With so much pressure on your time, you need to think carefully about what article to write, and where to submit. As part of a short series of talks on issues around publishing, Rosaleen Duffy (SAC) provided some thoughts about what to bear in mind. Ideally, you should focus on a smaller number of higher quality pieces, and try to maximise the potential influence of your work. To do this, give careful consideration about where you place your articles.
- Does the journal reach ‘your’ audience – i.e. the people who you want to be aware of your work? Target a journal that you know addresses the debate to which you want to contribute. Alternatively, you may need to think laterally, and approach a journal outside your area that might be interested in applying the issues in your field to their own discipline.
- Is it suited to your material and approach? For example, there is no point submitting a quantitative piece to a journal that deals predominantly in qualitative research.
- Will it contribute positively to your REF submission?
- Will it progress your career?
- What is the journal’s ranking or impact factor?
In addition, you should be careful about accepting offers to contribute or collaborate. With time limited you need to select primarily those opportunities which will raise your profile and advance your career. There is no shame in turning down those that don’t: collaborators and editors prefer ‘a quick no to a long maybe.’
This is part of a short series on getting published in academic journals. For some fuller hints and tips, have a look here.
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