Our call for proposals (CFP) is usually released in the spring. The dates and theme for each year are communicated via social media, this website, and various listservs. We use Google Forms to collect submissions, and close the year’s form after the submission deadline.

When our CFP is live in the spring, use the Google form to send us the information about your work. We ask for a description of your project and whether you want to submit that work as 1) a panel that you have organized with other scholars, 2) a paper that covers your own topic, or 3) a poster that visually summarizes your topic.

The deadline for submissions is typically May. Once the submission period is over, the FSNNA organizing committee reviews everything we received, ensuring multiple readers per submission. 

Submissions are considered for originality, thematic fit, and engagement with fan studies scholarship. We look for submissions that center and engage with fans in some capacity, not just studying media that have fans.

We also expect critical engagement with the subject: while fan enthusiasm for a topic is welcome and encouraged, research presented at FSNNA should go beyond simply explaining what the presenter loves about the text. Here, research should demonstrate why that topic is interesting, productive, and impactful. If it’s a case study, what are its wider implications for the field or staying other fandoms or fanworks?

Multiple proposals: No, we ask that everyone submit just one proposal per year.

Prior presentations: No, a successful FSNNA submission should be based on new research and/or original data, though it is fine if you have spoken about a similar topic at previous events or in different contexts.

Virtual conferences require the same commitment as in-person events. Last-minute drop-outs inconvenience both the organizers and other panelists, and make it difficult for us to guarantee a sustainable event. Please apply only if you are also committing to attend the event in October. Those who drop out last minute (without reasonable explanation) may be subject to being restricted from participation at future conferences.

If it might be difficult to commit to a timeslot but you would still like to be part of the conference, consider submitting a poster! This is an asynchronous option that offers more flexibility than a typical presentation.

FSNNA conference panels and events are scheduled on Eastern Time (ET), but anyone in any timezone is welcome at the conference!

For participants who can’t make it to a particular panel in time (or maybe attended something else scheduled at the same time), we record each session and post those recordings on YouTube for registered participants to watch up to a month after the conference has ended. You can also catch up on the conversation on our Discord, which will be open 24/7 during the conference.

Registered participants receive a link to the Discord a few days in advance of the conference, and will receive regular reminders and links to Zoom just before each panel starts.

Registering before the deadline will help ensure there’s no delay in getting your link!

Yes, we record panel presentations to help facilitate the participation and engagement of attendees from a wide range of timezones. These recordings are posted privately on YouTube, where they are acessible only to registered FSNNA attendees and will be taken offline permanently a few weeks after the conference.

As the conference gets closer, we will email all registered participants a copy of accessibility guidelines that we ask for all posters to follow. Then, our organizing committee checks every poster we receive, to see if there are any remaining issues, and we will let you know if any changes need to be made. We also host a poster-making Zoom workshop where you can drop by with any questions about this.

While not every aspect of physical conference can be replicated virtually, we are confident that those who put time and energy into FSNNA do get a lot out of the experience. In addition to watching or presenting on panels, you can make new friends and colleagues at our social events, reach out to the many publishers and senior scholars in attendance, and make connections for possible future conference panels or collaborative projects via our various Discord channel.

Also, if your institution requires a record, like a certificate of participation, please email us after the conference and we will prepare one for you.