Guide to the Neopian Times

Intro: From A to Z

The Neopian Times is the ever-popular Neopets newspaper that's gone on for over one thousand issues. It consists of articles, comics, series, short stories, and an editorial, all of which are created by the users and hand-picked by the TNT staff who serve as editors.

So you want to write for the Neopian Times....but what do you do first? It can certainly be overwhelming to step into writing or creating for the first time, or even the fiftieth time! In this guide, we've tried to compile everything you would need to know to get published, from what kind of submission to choose, how to decide what to write about, topics to avoid, tips & tricks, and more!

Submission Types

First, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the different types of content that the Times is comprised of. We have prepared individual guides about each that go over them more in-depth, but a quick rundown can be found below.

Articles

Articles can be either entertaining or informative, depending on what kind of piece you're writing. A common form of article is a game guide, which might contain a general list of components to the game (items, bonuses, etc.) along with a few tips. You could also try making a list, such as 101 Snowman Jokes, interviewing famous Neopian characters or fellow users, writing an opinion piece, and so much more!

For a more in-depth look at articles and writing them, read our articles guide.

Comics

While we can't necessarily teach you how to draw, our comics guide can certainly help you decide what to draw. Not all comics have to be funny; they can be set in a serious situation and be extremely gripping, even following an ongoing plot like a whole story! Most are just plain funny, though.

Comics can be a single, standalone piece, or a continued series that is published across several issues. They are a great way to collaborate with friends; one person can write the plot, and a second can draw it.

Short Stories and Continued Series

You can write just about any type of story for the Times as long as it abides by the rules. The necessary elements for any contribution would be description, imagination and originality. Your aim should be to think of something never done before, or at least relatively obscure, and then map out the whole plot, whether it's a short story or a longer, multi-part series.

For a more in-depth look at writing short stories and stories in general, read our short story guide. If you are ready to write a whole series, read our series guide.

Editorial

The Editorial is an open forum to pose questions or requests, or direct general comments towards TNT. The editor chooses a small number of questions or comments to feature each issue, and if you're lucky, one of them will be yours. Make sure that your question hasn't already been answered in the main site's FAQ or in the current NT issue's Editorial and you'll have a much better chance of getting in. Examples of submissions include making a request for a broken wearable to be fixed, or for a treasured item to be re-released. It helps to be polite and concise in your request.

Be sure to check out our Editorial Database for an archive of every question that's ever been asked and answered!

Keep in mind as well you can only submit three questions and/or comments per day, so make sure they're accurate and pertinent before hitting that send button.

Because believe it or not, Sarah may not be able to answer ALL your questions about Neopia...

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Collaborating

If you're ambivalent about embarking on your Neopian Times journey alone, consider bringing along a friend or two! Up to 3 users can work on a piece together.

In order for all 3 users to receive credit (along with a prize and trophy), the user who submits the piece must include their collaborators' usernames in the comments field on the submission page. As of early February 2023 you are also required to include how each user contributed to the work, to decrease misuse of the system. If you fail to include this information, your piece will be rejected. Be sure that the user who is submitting the piece does not forget to include how they contributed.

Your credit does not have to be lengthy. Per the submission page, it can be as simple as:

username1: writer, username2: line art, username3: colour

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Publication Schedule

Several times a year the editor, or another member of TNT, will post a schedule covering the next several months on the Neopian Writers Neoboard. Simply look for a board highlighted completely in blue—this means it was posted by an official TNT account. TNT also posts the Poetry Contest schedules here, so make sure you click on the correct board.

This schedule is generally prefaced as tentative, aka subject to change, so it's recommended to check back periodically for updates. You can use it as a general template to plan ahead, since often times submissions can take several weeks to prepare, especially if you're working with other users. Typically, the changes that occur are minor. In the screenshot below, issue 1027 was later revised to be the Valentine's Day Edition, as the original schedule mistakenly overlooked this annual theme.

It's important to know when upcoming issues are due to be published, so you don't miss any submission deadlines. Currently, the Neopian Times is published every 2 weeks on Fridays, with the occasional variance for holidays. The publication schedule will also list any themes for upcoming issues, so you can ensure your submission pieces are appropriate. You can read more about themes in the following section.

