Writing a Refereed Journal Article: A Personal Perspective on Strategies for Doctoral Students

Bill Dutton

13 years ago

Develop a Set of Realistic Expectations

(Co-)Authorship issues vary across disciplines, but in Internet Studies:

One or more single authored publications idea
Co-authored publications fine, but not only co-authored publication
Agree a strategy to manage co-authorship over two or more works (don’t agree to be the last co-author on all publications, unless that is fair
Co-authorship is growing more common with team-based research

Present Your Work

Present any piece being developed for publication
Discover flaws and missing links, ordering problems in the argument and its presentation, in addition to getting feedback
Often the source of suggestions of appropriate journals, even invitations to submit to a particular journal
Don’t present too many conference papers relative to your publications – suggesting a lack of focus on getting your work published

Be Your Own Toughest Critic on whether Your Idea or Analysis is Publishable

Is it an original contribution (empirically (new data set, new operational definitions, original observations or case studies), theoretically, otherwise)?
Is it sufficiently important? A relatively simple contribution might merit a blog, or a research note, but not justify the time required for a full journal article.

Prioritize your Time, but be Flexible

Focus your attention on the most important original contribution you can make, rather than saving it for future publications
Create files, stacks or folders for other ideas, papers, which might rise or diminish in significance over time.
Keep your priority, but if you can’t make progress, don’t stop writing. Move to another paper, where you feel able to make progress.

Follow a Simple, Clear Structure Reflecting Basic Research Processes

Problem, research question, literature, approach, methods, findings, limitations, discussion of implications and further research
Explain what you are going to do. Do it. Tell the reader what you’ve done.
Do not write a mystery novel.

Literature Review

Carefully Consider the Journal(s) in Which to Choose to Publish

Centrality to your work based on Track Record of Published Articles
Links to the Academic Community of the Editor, and Editorial Board (Have you read or heard of these scholars?)
Do you publish in refereed journals in your field of specialization?
Among the fitting journals, it is best to have your article accepted in one with a higher impact factor, and indexed by the right sources.

Write for the Chosen Journal

Follow the journal’s style guidelines
Keep to guidelines on length, word count
Do not submit to another journal while being considered by your chosen journal. This may cause you to think twice about submitting to some journals, such a one noted for slow turnaround of reviews.

Respond to Reviewers

Good luck on first review and chosen set of reviewers
Most journals will return your manuscript to the initial reviewers, so it is practical to focus on understanding and being responsive to review
Explain how you’ve responded to reviews, particularly when reviewers offer contradictory suggestions.
Don’t be discouraged by critical reviews, and don’t blame the reviewers, if your writing has not convinced them of the merits.
Be attentive to positive reviews: Why did the reviewer like your piece?
If unsuccessful, consider an alternative journal, in light of the reviews.

The Importance of Focused Time

Not Alcohol, Drugs, or Sleep Deprivation
Time on Task in Revision after Revision[1]
Consistent Discipline in Reading and Organizing Notes and Research
Record your ideas, notes, readings, systematically. Read: C. Wright Mills, ‘On Intellectual Craftsmanship’[2]
Focus on the Article, get feedback from colleagues who read or discuss your ideas, and revise, and revise again.