I'm new to publishing journal articles. What should I expect?
Choose where to publish your aricle
Reach and impact are important factors to consider. These will have a significant effect on how much your paper is read and cited.
If you want your paper to be open access, picking a journal that supports open access is critical.
Ask yourself: do the papers published in the target journal meet your personal standards? Are they rigorous and interesting? Would you be happy to have your work appear alongside them?
It is best to pick a publication very early on in your paper-writing process. This will help you tailor your article to your chosen publication.
Writing your paper
This can seem daunting. Take it step by step!
Existing papers in your target journal can serve as useful examples.
Keep in mind the editorial policies of the journal you have chosen.
Also keep in mind conventions in your discipline.
Submitting
Make sure to follow the journal's submission requirements. Journals often have their own idiosyncratic requirements. Make sure you know what they are!
You may want to write a cover letter.
Be patient with the journal editors and peer reviewers. These things take time!
Peer Review
At its best, peer review is intended to be a collaborative process, where you engage with the reviewers to make your paper better.
Not all types of peer review are the same! For example, open peer review is a very different process than double-blind peer review. It is best to know what to expect, so that you can be prepared.
Production
Production happens after your article has been accepted for publication.
Much of the work needed to get your article ready will be done by the journal's staff, but your input will likely be needed on some points.
When asked, be sure to be prompt and responsive with your feedback.
