This year’s theme is Illuminate.

Pieces will be selected by the medical student board based on originality, impact, and execution, with preference given towards submissions that adhere to the theme. Submissions from students will be automatically entered into the Plexus Student Contest, where 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be awarded in the following three categories: Creative Writing, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts. Submissions must be received by the January 31 deadline to be eligible for the contest.

Pieces may be submitted here. Please follow the below guidelines:

    1. Upload each piece as an individual file
    2. Each file cannot exceed 100MB
    3. Follow the following file-naming convention: a piece named “Girl with a Pearl Earring” should be submitted with the title GirlWithAPearlEarring. Do not include spaces or underscores.
    4. Do not include your name on the submitted work (to keep judging confidential)
    5. Follow HIPAA regulations when applicable

The deadline for submissions is December 4, 2020.    

Once accepted, selected visual and written work will be published online in the spring. Musical and performance works (skits, dance) will be featured on this website.

Submitting to PLEXUS gives PLEXUS permission to copy, print, and distribute any selected documents for UCI-related purposes. Each copy will credit the artist and will not be altered without their consent.

Writing

We accept poetry, short stories, essays and other creative and nonfiction submissions with a suggested word limit of 1000 words maximum. Pieces exceeding this limit will be considered on a case by case basis or may have to undergo revision.

Still Visual (photography, paintings, collage, etc.)

Only .tif, .jpeg, .png, or .raw files will be accepted. Please use high-resolution images to ensure that the submission is fairly represented (at least 150 ppi). The longest dimension of the image should be at least 1000 pixels. If you do not have access to a high-resolution camera or scanner, please contact uciplexusjournal@gmail.com to arrange for a photograph to be taken of your artwork.

Performing Arts & Multimedia

We accept submissions from actors, filmmakers, dancers, singers, beat-boxers, instrument-players, comedians, storytellers, can-kickers, impersonators, body-painters and performers of any kind.

Only .mp3, .mp4, or .avi files will be accepted. Submissions should be no more than five minutes maximum.

Blog

We also accept rolling submissions to the Plexus Blog featured on the website. Although these pieces are not considered for the contest, we encourage submissions as the blog is a space for students only and is updated frequently!

Please submit your work to uciplexusjournal@gmail.com with the subject heading [Plexus Blog Submission]. All submissions will be reviewed by our editors for quality and adherence to our credo.