The schedule is also where TNT will inform of any upcoming breaks in the publication. The Neopian Times generally takes a ~1 month hiatus from mid-December to mid-January for TNT to celebrate the holidays.

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Themed Issues

Now, what do you write about? Well, as you may have noticed in the above schedule, about half of Neopian Times issues have a distinct theme; pieces that do not adhere to this theme are unlikely to get in. So, you may need to either tailor your ideas for a piece to fit an upcoming theme, or prepare to submit them for a "normal" or non-themed issue. Themes can also help you come up with new ideas you would have never otherwise considered.

Once you've checked the publication schedule for all of the upcoming themes, it's time to brainstorm. The fun thing about themes is they are often open-ended. You'll likely see a wide variety of interpretations in the final publication. As long as the editor can understand your piece's connection to the theme, you have a shot at getting published.

In addition to simply being fun, themed issues often come with bonus prizes for users who are lucky enough to be published in them. Milestone issues additionally award a special avatar.

Milestone Issues

A milestone issue is any issue ending in the number 00, 25, 50, or 75 (e.g. 975, 1025, etc). Prior to issue 950, these occurred every 50th or 100th issue.

Milestone issues are often Neopian Times or Weewoo-themed, although this is not explicitly stated on the schedule. This theme is one of the most open-ended of them all - users will write about Weewoos, anniversaries, the Neopian Times, the history of the website, and more. If you're considering writing for a milestone issue, we recommend looking back at previous publications for ideas, such as issue 975, issue 1000, or issue 1025. It can be helpful to look at the most recent milestone issues, as older ones may have had different editors and may not be the most reflective of what the current editor is looking for.

Milestone issues award a bonus prize and a special avatar. As a result, these issues can be highly competitive.

Annual Themes

Certain themes occur annually on the issue closest to their holiday. Depending on how the calendar falls, the issue could be published up to 2 weeks before or after the holiday itself. Fyora Day and Petpet Appreciation Day, for example, are only 6 calendar days apart, which can mean one of them may end up in a May edition of the Times, instead of June.

With the exception of the April Fools' and Grey Day editions, all of the current annual themed editions award themed bonus prizes.

• Valentine's Day - February 14th
• Illusen Day (Green) - March 17th
• April Fools' - April 1st
• Grey Day - April 14th
• Fyora Day - June 2nd
• Petpet Appreciation Day - June 8th
• Halloween - October 31st
• Neopets' Birthday - November 15th
• Holiday - early December

User Collab Themes

The concept of the user collab can be a little confusing, as the word "collab" takes on multiple meanings within the Neopian Times. The more common meaning is when users work together to write an article, create a comic, etc. Up to 3 users can collaborate on a single piece together - this is also known as co-authoring.

The user collab theme, however, is when the theme of an upcoming issue of the Times is chosen by the community. You do not have to collaborate with other users when creating your work, however, and are free to author a piece by yourself.

If that's not confusing enough, small groups of users will occasionally host an unofficial collab, meaning they all agree to submit pieces with a mutually agreed upon theme, but this is not the official theme of the issue in the eyes of TNT, and these pieces are not given any preferential treatment in whether or not they are accepted.

To summarize: "user collab" can refer to either co-authoring, or an issue theme chosen by the community, depending on the context.

Like other annual themes, all user collabs award a themed bonus prize. It is different each time, as it is tailored to that issue's specific theme.

The History & Process

Collabs originally started as a fan project of sorts, amongst the writing community at the Neopian Times Writers' Form (NTWF), and then were formally picked up by TNT due to their popularity.

If you're thinking that all sounds pretty cool, you're right! This is one of the few areas of the site where the users have direct, consistent involvement. The selection process is done entirely offsite, on the NTWF. Without their passion, the user collab themes would likely cease to exist.

Several of the NTWF users are designated collab organizers, and occasionally create forum threads requesting ideas for new themes. Then, a poll is created in which the forum can vote on their favourites. The winning idea is presented to the Times editor, who ultimately has the final say on whether or not the theme is approved. Once a theme is selected and approved, it's added to the upcoming publication schedule.

