FAQ
What is The Final Draft?
Located in Austin, TX, The Final Draft is Westlake High School's award-winning literary arts magazine. We accept student-created art, ceramics, photography, writing, films, and music throughout the year, in order to publish both an online and print version of our magazine. The Final Draft has received numerous prestigious awards including:
N.S.P.A. (National Scholastic Press Association) 2nd place
T.A.J.E. (Teachers Association of Journalism Educators) Best of Show
N.C.T.E. (National Council of Teachers of English) Highest Award
C.S.P.A. (Columbia Scholastic Press Association) Silver Medalist
R.E.A.L.M (Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines) "Excellent" and "Superior"
You can find us at @the.final.draft on Instagram!
How do I submit?
That’s a great question! I’m so glad you asked. It’s easier than you think! All you have to do is email your creative work to thefinaldraft@eanesisd.net or fill out our Google Form! Unfortunately, our submissions are closed for the 2022-2023 school year, but we ar excited to see your work next August!
When is the submission deadline?
Submissions are closed for the 2022-2023 school year. If all goes as planned, the magazine will be out mid May!
What are the specifications for submitting?
Please type written work into a google doc and share with us. For art pieces, if it is too difficult to get a high-quality picture of it, no worries! Send it anyway and if we decide to put in the magazine, we can scan it for you! If this is the case, we will send you an email. Please make sure it is school appropriate!
Who can submit to The Final Draft?
Any Westlake student or staff! Woo-hoo!
Is my work good enough to submit?
Heck yeah! :)
What does The Final Draft accept?
Any non-plagiarized, original work including 2D art, 3D art, writing, film, photography, and music!
If I submit my work, will it be in the magazine?
Not all submissions end up in the magazine. However, we try our best to post on our social media platforms or on our website as an alternative for the other pieces.
Who sees my submissions?
The Final Draft staff reviews all submissions fairly and evaluates them confidentially.
Can I submit anonymously?
If you insist...we would love to have your name attached to your work as it gives a sense of great pride! Yet, we understand if you feel the need to keep your work private. Submit through our Google Forms for anonymous submissions. Don't forget to remove your name from the file too!
Is The Final Draft the same thing as Featherduster?
Contrary to popular belief, we are our own living and breathing entity separate from the Featherduster. The Final Draft is Westlake’s literary and fine arts magazine while the Featherduster is Westlake’s news magazine.
When does the magazine come out?
If all goes as planned, the magazine is distributed by mid-May.
How will I know if my work is selected for the magazine?
We will email you with the great news and even give you your own copy! Every artist and writer in the magazine receives their own individual issue.
Can I submit my work to other places if it gets accepted into the magazine?
Yes! You retain the full rights to your work when it is published in The Final Draft. It is non-exclusive, meaning you are allowed to submit and publish the work we select in any other publication or competition.
Still Confused?
For Artists

For Writers
