Preparing a Manuscript for Publication

By Lilian H. Hill

 

When planning to publish articles, there are important steps to follow.

 

1.     Identify Suitable Journals: Look for well-regarded journals in your field and regularly publish articles related to your research topic. Consider the impact factor, indexing, audience reach, and publication frequency. For ideas, you can review articles you have been reading, consult with classmates, and consult your advisor and dissertation committee members.

 

2.     Examine the Submission Guidelines: Each journal has specific guidelines for manuscript submission. Pay close attention to these guidelines regarding formatting, word count, citation style, and submission process. You can read What Journal Editors Wish that Authors Knew for more information.

 

3.     Consider Co-authorship: Collaborating with other researchers can enhance the quality and impact of your work. Consider working with classmates, colleagues, mentors, or experts in your field. Working with others will give you courage and strengthen your work.

 

4.     Craft a Strong Manuscript: Ensure your manuscript is well-written, logically organized, and effectively communicates your ideas. Pay attention to clarity, coherence, and conciseness. Be sure you have cited pertinent sources, and if your ideas differ from the mainstream, you have explained why.

 

5.     Network and Seek Feedback: Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars to network with other researchers in your field. Seek feedback on your work from classmates, colleagues, and mentors to improve its quality before submission.

 

6.     Edit, edit, edit: Journal articles and reviewers are not in the business of being your editor. Ensure your manuscript is free from grammar, spelling, or factual errors. Be sure your citations and references match and the manuscript is clear, readable, and meets the expectations of your intended audience.

 

Submitting the Manuscript

Almost all journals now have online submission portals. The link to the portal is in the authors’ guidelines on the website of your chosen journal.

 

1.     It is important to carefully follow these guidelines regarding (a) identifying authors and their institutional affiliations; (b) formatting a title page, abstract, main manuscript, references, tables and figures, or other illustrations;(c) crafting a brief cover letter; and (d) document format. Most online submission platforms will convert your document into a portable document format (.pdf) that prevents alterations to your manuscript during the review process.

 

2.     Ensure that no personally identifying information is present in the main manuscript. If you cite yourself, you can substitute AUTHOR for your name. Likewise, it is wise to use a pseudonym for your research site. When your manuscript has been accepted for publication, these details will be added back during the copyediting process.

 

3.     Failure to follow the journal’s submission guidelines can result in a rejection decision, regardless of the quality of your ideas, research, and manuscript. This is not personal. Most journals receive many more submissions than they can publish. Part of the editor’s job is to screen all submissions to determine if they meet the guidelines, fit within the journal's scope, and do not exceed length limitations.

 

4.     Once the editors determine that your manuscript is suitable for review, they will select 2-3 members of their editorial board to review it. It can take time for suitable reviewers to be found. Reviewers are usually asked to complete the review in a few weeks, and often, they will delay their work. In other words, it can take several months to receive a decision.

 

5.     Reviewers will recommend a decision of Accept, Conditional Accept, Revise and Resubmit (minor or major revisions), and Reject. Based on the reviewers’ recommendations, the editors will make and communicate the decision to you.

 

6.     While you hope for an Accept decision, receiving a Revise and Resubmit decision is more common. This is good news! It means that the reviewers and editors believe that your manuscript may merit publication after you make recommended revisions.

 

Once You Receive Feedback

1.     Address Peer Reviewer Comments: If your manuscript undergoes peer review, carefully address all comments and suggestions provided by the reviewers. Be open to feedback and revisions to improve the quality of your paper. Manuscripts are often strengthened by feedback.

a.     When you first receive feedback, you may be hesitant to read it. Let it sit for a day or two, but be sure to read it. Experienced authors may still have to gather their courage to read feedback, but once they read it, they take action to improve the manuscript.

b.     Your writing is not you! Once you have written and submitted a manuscript for publication, you may have to separate your ego from your writing.