Official user collab themes occur roughly every 10-20 issues, with the first official collab occurring in issue 634. You can read more about the unique history of collab themes in this article, published in issue 819 of the Neopian Times!

Past User Collab Themes

Here is a list of all of the previous official user collab themes, along with links to the issues themselves. You can read through the different accepted submissions to get a general idea of the various ways each theme can be interpreted.

You can also check out our prizes guide if you are curious about the bonus prize each issue awarded. Please note that a small number of them (676, 715, 738, and 752) were not awarded a prize.

1. Ode to Villains - issue 634
2. Everyone Needs a Hero - issue 654
3. Brightvale University - issue 668
4. Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey Stuff - issue 676
5. Conspiracies and Mysteries - issue 715
6. Dreams and Nightmares - issue 738
7. Ghosts and Monsters - issue 752
8. Royalty and Leaders - issue 772
9. In The Sky - issue 794
10. Celebrations and Reunions - issue 819
11. Magic and Curses - issue 837
12. Sidekicks and Partners - issue 857
13. Folklore and Legends - issue 875
14. Neovian Gothic - issue 895
15. Neopian Literature - issue 905
16. The Cosmic - issue 915
17. Performing Arts - issue 926
18. The Surreal - issue 940
19. Pirates vs Ninjas - issue 952
20. Meridell vs Darigan: 20 Years Later - issue 965
21. The Sea - issue 976
22. The Underground - issue 990
23. Machines in Motion - issue 1014
24. Roll for Initiative! - issue 1033

Historical Themes

Back when the Times was published more regularly, there were quite a few annual or recurring themes. While these themes are no longer done on a regular basis, it is always possible for them to appear again. Some themes, like Gadgadsbogen, have only made a single appearance! Most of these themes awarded a special themed prize after publication.

• Sloth Appreciation Day - January 14th
• Jhudora Day - February 4th
• Chocolate Chia Day - February 18th
• Gadgadsbogen - the month of March
• Festival of Neggs (previously Easter) - late March—April or early May
• Tyrannian Victory Day - May 12th
• Annual Usuki Doll Convention - August 20th
• Mutant Day - August 25th
• Annual Chocolate Ball - September 15th
• Faerie Festival - September 20th

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Banned Topics

Of course, there are a few topics that are completely off limits. Mature, religious, and non-Neopets content are the most disallowed, but there are some miscellaneous rules that can result in a frustrating rejection if you aren't aware of them in advance.

Remember, whatever isn't on this list should be allowed in the Neopian Times. One last thing to keep in mind is that you might be able to get away with a bit of the following things, but when possible you should always try to steer clear of them (for instance, some technology not normally in Neopia you might be able to briefly use if it's not emphasized and minor).

Modern technology wasn't allowed until Editorial 946, but now you can add cars, computers, and other technology to your heart's content!

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Tips & Tricks

And how could we have a Neopian Times article without giving advice for how to get in?

• Use proper grammar to make your entry legible. If you don't, your entry may be difficult to understand and will likely be rejected.
• Obey the rules. Entries that do not will be rejected for rule violations.
• Use your imagination. If you're making a story or comic, you want to be able to attract readers (and the editor!) by creating a fantastic adventure to hook them with.
• Be unique. Make sure you're able to add a unique spin or perspective, especially if you're writing an article such as a game guide. Your piece is less likely to be chosen if it lacks originality.
• Description is key! The readers should feel immersed in the world you create, and in your characters' lives.
• Use HTML for emphasis. HTML tags for bolding, italicizing, strikethroughs, and underlines may be used. You will need to place them within square brackets ([]) instead of the traditional HTML brackets (<>). Check out the Neopets HTML Guide if you need a refresher.
• Add images to liven up your submission. Images may be inserted using the [img src="IMAGE URL"] tags, and may either be lifted from across the site, or hosted offsite. Ensure that offsite images also abide by the rules.
• There is no "best time" to submit your entry, at least according to TNT. TNT states that all entries will be given equal consideration. However, it's likely best to submit no later than Monday or Tuesday on the week of publication, as the editor does need time to read and evaluate all submissions.

