Publishing tips
Academics offer insight and advice on how to get published and many related topics including peer review, open access, the ‘push to publish’ and IP
Is open access tarnished?
As open access terms have split into colour-coded brands, not all allow totally unrestricted access and reuse. Among these, “bronze OA” stands out as a potentially…
Open access is inevitable – only the ‘how’ remains up for discussion
Scholarly knowledge is produced mainly at taxpayers’ expense. Why they should have to pay again to read it remains a mystery, writes Peter Baldwin
How to sustain a journal and beat the academic publishing racket
Starting a journal is hard enough – keeping it going is an ongoing challenge. Here’s how to maintain success in academic publishing
A DIY guide to starting your own journal
An antidote to frustrations with traditional academic publishing might be to launch a grass-roots open access journal. Here are the steps to consider
Ten tips to succeed in publishing in English as a second language
English is now selected five times as often as the authors’ national language for journal article publication. Christopher Tancock explains how you can get published even if English …
Not replacing but enhancing: using ChatGPT for academic writing
Generative AI and how it can be used for plagiarism has provoked fear in higher education. However, the technology can also improve and accelerate your writing…
Strategies to maximise the benefits of open research
Sharing data, publishing preprints and making research outputs freely available all have tangible benefits for individual scientists and society. Here are tips to get…
Making the abstract concrete
Strategies for writing effective abstracts for conference and research papers
How to pitch a book to an academic publisher
Key considerations for researchers when choosing an academic publisher and preparing their pitch
How to publish responsible reproducible research
Scientific publishing includes not just the manuscript but also data, computer code and lab protocols. Here, Laurent Heirendt shares practical advice that your research…
Three ways to refresh your academic writing
To answer the common question posed by researchers, ‘how can I improve my academic writing?’, Anne Wilson outlines three simple steps that can…
Creating an impactful visual abstract with no design experience
The basic principles of design offer guidelines for creating a scientific visual abstract. This guide will take you from blank space to eye-catching, easy-to-understand graphics
Read this before you write your abstract
The abstract is arguably the most important element of a scholarly article, so it should be informative, meaningful and impactful. Michael Willis gives two objectives, and…
To improve research culture, we must change the way we measure performance
Jo Cresswell explains how universities can support more collaborative cultures by changing the way academics are reviewed, assessed and rewarded
It’s high time we rethought policy impact
The frameworks currently in use for rewarding policy impact are peppered with problems and pitfalls – here’s how to fix them, says Christina Boswell
How much should you publish?
For reputation or promotion? Book or peer-reviewed journal? Publishing is a high-stakes issue for academics. Catherine Léglu looks at scholars’ motivations to…
Don’t be cruel: how to write a fair peer review report
Not every comment in a peer review report will be positive, but it is possible to highlight weaknesses and errors in a journal article while being constructive. After all, …
Great citations: how to avoid referencing questionable evidence
Researchers don’t always stick to careful citation practices and occasionally cite evidence that has been questioned or even retracted. Find practical tips on how to avoid citing…
The evolving meaning of ‘corresponding authorship’ in research
How the role of the corresponding author is changing in terms of research team dynamics and the perception of its meaning, and the implications for …
Peer review is frustrating and flawed – here’s how we can fix it
What would peer review 2.0 look like? Mark Humphries offers ways to optimise the process for better efficiency and research outcomes
Are you ready to publish? Top tips on how to prepare your manuscript
From explaining the publishing cycle to outlining what makes a strong manuscript, Jing Tang walks ECRs through key steps when preparing to publish for the first time
How to be proactive when amplifying research papers
Conferences might be the first thought, but there are many options for furthering your paper’s reach – and they usually require you to take the lead
Streamline your research using academic search engines
Specialist search engines can put the most relevant literature at your fingertips, but which is the best one for you, and how can you optimise your searches?
How to get a book published outside academia
Lexi Stadlen shares advice on how to turn your academic research into a commercially published book and reach audiences beyond academia
How I plan to get through REF results day
If the results don’t deliver what we think we’ve earned, it will be a blow, but it won’t change the fact that what we do matters, says John McKendrick
Why does open access make publishing more complicated?
The shift towards open-access publishing can leave students and researchers confused. Here, a group of research facilitators answer the most common questions about …
What to do when an academic journal rejects your article
Nobody likes negative feedback but rejection is not all bad. Here is how to see rejection of your article by a peer-reviewed journal as an opportunity
What is peer review and why it is important?
Peer review is the lifeblood of good science. But understanding the process can take time, and gaining review experience can be daunting. Marc Gillett explains the key…
External engagement in academia: lessons from the business world
Many academics see external engagement as a chore. Others are just unable to appreciate industry perspectives. Both are stifling the contribution of universities
How thought leadership can build your institution’s reputation online
Will Harvey explains how institutions can use research proactively to enhance the perception of their capabilities and character
Making practice publishable: a journal article-cum-podcast
Helen Wolfenden from Macquarie University presents a podcast offering advice on publishing or communicating research in new formats beyond the scope of…
