/ Series Reviews
Any book, movie, or television series can be reviewed. Approximate Word Limit: 300 words.
Reviews of Cuisines/ Travel Destinations
Reviews on different types of foods and travel destinations will be encouraged. However, mentioning any brand/restaurant name/ hotel name must be avoided. Approximate Word Limit: 300 words.
Blogs
Children can write blogs on any topic of their choice, such as fashion, mental health, or even robots! Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Short stories
Short stories can be written based on one’s own personal experiences or can be completely made up. There is no restriction on the theme or genre of the short story.
Existing stories can also be modified and written from an entirely new perspective. Approximate Word Limit: 350 words.
Articles/Opinion Pieces
Well researched articles and opinion pieces on current affairs and events will be encouraged. However, it is important to remain sensitive and empathetic to the feelings of others. Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Diary entries
Diary entries can be written based on one’s personal experiences or from the perspective of a favourite character, etc. Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Interviews
Children can do interviews of their own friends, teachers or family members. If they get the opportunity they can also reach out to celebrities or authors they like. Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Speeches
Children can write a speech from another person’s perspective, such as Greta Thunberg. Or they can write the speech from their own perspective, sharing their individualistic ideas and opinions. Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Scripts
Scripts must comprise of characters, dialogues, stage directions and narration. They do not necessarily have to be divided into acts and scenes. Approximate Word Limit: 300 words.
Poems
Both free verse and rhyming poems will be accepted. Children can also produce Haikus, Limericks or even shape poems! Maximum Word Limit: 150 words.
Descriptions
Descriptions can be anything under the sun, like a bustling marketplace or a favourite pet. Approximate Word Limit: 200 words.
Recipes
Children can either write recipes that they already know, or make up something new like “A Witches Brew” using imaginary ingredients. Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Quotes
Quotes can be based on lessons learnt from life! Approximate Word Limit: 75 words.
Travel Brochures
Children can come up with their own travel brochures for a real or imaginary place. Tourist spots and destinations can be written about, but hotel names and brands must be avoided. Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
Sports Commentaries
Sports commentaries can be written on any sport such as football, badminton, or even wall climbing! Approximate Word Limit: 250 words.
The Department of Visual Arts
The department of visual arts is the ideal place for children who like to express themselves using the visual medium. Both digital and physical art will be accepted, but children are to refrain from submitting images done by Artificial Intelligence applications.
Children can work on any of the topics given in the list below, but will also have the freedom to think out of the box and come up with new ideas. However, in the case of the latter, they must get prior approval from the respective department head.
List of Ideas and Prompts:
Paintings
Paintings can be done using any type of materials such as water colour, acrylic etc. They must strictly be original work and not copied from an existing image.
Drawings/ Sketches
Drawings and sketches can be done using any materials such as pencils, charcoal or fine liners. They must strictly be original work and not copied from an existing image.
Photography
Children can capture anything that they find interesting and aesthetic. However, photos of people and brands must be avoided.
Book Covers
Alternate book covers for existing books can be designed, based on their theme and content. Children can choose to be as creative as they want while making the covers.
Comics
Comics can be drawn using pencils, sketch, paint or any other materials. However, more emphasis should be placed on communicating through the visuals rather than the dialogues. Dialogues should be minimal only serve to strengthen the visuals.
Advertisements/ Posters
Children can design their own advertisements. However, they must create their own brand and not promote anything that already exists.
Postcards
Postcards can consist of a beautiful image and a small message. However, it should be ensured that the message is concise and more emphasis is placed on the design and image.
Caricatures
Caricatures can be made of friends, family members or teachers. Political leaders must be avoided.
Sculptures
Children can create sculptures using clay, plaster of paris, epoxy or any other material of their choice. Good quality photographs must be taken of the sculptures and shared with the department head.
Origami/ Crafts
Origami and any other type of craft will be gladly accepted.
Good quality photographs must be taken of the crafts and shared with the department head.
Sand Art
Children can use sand to create pictures. Good quality photographs must be taken of the final product and shared with the department head.
Jewellery
Jewellery made out of resin, paper, clay and beads can be made. Good quality photographs must be taken of the final product and shared with the department head.
The Department of Puzzles and Activities
The department of puzzles and activities is for witty children who like problem-solving and critical thinking. The list of ideas consist of both easy and challenging tasks to be explored.
Children can work on any of the topics given in the list below, but will also have the freedom to think out of the box and come up with new ideas. However, in the case of the latter, they must get prior approval from the respective department head.
List of Ideas and Prompts:
Crossword Puzzles
Children can come up with crossword puzzles on any topic of their choice, such as different types of bacteria or names of monuments, depending on their interest. Mazes
Mazes with several paths can be created, at the end of which, can be a lost pet or a pot of gold. Sudoku
Children who are interested in problem solving and numbers, can create their own version of Sudoku. Snakes and Ladders
A two player game of Snakes and Ladders can be designed with not more than 100 squares. Connecting the Dots
Children can come up with a connecting the dots game, that will lead to the creation of a unique image. Spot the Difference Two images can be placed side by side, with minor differences between them. The readers can identify the differences and circle them. Jumbled Words Children can create jumbled words for the readers to unscramble. Odd One Out A group of words and images with a common theme can be given. The one image/ word that does not fit in with the rest can be called the “odd one out”. Where am I?
Children can come up with a confusing, chaotic image, from which individual objects can be discovered. Match the Following A group of words/ images can be placed side by side, in order to be matched. For instance, the word “pride” can be matched with an image of lions on the other side of the column.
The Department of Entertainment
The department of entertainment is for children who have a fun, humorous and quirky side to them. It is a great place for those who have the skills to make others feel at ease. A range of activities have been listed for all those who believe that brevity is the soul of the wit.
Children can work on any of the topics given in the list below, but will also have the freedom to think out of the box and come up with new ideas. However, in the case of the latter, they must get prior approval from the respective department head. An approximate word limit is given, but children can use their own discretion and decide how much to write.
List of Ideas and Prompts:
Grocery lists
Grocery lists can have actual shopping ingredients or something completely bizarre like “snake fangs” or “corals”. Approximate Word Limit: 100 words.
Instagram Captions
Children can come up with well-worded Instagram captions of their choice. Approximate Word Limit: 50 words.
Memes
Memes can be witty and humorous. However, it is important not to hurt anyone’s sentiments and feelings. Approximate Word Limit: 100 words.
Jokes
Children can come up with their own creative jokes. However, it is important that the jokes do not come off as insults. Approximate Word Limit: 150 words.
Fact Sheets
Fact sheets can have information about interesting and inspirational people. Approximate Word Limit: 200 words.
Quizzes
Children can come up with short quizzes that have strange, funny and bizarre questions. Approximate Word Limit: 200 words.
Fortune Cookies
Small messages can be written on chits, similar to what one could get when opening a fortune cookie. Approximate Word Limit: 100 words.
Songs
Children can write their own song lyrics, or even write parodies of existing ones. Approximate Word Limit: 150 words.
Did you know?
One line facts can be written about things which people are not generally aware of. For example, “Did you know that Ostriches can live up to 75 years?” Approximate Word Limit: 100 words.