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Submitting Your Work

The editor needs plenty of time to properly review and read all of the wonderful submissions, so we recommend submitting your piece no later than the Monday or Tuesday before an issue is due to come out. While TNT has stated that all entries are taken into consideration, if a piece is submitted too close to the publication date (e.g. the night before), the editor may not have enough time to review it. Be sure to review the publication schedule so that you can set a deadline for yourself to finish your work and submit it on time.

Once you feel your work is complete, navigate to the submission page.

Titles

Your title is the first thing that other users will read, so make it catchy! You only have 52 characters to work with, so it should be succinct, yet descriptive. Again, the rules apply - your title needs to be appropriate.

For comics that are continued series we recommend including the part in the title, so the editor can easily see it is an ongoing piece. E.g. "Socko's Story: Part 3".

Thumbnails

As you probably already know, the Neopian Times has a picture for all of the entries in it, displayed in the top-right corner of the entry's page and right next to its description in the sidebar on every page. This is also known as a thumbnail.

Comics are unique in that they are the only submission type that contains a field to upload your own thumbnail. Custom thumbnails are commonly a logo you create for a series, or an image taken directly from the comic itself. However, your custom thumbnail is ultimately up to you, so long as it meets the filesize requirements. If you don't submit a thumbnail, the editor will choose one for you.

For articles and stories (both short and series), the editor will choose a thumbnail for you. There is a wide variety of images that might be used. You could get an image of a pet in a pose regularly seen on the site (like Battledome poses), an old Neopian Times image used for previous publications, comic excerpts, or even former Caption Contest pictures. Articles often receive an image from the Neopedia. For game guides, the thumbnail is almost guaranteed to be the game's header (the picture that you click on to get to that game's page, in the Games Room).

For years, if you were lucky, you could get a completely unique image drawn for your story, but this practice has long been discontinued. However, it is possible to ask another user if they can draw a thumbnail for you. You can upload this to a Petpage, as described above for comic thumbnails. If you choose this route, be sure to credit your artist in the comments field. They will not receive a trophy, though, unless they actually worked on the article or story itself.

Comments Field

In addition to crediting your collaborators, if applicable, the comments field can be used to leave notes or information for the editor. Since this box is limited to 120 characters only, some users will upload pertinent information to a Petpage, and then link the Petpage in the comments field.

Remember, if you collaborated with any other users you are required to mention their usernames in the comments field, along with a description of their contribution. Be sure to include a description of your contribution as well. Failure to credit your collaborators and explain their contributions can result in a rejection.

If a piece has collaborators and this is not added, then the piece will not be considered for publication.
(Example: username1: writer, username2: line art, username3: colour)

Things that you may want to include are:

• Credit for collaborators
• A custom thumbnail for your article, comic, or short story
• The "blurb" for your comic
• Anything else you feel the editor needs to know

If you choose not to select a custom thumbnail, or provide a blurb for your comic, the editor will choose for you.

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Submission Outcomes

There are two possible outcomes after submitting a piece - an acceptance or a rejection. Regardless of the outcome, you will receive a Neomail indicating the status of your submission. Continued series are a small exception to the acceptance/rejection process, so if you're planning to submit one we recommend checking out their process first.

The most desired outcome, an acceptance, often arrives early in the week of publication. Issues are currently published on Fridays, and acceptances generally arrive between Monday-Wednesday of that same week. This can vary from week to week, however, depending on the editor's personal schedule and holidays. For example, if the Monday preceding an issue is a holiday, it is unlikely acceptances will arrive that day. There have also been some occasions where acceptances have been sent as early as the previous Friday - an entire week before publication.

Additionally, not all submissions or submission types for an issue are accepted on the same day. The time of day also varies. The editor may do comics on Monday night, short stories and articles on Tuesday afternoon, and then accept a few more stragglers from all categories on Wednesday morning. If you find yourself getting anxious, there is typically a running submission tracking Neoboard where users post their submission status.

Neomails are only sent to the user who submitted the piece - any collaborators, or co-authors/artists, will not be notified by TNT.

