getting published (or 101 ways to get really frustrated…)

Getting PublishedGetting Published(or 101 ways to get really frustrated…)(or 101 ways to get really frustrated…)

Stuff to Talk About TodayStuff to Talk About Today

Types of articles

Targetting journals

What publishers want

Criteria used by editors

Key features of well written articles

The writing process

Impact factors

Refereed conference proceedingsRefereed conference proceedings

Refereed journal articlesRefereed journal articles

Review articlesReview articles

Types of ArticlesTypes of Articles

Types of JournalsTypes of Journals

Broadly speaking there are "generalist" and Broadly speaking there are "generalist" and variably "specialist" journalsvariably "specialist" journals

For example, in science, For example, in science, NatureNature and and ScienceScience are (high impact) generalist journals; are (high impact) generalist journals; The The Journal of BiophysicsJournal of Biophysics is a (lower impact) is a (lower impact) specialist journalspecialist journal

So So what iswhat is "impact"? "impact"?

Impact FactorsImpact Factors

From the ISI Journal Citation Reports web page:From the ISI Journal Citation Reports web page:

The journalThe journal impact factor is a measure of the impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the "average article" in a frequency with which the "average article" in a journal has been cited in a particular year. journal has been cited in a particular year.

The impact factor will help you evaluate a The impact factor will help you evaluate a journal’s relative importance, especially when journal’s relative importance, especially when you compare it to others in the same field. you compare it to others in the same field.


Impact Factor =Impact Factor =no. of citationsno. of citations

total no. articlestotal no. articles

calculated over the last 2 yearscalculated over the last 2 years

This looks simple. Is it too simple?This looks simple. Is it too simple?

Other Journal MeasuresOther Journal Measures

Immediacy IndexImmediacy Index - measures how quickly the - measures how quickly the "average article" in a journal is cited"average article" in a journal is cited

Cited Half LifeCited Half Life - helps evaluate the age of the - helps evaluate the age of the majority of cited articles published in a journalmajority of cited articles published in a journal

Citing half lifeCiting half life - - helps you evaluate the age of helps you evaluate the age of the majority of articles referenced by a journalthe majority of articles referenced by a journal

Go to Journal Report Web page

Distribution of Distribution of citations for articles citations for articles published in published in NatureNature in 5 randomly in 5 randomly selected yearsselected years

NatureNature, 29 May 2003, 29 May 2003

Granting agencies and grant "assessors" may use Granting agencies and grant "assessors" may use the impact factor of journals in which you publish the impact factor of journals in which you publish as an indicator of the quality of your work (ie they as an indicator of the quality of your work (ie they may form an opinion of the value of your work may form an opinion of the value of your work without actually reading it). without actually reading it).


Is this fair?Is this fair? NoNo

Routinely!Routinely!Does it happen?Does it happen?

Targetting JournalsTargetting Journals

Factors you might consider when selecting a Factors you might consider when selecting a journal to submit to:journal to submit to:

Does your paper contain new knowledge or a Does your paper contain new knowledge or a new interpretation?new interpretation?

If your answer to this question is NO, then go If your answer to this question is NO, then go back and start again (most journals will back and start again (most journals will quickly reject submissions of this type)quickly reject submissions of this type)


Is your paper of very general interest/ Is your paper of very general interest/ significance? Or is it of more interest to a significance? Or is it of more interest to a specialist group?specialist group?

If the former, your work might be appropriate If the former, your work might be appropriate for a high-impact generalist journal; if the for a high-impact generalist journal; if the latter, it may be appropriate to target a good latter, it may be appropriate to target a good quality specialist journalquality specialist journal


Does your paper describe a big advance? Does your paper describe a big advance? Or an incremental one?Or an incremental one?

Big advanceBig advance - target a "big" journal - target a "big" journal

Incremental advanceIncremental advance - aim more modestly - aim more modestly



WhenWhen should you be thinking about which should you be thinking about which journal(s) to target?journal(s) to target?

Before you even start the research.Before you even start the research. It is far It is far more important to more important to ask a good questionask a good question than than exhaustively answer a question nobody exhaustively answer a question nobody cares about.cares about.

If you are addressing an issue widely If you are addressing an issue widely perceived as important, your chances of perceived as important, your chances of being published in a "high-impact" journal being published in a "high-impact" journal are far greater from the outset.are far greater from the outset.

What Publishers WantWhat Publishers Want

(i)(i) Fall clearly within the field(s) prescribed Fall clearly within the field(s) prescribed by the journal (see the journal web site for by the journal (see the journal web site for this information).this information).

(ii) Provide an advance in knowledge.(ii) Provide an advance in knowledge.

Your manuscript will be more desirable to the Your manuscript will be more desirable to the editor if it contains a "big" advance in editor if it contains a "big" advance in knowledge and/or addresses a current and knowledge and/or addresses a current and topical area.topical area.

They want well-written submissions that:They want well-written submissions that:

All modern journals have web pages from which All modern journals have web pages from which you can access/download information you can access/download information ("Instructions for Authors")("Instructions for Authors")

What Publishers WantWhat Publishers Want

They want well-written submissions that:They want well-written submissions that:

(iii) Conform to all the journals format (iii) Conform to all the journals format requirements.requirements.

e.g. go to http://jfe.rochester.edu/e.g. go to http://jfe.rochester.edu/

Criteria Used by EditorsCriteria Used by Editors

This where it can be very frustrating…..This where it can be very frustrating…..

Most good journal receive many more Most good journal receive many more submissions that they can publish. Thus, submissions that they can publish. Thus, the editors can usually afford to be the editors can usually afford to be veryvery choosychoosy..


