Breaking into Academic Publishing: Creating a Credible, Quality and Publishable Article

Abstract

Writing an academic article is something many students desire but common fears and concerns can prevent them from taking the next steps to publication success. This article offers insights from a journal’s Chief Editor aimed at early career and student authors considering publication, and hopes to enhance their publication experiences alongside avoiding some common mistakes. It explores how through spending time locating and evaluating suitable candidate journals from the outset, prospective authors can help avoid early rejections of their manuscript submissions. The article then proposes how authors, once writing is underway, can further increase their chances of a positive reception by reaching out to prospective editors. It illustrates that, as some form of peer-review is ubiquitous in academic publishing within quality research journals, authors should prepare to deal with reviews functionally, effectively and, where possible, dispassionately. Further, it suggests where rejection is encountered, authors should appreciate that other, alternative journals are likely to still be interested in publishing their work. Thus, through a lot of hard work, advice and attention to guidance from journals, and some common sense, any would-be author can achieve a publishable, quality academic article within a suitable research journal.