Acceptances

You will receive an acceptance Neomail when your piece is chosen to be published in the upcoming issue. Your prize and trophy will be available immediately. Any collaborators, or co-authors/artists, will receive their prize and trophy after the issue is published, as these are awarded manually by TNT.

If you have been accepted into a themed or milestone issue, and are owed a bonus prize, you will receive this after the issue is published. If you are the submitter, this can result in your two prizes being delivered several days apart. Collaborators will receive both prizes simultaneously. All winners (i.e. submitters and collaborators) will be notified of their bonus prize via Neomail.

Visit our prize guide to learn more about the possible prizes you can receive, including avatars and trophies.

Rejections

There are several types of rejections that users can receive. It's important to read your Neomail to determine the nature of your rejection, so that you can make the appropriate changes if necessary before resubmitting.

Too Many Good Entries (TMGE)

Your Neopian Times submission ([entry name]) was rejected because we had too many good entries in this category this week and there was not enough room for them all. Please try again next week.

The most common form of rejection is for "too many good entries", also known as a "TGME". The fact of the matter is, more users submit each week than there is room for. This does not necessarily mean there was anything wrong with your piece, or that the editor disliked it. It also does not mean, however, that it is guaranteed to be accepted into a future issue if re-submitted.

TMGEs arrive after the issue is published, generally within a few hours. You will not be able to resubmit your piece until it is officially rejected, as the system only permits you to have 1 submission at a time under any given title. It is not recommended to re-name your piece to bypass this system.

We recommend reading through your piece, fixing any errors you spot, and looking for areas to improve upon before submitting it again. You may also consider asking a Neofriend to check it over for any suggestions, or uploading it to a Petpage and asking for feedback on the Neopian Writers Neoboard. Sometimes an outside pair of eyes can be very helpful in identifying areas where your writing could be more clear.

Rule Violation

There were certain elements of your story that were found to be inconsistent with what users are allowed to post on the Neopets site. Please visit the Terms and Conditions page to better understand what is not allowed.

Your Neopian Times submission ([entry name]) was rejected because it was found to be too wide. The maximum width for a comic is 470 pixels wide. If a comic is too wide and is shrunken down, the text becomes smaller and harder to read.

Rejections for rule violations typically arrive before the issue is published, to give users an opportunity to revise their piece and resubmit for the same issue. Not sure what's wrong with your submission? Check out our handy rules guide for a list of do's and don'ts, as well as suggestions for workarounds.

If you're still not sure why your piece was found to violate the rules, you may consider uploading it to a Petpage. If any part is blocked by Petpage filters, such as for inappropriate language, that is usually a good indicator of what may be wrong. If it passes through all of the filters, try asking for feedback on the Neopian Writers Neoboard - some of the more seasoned writers in the community may be able to help you identify the troublesome section(s) and offer suggestions for how to fix them.

Holdovers

Thank you for submitting to the Neopian Times. Currently your submission ([entry name]) is being held over and may be considered for future publication in the Neopian Times. There is no need to submit your submission again, as it is saved by the editor.

Prior to February 2023, the editor could choose to "hold over" your piece for a future issue if they liked your work, but did not have room to publish it. This practice has been discontinued, and the editor now clears the submission queue after each publication. You will either receive an acceptance or a rejection for all submissions.

Continued Series

The exception to the above information is continued series. Series are the only submission type for which the queue is not cleared after every publication.

Since series can go on for quite a number of issues, there is not always a free space for a new one to begin immediately after you submit. As a result, the editor may hold your series until there is an opening. With the discontinuation of holdover Neomails in early 2023, however, this means you will not receive an acceptance until your story begins publication.

So, if you submit a series and are met with silence, that is actually a good thing! The editor is likely waiting for a free space to publish your series. It is not unusual for this process to take several months. If you receive a rejection, we recommend reviewing and revising your series before resubmitting.

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Now What?

Now for the best part - you do it all over again! Happy writing Neopians! We can't wait to see what you come up with.

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This page was written by June, Kat, and noileh and last updated on May 15, 2025.