All quality journals use a form of the "peer All quality journals use a form of the "peer review process"review process"

You submit your manuscript (on-line for You submit your manuscript (on-line for many journals)many journals)

The journal sends you an acknowledgement of The journal sends you an acknowledgement of receipt (often an email)receipt (often an email)


You wait (1-3 months!) while the manuscript is You wait (1-3 months!) while the manuscript is reviewed by 1-3 external reviewersreviewed by 1-3 external reviewers

The editor and the editorial The editor and the editorial board consider the reviews board consider the reviews and contact you with a and contact you with a decisiondecision

I’m not sureabout this.....

Then….Then….

oh, shit....

Possible outcomes:Possible outcomes: (i)(i) RejectionRejection

first the tearsfirst the tears then the angerthen the anger

You will need to You will need to work your way past work your way past this stage…this stage…

Around about now this could look attractive…

Rejected?Rejected?

Editors are Editors are supposed tosupposed to act as act as "informed judges", weighing up the strengths "informed judges", weighing up the strengths of your arguments against any criticisms of your arguments against any criticisms raised by the reviewersraised by the reviewers

However, when editors are stretched for However, when editors are stretched for time and the reviewers are unpaid time and the reviewers are unpaid "experts" of variable quality, the peer "experts" of variable quality, the peer review process review process maymay treat your manuscript treat your manuscript with "cavalier disregard" with "cavalier disregard"

Rejected?Rejected?

(i)(i) Move on to the next journal (incorporate Move on to the next journal (incorporate changes to counter any criticisms changes to counter any criticisms encountered)encountered)

(ii)(ii) If you have a case, write to the editor with If you have a case, write to the editor with a a calmcalm, clear and fact-centred rebuttal of , clear and fact-centred rebuttal of the criticisms (good luck)the criticisms (good luck)

(iii) If not satisfied with the editor's response (iii) If not satisfied with the editor's response to your rebuttal, write to the Managing to your rebuttal, write to the Managing EditorEditor

Options?Options?

(ii) You are requested to submit a revised (ii) You are requested to submit a revised manuscript (this is good!)manuscript (this is good!)

Other (More Desirable) Outcomes:Other (More Desirable) Outcomes:

(iii) You obtain unqualified acceptance (go buy a (iii) You obtain unqualified acceptance (go buy a lottery ticket!)lottery ticket!)

Key Features of Well Written ArticlesKey Features of Well Written Articles

This is to some extent subjective, but probably This is to some extent subjective, but probably include:include:

A clear, concise and meaningful title which A clear, concise and meaningful title which creates interestcreates interest

What's wrong with this one?What's wrong with this one?

Inhibition of Porcine Pancreatic Elastase by 7-Substituted 4-Inhibition of Porcine Pancreatic Elastase by 7-Substituted 4-Chloro-3-Ethoxyisocoumarins: Structural Characteristics of Chloro-3-Ethoxyisocoumarins: Structural Characteristics of Modeled Noncovalent Complexes Relate to the Measured Modeled Noncovalent Complexes Relate to the Measured Inhibition KineticsInhibition Kinetics


This is to some extent subjective, but probably This is to some extent subjective, but probably include:include:

A clear, concise and meaningful title which A clear, concise and meaningful title which creates interestcreates interest

Better?Better?Clusterin promotes amyloid plaque formation Clusterin promotes amyloid plaque formation and is critical for neuritic toxicity in a mouse and is critical for neuritic toxicity in a mouse model of Alzheimer's diseasemodel of Alzheimer's disease


An Introduction that briefly provides a context An Introduction that briefly provides a context for the work presented and for the work presented and explicitly identifies explicitly identifies the gap in knowledge addressedthe gap in knowledge addressed

If appropriate:If appropriate:

Detailed descriptions of materials and methods Detailed descriptions of materials and methods used (sufficient for other researchers to used (sufficient for other researchers to reproduce your work)reproduce your work)

Results presented in a logical and clear wayResults presented in a logical and clear way


A A critical and scholarlycritical and scholarly Discussion of the state Discussion of the state of the field and the contribution of this piece of of the field and the contribution of this piece of work to the advancement of knowledgework to the advancement of knowledge

e.g. What are the (i) implications of your e.g. What are the (i) implications of your results? and (ii) limitations of previous work results? and (ii) limitations of previous work and of the current report?and of the current report?

What needs to be done in the future to solve What needs to be done in the future to solve remaining uncertainties?remaining uncertainties?

The Writing ProcessThe Writing Process

What is the one thing you need but often can't get What is the one thing you need but often can't get enough of (for writing)?enough of (for writing)?

You You mustmust makemake this available so that you can this available so that you can really concentratereally concentrate

TimeTime


As a rough guide, it usually takes me about As a rough guide, it usually takes me about one week (full time) to draft a paper one week (full time) to draft a paper


As a rough guide, it usually takes me about As a rough guide, it usually takes me about one week (full time) to draft a paper one week (full time) to draft a paper

It then may take weeks-months after this to It then may take weeks-months after this to chase down any missing results, recalcitrant chase down any missing results, recalcitrant ex-PhD students, references, etc.ex-PhD students, references, etc.


Pay conscious attention to the points raised in Pay conscious attention to the points raised in Key Features of Well Written ArticlesKey Features of Well Written Articles when when constructing your draftconstructing your draft

Practical Tips:Practical Tips:

Actively seek out Actively seek out criticalcritical readers (co-authors or readers (co-authors or peers) to provide comments on your draftspeers) to provide comments on your drafts

Try and anticipate points of criticism from Try and anticipate points of criticism from reviewersreviewers

Questions

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