How to Get Published –– Advice from the editors –– Barry Pless, Simon Chapman, Bruce Squires, Danilo Blank Barry Pless, Simon Chapman, Bruce Squires, Danilo Blank A consensus ? ?

How to get published?

General rule of thumb:

 Bad science usually rejected  Sensational science usually accepted  Most papers are neither: (in gray zone) Few good journals accept outright Small factors make a difference Well written papers more likely to be published Writing skills come from experience (no matter how badly written…) …and read! Structure + style are (mostly) everything

 Issue not important 1. General  Not original  Not appropriate for journal  Ethical issues  Conflict of interest Why papers are rejected:  Practical difficulties doubtful results

2. Scientific Why papers are rejected:  Poor or weak design  Sample biased or too small  Statistics inappropriate / misapplied  Conclusions unsuitable  Unclear hypotheses  References outdated / inappropriate

 Poorly organized 3. Presentation / style Why papers are rejected:  Careless checking  Tables ill-formatted  References out of style / too many  Abstract inaccurate / unstructured  Badly written  Needless figures

Getting started:

 Begin to write early

Getting started: What do I have to say? Is it worth saying? What is the right format? What is the audience? Where should I publish? How can I best use paper and the web? Consider chances of success Remember target writing What do I have to say? Is it worth saying? What is the right format? What is the audience? Where should I publish? How can I best use paper and the web? Consider chances of success Remember target writing  Begin to write early  Pause, ponder and plan

 Begin to write early Getting started:  Check instructions for authors carefully  Pause, ponder and plan

 Begin to write early Getting started:  Check instructions for authors carefully  Who will be the authors?  Pause, ponder and plan

 Begin to write early Getting started:  Check instructions for authors carefully  Who will be the authors?  Seek help from published works  Pause, ponder and plan

 Begin to write early Getting started:  Check instructions for authors carefully  Who will be the authors?  Seek help from published works  Get approval from ethics review board  Pause, ponder and plan

Proceed in sequence:

 Review literature (prepare references) Proceed in sequence:  Tables and figures  Results  Methods  Discussion  Introduction  Abstract, title, keywords  “Key point” boxes  Tables and figures  Results  Methods  Discussion  Introduction  Abstract, title, keywords  “Key point” boxes

The basics of the IMRaD structure:

Why I did it What I did What I found What it may mean

Front matters:

 Abstract  Title  Key words  “Key point” boxes  References  Acknowledgements  Competing interests  Covering letter

Procrastinate:

 Pass it around Procrastinate:  Get comments from co-authors  Criticism from colleagues  Criticism from those sure to disagree?  Advice from mentor  Put it away for a while and get back to it

Polish and parsimony:

 Revise, revise and revise for:  Use software’s spell-checker and proofread Accuracy Clarity Truthfulness Brevity Grace Unpretentiousness

Rudiments of style:

 Get the most of punctuation Adds power Enhances meaning Saves space Adds power Enhances meaning Saves space Learn: Read with your ears  colon  comma  semi-colon  dash  colon  comma  semi-colon  dash

Rudiments of style:  Get the most of punctuation  Use: Short words Short sentences Short paragraphs Short words Short sentences Short paragraphs

Rudiments of style:  Get the most of punctuation  Use  Avoid: Jargon Abbreviations Figures of speech and idioms Jargon Abbreviations Figures of speech and idioms

Rudiments of style:  Get the most of punctuation  Use  Avoid  Prefer: Active to passive Concrete to abstract Nouns and verbs to adjectives and adverbs Anglo Saxon to Latin Active to passive Concrete to abstract Nouns and verbs to adjectives and adverbs Anglo Saxon to Latin

Prepare:

 Respond to comments promptly and in detail  Respond to comments promptly and in detail  For rejection

Pray and persist:

 Choose another journal  Resubmit  Push and explain

Journals need papers almost as much as authors need journals! Journals need papers almost as much as authors need journals! … and always remember: