How to Submit to an Academic Journal
For many graduate students and most doctorate candidates, having work published in an academic journal is critical to getting the qualifications necessary for the next step in their careers. After spending two years or more researching and writing your dissertation, taking the next step and publishing the work can be an incredibly gratifying experience. To improve your odds of being published, pay attention to all of the details of the submissions process. Many advisers and programs will also work with you through the process.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Proofread your paper thoroughly. Include an acknowledgments page if it is part of thesis work at a university. Including both your adviser's name and the university adds credibility to your paper. Include the name of anyone whose work was pivotal to your research.
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2
Research the journal. Read the most recent issues and any articles available online. Each journal has its own focus and stylistic preferences. By prescreening journals, you save yourself the time of submitting to a journal that isn't a good match for your work. You also increase the likelihood of having your work published.
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3
Create a checklist for the submission process based directly on the information provided by the journal. All journals have written guides, generally located on their websites, on how to submit work. Some journals also post guidelines in their print copies, or at least offer an email address to contact for more information. Find the guidelines and follow them without deviation.
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4
Prepare your document according to the guidelines. Follow the journal's standards for margins, font size, number of pages or words, title page format, whether to include your name on the submission itself and any other items specified. Double-check your manuscript against the checklist you created.
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5
Write a clear, concise and professional cover letter. Include anything requested by the journal, such as a short biography or other information. Name your submission and submit a short statement regarding the focus of your paper and how it fits into the journal's mission. Include all of your contact information, including your physical and email addresses and telephone number.
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6
Submit the cover letter, article and any other material required using the journal's preferred method. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a response if sending the submission via the postal service.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Reading periods for journals usually take place during the summer or winter months, which means that it could take more than a year before you hear back. Make a note of when a journals reading period is, and allow three to five months after that for a response.
Submit to journals whose writing style is similar to your own. Make sure you are an excellent fit on all levels.
Make sure you enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with each submission. If you want your full manuscript back, include and envelope with enough postage to cover it.
Always check to see if the journal allows for multiple submissions. If not, you can lose a publication credit by sending it out to more than one journal at a time. Respect their rules.
Make sure you check to see whether your name should be in a header or not. Many journals use a blind submission process. If this is the case, they are not going to take the time to black out your name on each page before sending it out for review. It will simply go into the trash.
ALWAYS put your name on the cover letter and title page, unless directed otherwise. If your correct contact information is not included, the journal cannot accept the paper.
Do not send originals to a journal. Always send a copy in case the piece is lost.
