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 and staff-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", "Superior", "Superior"
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.
How do I submit?
Email your submissions to thefinaldraft@eanesisd.net or submit through the link on our website!
Is my work good enough to submit?
Heck yeah! :)
What are the specifications for submitting?
Please type written work into a Google Doc and share with us. For art pieces, please send in a well lit, high quality photo that shows the entire piece. If it is too difficult to get a high quality photo of it, no worries! Send it anyways and if we decide to put it 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!
What does The Final Draft accept?
Any non-plagiarized, school appropriate, creative work. We accept writng, film, photography, music, paintings, ceramics, digital art and more!
When is the submission deadline?
Submissions are unfortuanately closed for the 2024 school year, but we look forward to seeing what you submit next year!
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 give 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 as well for full anonymity.
If I submit my work, will it be in the magazine?
Not all submissions will end up in the magazine. Some may not fit the theme or we may have to leave some out because of time or page restraints. However, we try out best to post on our Instagram (@the.final.draft) or on our website as an alternative for the other pieces.
How will I know if my work is selected for the magazine?
We will email you with the great news once the magazine is sent out to press! Every creator in the magazine receives their own individual issue, and we also distribute them around the school. Check the library for a copy!
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.
When does the magazine come out?
The magazine is usually available mid May.
What if I have more questions?
If you have more questions, please email us at thefinaldraft@eanesisd.net! We are happy to answer any questions you may have!
Art by Sarah Allison