Getting Published
First steps
Publishing is important for a number of reasons:- It increases the visibility of your research and raises your research profile.
- It is a consideration when applying for grants, promotions or new positions.
- It is often a requirement or expectation of employment in an academic or research institution.
Start publishing as soon as you can. Thom Brooks (2008) in his Publishing advice for graduate students, offers the following suggestions on the publishing process, particularly in relation to the social sciences and humanities. These suggestions can be applied to anyone at the commencement of a publishing career. Read Brooks' paper for a comprehensive overview of getting started as a published author.
- Begin by writing book reviews as a way to become known to journal editors. They are the easiest way to get published. Once your name is in print, even as the author of a book review, a reputation can be established, making it easier to publish original articles.
- Present papers at conferences then turn the papers into journal articles.
- Write replies to articles already published. Journal editors often publish replies as a method of keeping an issue current.
Reference
Brooks, T. (2008). Publishing advice for graduate students, Social Science Research Network (SSRN) website. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1085245)
For assistance contact the Research Services Librarian.
