How to Publish Your First Journal Article

Category: Academics

Scientific research can be classified into different categories according to their application disciplines. Academic scientific journals are a comprehensive collection of such scholarly works in a particular discipline. One of the prime goals of the academic community is to publish their work frequently and constantly. Publishing a paper in a leading journal has a lot of merits. It ensures better prospects at employment for graduate and postgraduate students as well as for other academicians to enhance their careers in their respective fields. Publishing an article is a comprehensive and exhaustive process. There are a few steps you need to follow while writing an article. First and foremost is Journal Selection. Always begin with the end in mind. Before you start writing your manuscript, select your target journal. Selecting a journal that is relevant to your field of study will increase your chances of getting your work published. Look up the Internet or your university’s library website, or you may even consult your professors or colleagues and shortlist journals that publish work suitable to your field of research. Read the journal’s aims and scope to determine whether your study fits the bill. Another key point to remember is that do not shortlist solely on the basis of a journal’s impact factor. It is good to aim for the highest quality or top-ranked journal in your field for your first publication; however, this brings with it the risks of your article getting rejected. So, compile a list of journals based on the order of your preference and target one accordingly. The second element to focus on is Manuscript Preparation Every journal follows a set format for manuscript preparation. This format includes everything right from structuring the content to styling of text and the guidelines vary with every journal. The major points to remember while you prepare a manuscript are as follows: Read the manuscript submission guidelines, structure your text, and organize the content as per the guidelines. Ensure permission has been obtained for the use of copyrighted material from all sources. Make every effort to improve the quality of the manuscript, for example English editing, before submission. The next crucial element that governs the publication of your manuscript is the Peer-Review Process. Depending on the journal, your article will be considered by the Editor(s) and/or Associate Editors and 2–4 reviewers, often from the Editorial Board. They are the gatekeepers who further decide the course of your article. There is no fixed duration for a review process. Some manuscripts may take longer to review, particularly if they are niche areas and it is tough to find adept reviewers. It is reasonable to follow up on your paper if you feel it has exceeded the stated timelines. The reviewers may suggest certain revisions to your text to enhance the quality of your work and to ensure the script is suitable for publication. Ensure that you respond to every query point by point and use a positive or constructive tone while addressing them. However, note that this process can take at least 2–3 iterations before the final draft is approved. Once your manuscript is approved for publication, there will be post production tasks that deal with the final processing. This process, again, is journal specific and deals majorly with the look-and-feel of the manuscript. If you follow this process diligently and are open to feedback, which you may need to consider to improve your article, you will be successful in publishing your first-ever journal article.