Top tips for navigating the publishing journey as a new author
| 27 February, 2023 | Abbie Nicholson |
As part of the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) and in conjunction with the World Health Organization, F1000 Senior Associate Publisher Hannah Wilson participated in a scientific writing, mentorship, and coaching workshop to provide insight into the publishing process for new authors. We’ve provided a recap of some of Hannah’s top tips below, which also summarizes some of the questions posed during the workshop.
Getting your paper accepted
Tip 1: Decide the right article format for your research
Traditionally, most published original research papers took the form of a Research Article, which has long been seen as the culmination of any project.
However, Research Articles may not always provide the best format for all types of research. For example, clinical studies may be more suited to a Clinical Practice Article, or an innovative piece of data or software may be best presented as a Data Note or Software Tool Article.
As a result, it’s key to explore the different options available for publishing your work. It’s also important to identify which formats are supported by different journals, as not all journals will support all formats.
For example, Gates Open Research accepts 11 different article types, each designed to support a different research phase or output.
Building up your publishing profile by publishing your work as these alternative article types, as well as acting as a reviewer with citable peer review reports, can also help provide evidence to support future publication submissions.
Tip 2: Choose the most appropriate journal
As new authors, it’s especially important to consider which journal might best fit your work and the ethos of the journal you are looking to submit to.
Some will openly encourage ECR submissions and focus on the soundness of science, whereas other journals will focus on author prestige, reputation, or a high journal impact factor (often maintained by a high rejection rate). As a new author, the latter can be harder to access, so it’s worth considering alternatives.
To help identify which might be best for you, consider if you can see yourself in the journal’s existing content or authors. Are there other authors from your career stage or region? Are there studies of a similar size or methodology?
None of this means you will definitely be accepted or rejected, but it may help you get a feel for the journal’s preferences. And on this point – don’t take desk rejects personally. They’re frustrating and time-wasting, but as much a reflection of the journal’s policies and priorities than the quality or importance of your work.
Tip 3: Read the article guidelines and journal policies thoroughly
Once you have decided which article type best suits your work and your preferred journal, make sure to read the associated article guidelines and policies thoroughly. Every journal is different, so it’s important that authors do their research to understand the specifics of their chosen journals.
Things to consider include:
- What are their article guidelines and publishing policies?
- What is the publishing process?
- What pre and post-publication checks will you be required to meet, and how can you best prepare for those?
Gates Open Research, for example, requires data sharing as part of the submission process, has a set of pre-publication checks to pass (including ethical consent, plagiarism, reporting guidelines, and image quality and integrity), and conducts peer review after publication, as opposed to before publication.
Reading the guidelines and journal policies in detail will save you time in revisions and resubmissions.
Tip 4: Understand what support is available
Understanding what support is available to guide you through the submission journey will also help to avoid any potential issues and streamline the process as much as possible.
For example, Gates Open Research offers editorial support throughout the process, with in-house editors on-hand to provide guidance, and can arrange support for English language editing services if requested.
Post-acceptance
Tip 5: Be responsive and manage expectations
Once your paper has been accepted for publication, you will be sent proofs for approval. Responding to these in a timely manner will help to make the process as smooth as possible and speed up the publication time.
It’s also important to manage expectations with editors if there are likely to be any delays to approvals for proofs or revisions, which can help maintain a positive relationship and avoid confusion.
If there are likely to be lengthy delays, consider appointing a co-author who can arrange these in your absence.
Responding to peer reviewers
Tip 6: Be thorough in responses
When revising and reviewing your paper following peer review, make sure to be thorough in your responses.
Address each point in turn and provide a full response, including an explanation of any changes made to the paper in light of the comment.
This is especially important in open peer review, a key element of Gates Open Research, where peer review comments, reviewer names, and author responses are open.
By providing detailed responses, you can build a relationship with both your reviewer and your readers, providing more transparency and boosting credibility of your work.
Tip 7: Feel empowered to say no
You do not always need to agree with your reviewers and should feel empowered to say no, where you feel appropriate.
In these instances, you should provide a detailed response explaining why you disagree, and use it as an opportunity to provide any further evidence or explanation that may support your response.
Reviewers may have expertise in this area, but there are always opportunities for learning on each side.
Tip 8: Be prepared for multiple rounds of review
Finally, it’s important to be prepared for multiple rounds of review and revisions – don’t be disheartened by this, and instead see it as a learning opportunity to improve your knowledge and writing skills from experts in your field.
Start your own publishing journey
From supporting multiple article types to providing comprehensive editorial support and guidelines, Gates Open Research provides a reputable, free publishing venue for those looking to publish their latest Gates-funded research.
And ICFP presenters can publish their ICFP work for free in a dedicated Gates Open Research Gateway, regardless of their funding source – submit your research today.
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