Calls for Papers
The listing of calls for papers allows session organizers to solicit paper submissions for potential MLA sessions and connects MLA members who wish to participate in the convention with session organizers. Please note that calls for papers are not session proposals. Posting a call for papers does not guarantee a convention session, and responding to a call for papers does not guarantee participation in the convention.
For instructions on posting or responding to calls for papers, see below.
Viewing and Responding to Calls for Papers
Calls for papers for the 2025 convention are closed. Calls for papers for the 2026 convention will be available online from November 2024 through March 2025.
Session organizers determine their own submission deadlines and submission requirements, and most submission deadlines are in early to mid-March. Responses to calls for papers should be sent to the email address listed with the calls for papers, and not to the MLA.
Responding to Calls for Papers
- Review the session guidelines for the MLA convention before responding to calls for papers.
- Send submissions to the session organizer whose name and email address are included in the listing; do not send them to the MLA.
- Include any audiovisual equipment or accessibility needs for your presentation when you respond to a call for papers.
- If you are invited to participate in a 2025 session, you must be an MLA member by 7 April 2024.
- All session participants must register for the convention.
- An MLA member may participate (e.g., by serving as a speaker, presider, or respondent) only twice at a convention.
- Working groups extend over more than one session, so participants in a working group are not able to participate in any other sessions.
- Review the Convention Participant FAQs and Access Guidelines. All session participants are expected to provide accessible copies of their presentations in advance to facilitate comprehension and participation for all attendees. Your session organizer may create an MLA Commons page or other secure site for this purpose.
Posting Calls for Papers
The deadline to post calls for papers for the 2025 convention in New Orleans has passed.
Session organizers may post a call for papers for the 2026 convention in Toronto from November 2024 to 28 February 2025.
For assistance with submitting a call for papers on behalf of an MLA committee, forum, or allied organization, view our guide.
For assistance submitting a call for papers for your own special session or working group, view our guide.
Session organizers are encouraged to give strong consideration to submissions from non-tenure-track faculty members and to select panelists who represent a broad range of perspectives. The strongest sessions include scholars across rank, geographic location, discipline, or institution type. Session organizers should consider how the panel's representation of contributors constitutes responsible and equitable engagement in their particular field of study.
The MLA is committed to ensuring that the convention is an inclusive and harassment-free environment. Calls for papers must adhere to the MLA’s guidelines for appropriate convention conduct, which govern in-person and online venues. Any calls that violate these guidelines will be removed. Please contact convention@mla.org to flag a call that violates our guidelines.
Do I Need to Post a Call for Papers?
Entities (MLA committees, forums, and allied organizations) that want to organize more than one session at a convention must post at least one call for papers. For assistance, view our guide.
Organizers of special sessions (sessions that are organized by individual members and not by an entity or organization) are not required to post a call for papers. Working Group organizers must post a call for participation. For assistance, view our guide.
For more information, see Planning a Convention Session.