1. The Ideal Manuscript Professor Michael J. Reiss
Collaborative Social Science Domain 3 May 2018

2. Before you identify where the publication might go
What contribution to the literature are you hoping to make? E.g. empirical finding, review, new way of looking at an issue
Are you writing it on your own or with others?
If with others, who is going to do what? Order of authors.

3. Where might the publication go?
Journal
Chapter
Report
Others (e.g. book, blog)
Is there urgency in getting it published?
Are there funder requirements? E.g. open access.

4. Let’s presume you are going for a journal
Type of manuscript (some journals have ‘sections’)
Approx. length
Impact factors / reputation / your own knowledge of the field
Advice from senior colleague(s) – e.g. re acceptance rate and, perhaps more importantly, time for review
Different journals at different stages of your career
Open access issues

5. Ideal from the editor and reviewers point of view
Relevant to the journal
Perfect in respect of quality of language, organisation of text and formatting (including Abstract, any Figures/Tables and References); ‘Information for authors’
Purpose is clear
Up-to-date literature review
For some journals, not too many references
Not many references to blogs, Wikipedia, etc.

6. Other issues Feedback on pres-submission draft
Suggesting possible reviewers
Care re not publishing in advance of journal submission
Extent of self citation
Responding to reviewers’ comments
Online publication and DOIs

7. Thank you! Questions and discussion UCL Institute of Education
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