Tips for getting published in journals

Publishing a research paper in a peer-reviewed journal is an important activity within the academic community. Getting published isn’t easy, however, the chances of accepting your article depend on different factors such as depth and quality of your work, quality of preparation of document and the reputation of the journal. Research papers need to present an issue that is significant and relevant.

Furthermore, the journal peer-review process is an essential element of publication because no writer could identify and address all potential issues with a manuscript.

Being aware of these shortcomings will increase your chances of having your manuscript published and also boost your research profile and career progression.

1. Journal Selection

Finding the right journal for your article can dramatically improve the chances of acceptance and ensure it reaches your target audience.

The most common mistake is, not knowing the body of research in which an article fits. The wrong choice of journal for publishing spells outright rejection. Even if the article is very encouraging with sound and rigorous scholarly work, it will not stand the test .it is important to :

• Read the aims and scope and author guidelines of your target journal carefully.
• Search for journals that have published articles on your topic previously
• Be aware of the research already published and the current questions and studies in your field. Pay special attention to how other research papers in your field are written
• Pay attention to journal impact factors High-impact journals accept less than 10 percent of the articles submitted to them, although the acceptance ratio for special issues or special topics sections is normally over 40 percent
• Check the journal acceptance/rejection rates
• Look at the average time to publication as well as average time to acceptance/rejection notification

Also

• Some journals charge fees for manuscript processing or color figure reproduction for accepted manuscripts
• Less experienced scholars sometimes choose to submit their research work to two or more journals at the same time. Research ethics and policies of all scholarly journals suggest that authors should submit a manuscript to only one journal at a time
• Journal articles in the sciences often follow a specific organizational format, such as Abstract; Introduction; Methods; Results; Discussion; Conclusion; Acknowledgements/References. Those in the arts and humanities are usually less regimented.
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2. Manuscript Submission

• Look at papers recently published in your journal of interest. Ask yourself if your paper is of equal or higher caliber. If not, submit your work to a different journal.
• the most renowned journal in your field might not be the one best suited to your specific work
• Keep the circulation or exposure of the journal in mind
• Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential submission sites, do a little digging to find out how widely-read and widely-cited articles in those journals seem to be.
• You can increase your readership dramatically by publishing in an open access journal

• Share your manuscripts with your colleagues and other researchers in your network: They should edit your paper for grammar, spelling errors, typos, clarity, and conciseness. They should also verify your content.
• The key characteristic of scientific writing is clarity. Before submitting a manuscript for publication, it is highly advisable to have a professional editing firm copy-edit your manuscript. a properly written, edited and presented text will be error-free and understandable and will project a professional image that will help ensure your work.
• Go over your manuscript to ensure it is formatted according to the submission guidelines, paying special attention to the references/bibliography, text formatting, and citation style.
• Most journals provide a document called “Instruction to Authors” or “Author’s Guide” that offers specific instructions about layout, type font, and length. This guide will also tell you how to submit your paper and will provide details of the review process. Some publishers report that one paper in five does not follow the style and format requirements of the target journal, which might specify requirements for figures, tables, and references

3. Give your paper a clear vision

• Good journal articles usually get straight to the point and remain there the whole way through. Establish what exactly your paper explores/investigates/accomplishes right from the start
• Narrow your focus: Clear visions can also be grand visions, but journal articles don’t lend themselves to thorough examinations of large-scale topics

4. Make a good first impression with your title and abstract

They are the first elements a journal editor sees.

• The title should summarize the main theme of the article and reflect your contribution to the theory.
• The abstract is the first impression the reviewers will get of your work, so you need to make it count. it should be crafted carefully and encompass the aim and scope of the study; the key problem to be addressed and theory; the method used; the data set; key findings; limitations; and implications for theory and practice.
• The reader has to understand the study rationale, the methods used, and the study findings. Many researchers will only ever read the abstract of your paper so it must contain the most pertinent information.
• Your abstract should make people eager to start reading the article but never disappointed when they finish the article.
• Get as many people as you can to read over your abstract and provide feedback before you submit your paper to a journal
• Be sure to check journal guidelines for abstract length. Many journals will not accept abstracts longer than 200-250 words
• Never refer to figures or tables in your abstract.

5. Cover letter

Cover letters are often the first thing that a journal editor will read so never underestimate the importance of a cover letter addressed to the editor or editor-in-chief of the target journal.

A good cover letter

• outlines the main theme of the paper
• argues the novelty of the paper
• justifies the relevance of the manuscript to the target journal

Also remember to

• Limiting the cover letter to half a page
• Including the name of the editor to whom you are sending your work, if available. While you want to be personable, you should avoid being too personal. This is a business communication, not a letter to your friend. Be sure to keep it professional.
• Including contact information for the editor in case, he or she should wish to speak with you about your work

6. Do not rush submitting your article for publication

Submit your article when you feel it’s ready to go.

Carefully re-reading your manuscript at different times and perhaps at different places. Re-reading is essential in the research field and helps identify the most common problems and shortcomings in the manuscript.

Go to the Author’s Guide on the journal’s website to review its submission requirements. when you satisfy that your paper meets all of the guidelines, submit the paper through the appropriate channels. you can submit it physically or electronically,  it depends on the submission guidelines of your selected journal

• When submitting online, use your university email account. This connects you with a scholarly institution, which adds credibility to your work.
• If you are sending it physically, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, either large enough to return your work in or just large enough for them to send you a letter.
• When uploading text, table and image files electronically, many submission systems will dynamically assemble your files into a single PDF document for easier handling. Be sure to review your PDF after it generates to ensure that it looks correct and includes all information.
• Email the editor to see if your manuscript topic is appropriate. Most will happily direct you elsewhere if it is inappropriate for their journal.
• Look for journals that have issued calls for papers. They are more likely to look upon any work favorably

7. Don’t panic when you get the journal’s initial response

Writing for academic journals is a highly competitive activity, and it’s important to understand that there could be several reasons behind a rejection.

Very few article submissions get an immediate “Accept” reply from a peer-reviewed journal. If you do get one of these, go celebrate! Otherwise, calmly deal with the reply you get.

• You might have to resign yourself to having your articles rejected and then reworking them to submit them to a different journal before the manuscript is accepted.
• When you are asked to perform additional studies, do them quickly and resubmit your manuscript as soon as possible.
• Do not respond to reviewer comments in an argumentative tone. Be polite but straightforward. Feel free to disagree but be sure to have hard evidence to support your claims.
• If reviewers suggest changes/additional studies before the article can be published, respond to the editor indicating that you will address these suggestions so that they know your intentions.
• If accepted, be sure to carefully check page proofs and do so quickly. A 24-48 hour turnaround request is typical.
• Well-organized, well-written response letters can help a manuscript circumvent re-review. The editor will see the changes that you have made and may accept it outright.
• Even if you are ultimately rejected by your preferred journal, continue to re-write your research paper and submit it to other publications.
• Remember, a rejected paper doesn’t necessarily equal a bad paper

8. Embrace reviewer comments as constructive criticism

Quite often, you’ll be asked to revise your paper and resubmit it, based on the comments provided by several (often three) anonymous reviewers and the editor. Study their critiques carefully and make the necessary changes.

Remain flexible and rework the paper in light of the feedback you receive. Use your skills as a researcher and a writer to create a superior paper.

When you get initial peer reviews, consider them carefully. In your resubmission cover letter, respond to each point made by each reviewer. Highlight the points you followed and the ones you did not (and indicate why).