Do You Know the Academic Publishing Process?
Grad Advice & Tips
The publication process is complex, and it often can lead to a lot of frustration for graduate students… but do you know why?!
When I started my publication journey, I genuinely thought that it would be relatively simple.
Before trying to publish an original research publication, I had already published book reviews and an exhibition critique in peer-reviewed journals.
Those processes of peer-review were so straightforward that I naively believed all my publications would be simple!
BUT I WAS WRONG!
And here is why:
1. Reviewers can be picky and at times not very helpful
Receiving a lot of review comments in general, even if they are not negative, can feel overwhelming.
Every journal will have its own culture and expectations, and so it is important to know if you get rejected from one journal you do not have to keep working with them.
Look for reputable journals that are within your discipline and appreciate your writing style or your research.
You can do this by reading from their already published articles and evaluating how closely aligned are they to the way your write or the arguments you make!
2. You Need Feedback, But Not Too Much
Ask professors if they think your work is publishable.
Ask for feedback like what would they change if this was their article.
This initial review from faculty in your department or from people you know at your university will give an idea of what future comments from journal reviewers may be.
It will save you time and energy to address those concerns head-on.
However, be careful not to ask too many people because that can also lead to a lot of opposing ideas and even more confusion!
3. I Wasn’t Aware of Timing
Each journal will have its own timeline taking anywhere from a few months to two years.
To be prepared to have articles ready for publication around your late second year or early third year, you should be preparing as early as your first or early second year.
This can be confusing because you are just starting and may not know what to write about! (At least I didn’t)
You could take classes directly related to the research you are interested in. Then working with the faculty you can develop final papers that can be edited and molded into something more mature for publication later.
Exams are also a great place to try and get publications. I would consult with your faculty to keep this in consideration as you are preparing, so you have the opportunity to make your exams work for you!
Then, after your exams you may be able to take your questions and edit them and revise them to be a good quality article.
4. I Also Had a Lack of Support or Time
Writing an article not a quick process and usually, it is not your only responsibility as a graduate student.
Graduate students are often working, teaching, doing their own research, taking classes, and taking care of our own personal needs.
All of those responsibilities add up. It is a balancing act to figure out when you will have the time or resources to carve out space to sit down and write an article.
This all should be taken into consideration when developing a publication plan!
Takeaways!
Remember, you may not always know when, how, or what to publish but do not get discouraged.
Publishing is not a make-or-break situation. As a graduate student, you have resources available to you like faculty, independent study with faculty, final papers from classes connected to your research, and exam questions or answers.
So, take your time, do your research, and don’t be afraid to submit an article for publication because you may not think it is good enough.
There are no consequences except for a possible rejection, but even with a rejection you will have your first round of feedback and guidance to make your paper better.
Have any questions or want to share your grad school experiences? Drop a comment below, and don't forget to subscribe for more grad life tips!
If you would like to know more detailed the steps and timelines to academic publishing, you should watch this video next!
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