1. Getting published – personal experiences Professor Mike Cole Director of Research, Knowledge Transfer and Scholarship Faculty of Science and Technology

2. What are we going to discuss ?  Why should you publish ?  Publishing at a conference  Publishing in the refereed literature  Publishing a book

3. So why consider publishing ?  Part of academic life  Sharing of teaching / scholarly / research material  Academic career progression – papers and grant applications  Esteem –Yours –Your group / Department / Faculty / Institution  It allows you to travel all over the world  It’s fun !

4. Publishing at a conference  May be an internal, regional, national, international conference  Several types of talk :- –Plenary, Invited, Contributed  Generally refereed but not as rigorously as journal papers  Plenary and invited talks –established colleagues –something radically new –by invitation

5. Publishing at a conference  Contributed talks and posters –Decide on a conference where your paper / poster is relevant (means you will have an audience !) –Decide on how much data / the results you will discuss –Decide which section of the conference you will contribute to –Register for the conference and submit abstract and details

6. Publishing at a conference  Registration and details –Name, address, affiliation, contact details –Abstract : OBEY THE GUIDELINES –Impact statement – what have you / will you change with this work, what is its significance ? Think this through before you start –Lay person’s statement – explanation for the man on the street  If overseas you will need an OA1 form and travel insurance

7. Publishing at a conference  Be prepared to answer questions through the talk and afterwards  Prepare talk for worst possible AV conditions –white on dark or yellow on dark –Make sure text / figures large enough  Do NOT over run on time – stand up, speak up, shut up.  If you don’t know the answer – say so, suggest the discussion after the session  Submit the written form for conference proceedings – Follow guidelines

8. Publishing in a journal  Choose an appropriate journal – content, publishers, distribution, impact factor  Read some papers in the journal to get a feel for the style and language –Talk to the appropriate editor if new to the journal and to referees  Obtain the instructions to authors and follow them  Write the paper as a draft – get something onto paper –Try to avoid repetition, waffle –The 80 / 20 rule –Concise - take it out - does it change the meaning / interpretation of the paper ?

9. Publishing in a journal  Share material with your co-authors –Be prepared to be corrected / changed – it is professional not personal –Try to make it look as though written by one person –Sit down together and go through line by line –Materials and methods, results and conclusions then intro and abstract. References last unless using “endnote” or similar  Obtain peer review from a trusted friend or colleague

10. Publishing in a journal  When you are happy – submit according to the instructions (usually digital)  Peer review – may be a lengthy process –Acceptance –Accepted with corrections – roll over and accept comments unless it changes the meaning of the paper –Major re-write –Rejection – on basis of quality (bad) or wrong journal (not so bad)  Look after copyright – especially of pictures and images  When it appears in print (and usually digital format) – CELEBRATE

11. Publishing a book  This is a long term commitment  You won’t get rich !  Often done when you have an established set of lecture notes  May be invited to write a chapter (good starting point) or to be the editor (a LOT of hard work)  Starts with –Discussion with a publisher –a proposal form

12. Publishing a book  Content and scope –what the book will be about (outlining its objectives and scope) and include the case for publication. (e.g. fills a gap, hot topic, documents latest research). Why do you feel qualified to write this book? What has caused this information need? Why are those needs sufficiently important to support a new book?  Table of Contents. –Showing the coverage you propose, indicating chapters, subdivisions within chapters and their proposed contributors. Add a 3-5 line summary under each chapter heading. Indicate what books are available which might compete and who these titles are aimed at.

13. Publishing a book  PRODUCTION –How long will it take you to complete –What software will you be using to prepare your typescript ? –Please provide the nearest estimate on the length of the book. –the number of illustrations you intend to use and indicate the type of illustration (e.g. halftones, line drawings, graphs, spectra, chemical structures). –How many images will be in colour ?

14. Publishing a book  MARKETING –List any keywords and subject areas associated with your book: –Level your book will be written? Monograph, Undergraduate Textbook, Postgraduate Textbook, Reference, Handbook, Popular Science, –Indicate the readership for whom this book would be of interest –Academic, Industrialist, Postgraduate, Undergraduate,Lay Reader –List the unique selling points of your book –Societies, professional bodies etc., interested in a bulk purchase

15. Publishing a book  Write little and often - set out a schedule - have peers read relevant parts  Work with your editor and ensure there is communication -Editor will visit  Try to get publisher to do the indexing  Submit pages when ready  Review pages when typeset. Get someone else to read it too  Await publication – up to a year after submission of manuscript.

16. Other means of publication  Internet / digital journals  Professional articles  Newspaper pieces  Internet / web pages  Pieces of scholarship - music, art – All very similar in process to the above - decide what you are going to do and follow guidelines

17. In conclusion  A wide variety of media exist - not just refereed journals  Publishing is straightforward -three golden rules –MAKE the time to do it –Follow the guidelines of the publisher –Engage with peers at an early stage  Publishing can be immensely rewarding and showcases your work ANY QUESTIONS ?