How to Publish in JM and Other Top Journals Roland T. Rust Editor, JM

Work on Something Important Something a stakeholder cares about Something a stakeholder cares about Something new Something new Something that your mother, father, spouse, or friends would think was interesting Something that your mother, father, spouse, or friends would think was interesting Something controversial Something controversial

Connect to the Existing Literature Position your work Position your work Refer to previous work in a positive way Refer to previous work in a positive way Bring in relevant theory Bring in relevant theory

How to Write Choose your target publication Choose your target publication Write the title page Write the title page Then write the abstract Then write the abstract Then write the outline Then write the outline Then do the research Then do the research Then finish the paper Then finish the paper Revise, revise, revise (37 drafts?) Revise, revise, revise (37 drafts?) No typos or grammatical errors!!! No typos or grammatical errors!!!

The Title The most important part of the paper The most important part of the paper Shorter is better Shorter is better Skip the jargon Skip the jargon Provoke the reader to read the abstract Provoke the reader to read the abstract

The Abstract The second most important part The second most important part Less of what you did Less of what you did More of what you found More of what you found Assume this is all the reader will read Assume this is all the reader will read Avoid jargon Avoid jargon

The Introduction Not “Literature Review” Not “Literature Review” Emphasize the main point Emphasize the main point Foreshadow the main findings Foreshadow the main findings What is the paper’s unique contribution in relation to the literature? What is the paper’s unique contribution in relation to the literature?

Method (if an empirical paper) Include all of the details Include all of the details Explain any decisions that you made Explain any decisions that you made

Discussion and Conclusions Reaffirm the paper’s main contribution(s) Reaffirm the paper’s main contribution(s) Explain why the findings are important Explain why the findings are important Mention any potential limitations Mention any potential limitations Suggest topics for future research Suggest topics for future research

Tables and Figures Tables and figures should stand alone Tables and figures should stand alone Check the numbers Check the numbers Figures should show the paper’s main ideas Figures should show the paper’s main ideas

Other Tips Write for a particular journal, and use that journal’s style Write for a particular journal, and use that journal’s style It’s OK to be easy to understand It’s OK to be easy to understand Get your paper copy edited before submitting Get your paper copy edited before submitting Have colleagues review the paper before submitting Have colleagues review the paper before submitting Revise to meet their objections Revise to meet their objections

Summary – The Most Important Things 1. Work on something IMPORTANT!!! 2. Agonize over the title 3. Agonize just as much over the abstract 4. Clearly state your contribution 5. Pay attention to detail