Getting Your Academic Research Work Accepted for Publishing
One challenge doctoral students and other early-career researchers face is the hurdle of generating valuable research that will advance science and writing a scholarly article on it. However, getting the article to be accepted by academic journals for publication poses a bigger challenge. To find post-doctoral jobs and positions, a good publication record is compulsory. So, dealing effectively with the challenge of getting your manuscript published requires paying attention to a number of salient information.
These information contains strategies that will increase your chances and also boost your career progression.
1. Target the Appropriate Journal
Check if your article is within the scope of the journal that you want to submit to. This will improve the chances of acceptance and ensure it reaches your target audience. To find out if your article is a good fit for the journal in question, look through a number of recent articles it has published to confirm if they are on the same topic and are of similar quality. Sending an article that does not align with the journal’s basic mission and goals is like giving a lion grass to eat; this will most likely guarantee a rejection.
2. Follow the Editor’s Instructions
A common reason for articles being rejected after peer review is failure to follow the editor’s instructions. Just as it is important to select the right journal, it is imperative to ensure that your submission is applicable to the context of the journal. Don’t do otherwise when the publication outlet has asked for a 300–350 word abstract. Always follow the recommended submission procedures; read every instruction highlighted by the journal. You can give yourself a major advantage by finding a way to communicate with the editor of the journal, either by approaching them at an academic conference or by sending an email. They are in a very good position to put you through very important protocols. Embrace their criticisms and suggestions, and work on them. And when directed to review and resubmit, ensure you do so.
3. Review your work
Many early-career scholars end up submitting pieces with poor quality because they are too hasty to submit their work. While the need to publish is pressing, you need to take the time to research well, prepare your work carefully, reconsider and edit it. Your article should have a clear and strong argument with compelling evidence. Don’t try to write and edit at the same time. Share your manuscripts with your colleagues and other researchers in your network and request their comments and feedback. Many a time, they can spot errors you can’t; because it is your work, some oversights may be unavoidable. Involving your colleagues can help ensure that your article is not replete with typographical errors and missing or sloppy citations.
4. Take Advantage of Special Journal Issues
Special issues, unlike regular issues, are rare opportunities that early-career researchers might have to work and publish with prominent academics in the field. Such opportunities help in forging future collaborations with such leading brains. You could ask an editor to enlighten you on special issues in works that might be connected to your research topic, and even when they are not connected strongly enough, you could revise your article to fit the special issue. Watch out for such opportunities and grab them. You just might get to build a relationship that will take your career to the next level.
