Publication and issue: A Journal of Anglo-American Studies: Series 4, No. 1 (2026) – General Issue: (New) Beginnings.
Deadline for proposal submissions: 15 January 2026.
Edited by: Alexandra Cheira, Universidade de Lisboa
Publication presentation
Thoughts associated with beginnings often include excitement, anticipation, and a sense of possibility, alongside potential anxiety, uncertainty, and a hint of the unknown. Beginnings can be viewed as a fresh start, a new chapter, or a chance to rebuild, while also acknowledging the potential messiness and challenges that come with starting something new.
Hence, on the plus side, beginnings represent a fresh start, offering the chance to pursue new goals, learn new things, and create a better future. There’s often a sense of thrill and eagerness associated with the start of something new, whether it’s a new job, a new relationship, or a new hobby. Beginnings provide an opportunity for personal and professional development, allowing individuals to expand their horizons and discover new facets of themselves. Starting anew can involve shedding old habits and embracing a different path, leading to significant personal transformation. In a nutshell, beginnings herald positive aspects such as hope and opportunity, excitement and anticipation, the potential for growth, reinvention and transformation.
However, beginnings can also prefigure challenging attributes of uncertainty and anxiety, fear of failure, discomfort, and letting go of the past: the possibility of failure can loom large, creating anxiety and hesitation when embarking on a new endeavour; the initial stages of any new undertaking can be messy and require a willingness to adapt and learn from mistakes; moving forward often requires letting go of past experiences and attachments, which can be emotionally challenging. By definition, beginnings are thus a complex mix of positive and negative emotions, offering both the promise of a brighter future and the potential for difficult adjustments.
For the first general issue in the fourth series of Op. Cit.: A Journal of Anglo-American Studies, we are especially interested in contributions that analyse beginnings, with a focus on both positive and negative aspects as suggested in the literary quotes below:
- “The beginning is always today.” (Mary Shelley)
- “I make so many beginnings there never will be an end.” (Louisa May Alcott)
- “Every new beginning comes from other beginning’s end.” (Seneca)
- “One can begin so many things with a new person – even begin to be a better man.” (George Eliot)
- “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” (Andre Gide)
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” (C.S. Lewis)
- “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language/ And next year’s words await another voice./ And to make an end is to make a beginning.” (T.S. Eliot)
We welcome papers from scholars from a variety of academic backgrounds and encourage submissions from postgraduate students and early career researchers. Submissions, between 5,000 and 7,500 words in length, must be sent to op.cit.journal@gmail.com by January 15, 2026. Manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer reviewing process, and must be unpublished. The authors will be notified by the end of February 2026.
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For further details, please check the publication original call inserted below.
A Journal of Anglo-American Studies – 4-1(Posted 17 October 2025)