 

2.     Protect Intellectual Property: Be mindful of intellectual property rights and ensure you have permission to use any copyrighted materials in your manuscript. Properly cite all sources and obtain necessary figures, tables, and other content permissions.

 

3.     Be Persistent: The publishing process can be lengthy and sometimes frustrating, especially if your manuscript faces rejection or requires major revisions. Stay persistent, learn from feedback, and keep refining your work.

 

4.     Celebrate Success: Celebrate each milestone in the publishing process, whether you submit your manuscript, receive positive feedback from reviewers, or see your paper published. Acknowledge your hard work and achievements along the way.

 

Remember that publishing as a senior graduate student is not just about adding lines to your Curriculum Vitae; it's about contributing to the collective knowledge of your field and establishing yourself as a credible researcher.

 

References

Hill, L. H., Rogers-Shaw, C. A., & Carr-Chellman, D. J. (2023). But, is it adult education? Disciplinary boundaries of adult education and higher education. Adult Learning, 34(2), 59–67. https://doi-org.lynx.lib.usm.edu/10.1177/10451595231159430

Rogers-Shaw, C., Hill, L. H., & Carr-Chellman, D. (2022, October 12). Academic journal success and the anonymous peer review process. American Association for Adult and Continuing Education 2022 Conference. Milwaukee, WI. ED: ED632235.

Publishing for Senior Graduate Students

 

 

By Lilian H. Hill

Publishing as a senior graduate student can be pivotal in pursuing an academic career. Publications allow you to contribute to academic knowledge and establish your scholarly credibility. However, it is easy to neglect writing due to the stress of coursework, qualifying or comprehensive exams, field or lab work, competing responsibilities, or disappointing research results. Many doctoral students experience the pressure of producing high-quality, meaningful publications even before submitting their dissertations for examination (Carson & Ferris, 2023). Mills-Finnerty (2023) indicates that “no matter how brilliant or hard working you are, without a record of productivity you risk stalling or derailing your academic career” (para. 1).

 

The expected qualifications for assistant professor and adjunct positions have increased over time. Many candidates now boast a minimum of 5 - 7 published academic articles or chapters, so those people graduating with few or no publications can be at a disadvantage. Even if your career goals do not involve academic positions, publications remain important and integral to graduate training (Mills-Finnerty, 2019). 

 

Why Graduate Students Should Publish

Publishing as a graduate student is important for several reasons:

 

1.     Contributing to Knowledge: Publishing allows graduate students to contribute new insights, findings, and perspectives to their field of study. It adds to the body of knowledge and helps advance the academic discipline.

 

2.     Establishing Credibility: Publishing demonstrates a graduate student's ability to conduct rigorous research, analyze data, and communicate findings effectively. It establishes credibility and expertise within the academic community.

 

3.     Career Advancement: Publishing papers can enhance a graduate student's academic and professional credentials, making them more competitive for postdoctoral positions, academic jobs, research grants, and other career opportunities.

4.     Networking and Collaboration: Publishing often involves collaboration with other researchers within and outside one's institution. This collaboration fosters networking opportunities and helps graduate students build relationships with colleagues in their field.

 

5.     Skill Development: Preparing and publishing a paper hones valuable skills such as critical thinking, writing, research design, data analysis, and communication. These skills are transferable and beneficial for a wide range of career paths.

 

Publishing as a graduate student is beneficial for individual career advancement and plays a crucial role in the broader academic community by driving innovation, collaboration, and intellectual progress.

 

References

Marson, J., & Ferris, K. (2023). How supervisors can support doctoral students to publish and not perish in academia. Encyclopedia, 3(4), 1358–1372. https://doi-org/10.3390/encyclopedia3040097

Mills-Finnerty, x. (2019, October 10). Is it really "publish or perish" for PhD students? Social Sciences division, Springer Nature. https://communities.springernature.com/posts/is-it-really-publish-or-perish-for-phd-students