Getting published : how to enhance your chances of publishing in international journals

PhD-school Faculty of Social Sciences, 1 december 2008

Wouter Vandenabeele

Overview

• Focus on journal articles (submitted vs. invited)

• Process of submission and publication

• Short presentation, questions after the presentation

Before writing

• Before submission :

– Pre-determined publication strategy

– Part of your PhD-proposal; shape your PhD

– Example of publication strategy

– ‘Opportunity kills’ (special issue) :

• Open call

• Network / conference

Before writing (2)

• What to write ?– Do’s :

• New theory

• New empirical evidence

• New methodology

• Review paper

• Use generally accepted structures for each type

– Don’t : • ‘about’ paper

• ‘rant’ paper

Before writing (3)

• Where to submit ?

– Difficulty (Thompson WOS or not ?)

– Subject area

– Publication strategy (plan A, B and C)

– Familiarize with the field and the journals

When writing

• Try to apply criteria that are used by the journal:– Content (methods , theory, …)

– Style

– Relevance

– Language

• Pre-proofing : – Conference

– Peers/colleagues

After writing

• Decision :

– Accept

– Conditional accept

– Revise and resubmit

– Reject

After writing (2)

• Follow up

• Do not expect instant gratification

• Do not blame the reviewers, nor the editor

• Do not take it personally

• Wait

• Be your own worst critic

• Try again (and again)

Questions