6 Steps To Publish Academic Journals: A Complete Guide

Academic journals publishing can be challenging particularly for first-time authors. It involves tireless research, agonizing writing, embracing feedback and perseverance. If you are a postgraduate student, a scholarly expert or researcher, this 6-step guide will lead you to successfully publish your academic journal.

Steps To Successfully Publish Academic Journals

1. Choose the Right Journal:

Before writing, you need to decide where you would like your research to be published because it enables editors to know how the paper is adding to the discourse in their community and assists you in modifying your work according to their needs and those of the readers.

In selecting the appropriate academic journals, keep the following in mind:

·         Journal title and scope: Choose a journal that aligns with your area of research and stream of study.

·         Visibility factor: Visibility increases the coverage of your research, reaching the target audience. High impact factor journals receive more visibility but have stricter acceptance criteria.

·         Open access or subscription based: Open-access journals make your work accessible to a broader audience but they may also require publication fees.

·         Submission guidelines: Read the author guidelines thoroughly to ensure your manuscript meets their requirements.

2. Conduct Extensive Research:

The cornerstone of a successful scholarly publication is an adequately researched paper. Before sitting down to write, ensure that you:

·         Conduct an exhaustive literature review to understand ongoing research;

·         Identify knowledge gaps that your research will fill;

·         Conduct ethical research processes such as proper collection and analysis of data.

3. produce a Good Manuscript

Your work should be neat, concise and well-presented as specified by the selected journal. The typical layout for most journals is:

·         Title: Must be clear, and informative, capturing the essence of your research.

·        Abstract: A summary that captures the purpose, approach, outcomes and results of your research.

·    Introduction: This gives background information, statement of problem, and research objectives.

·       Methodology: Gives detailed information of study design, sample size, collection of data, and analysis methods.

·   Results and Discussion: Presents findings with supporting evidence and comparison with previous studies.

·      Conclusion: Summarizes key findings and recommendations for future research. 

–  References: Properly formatted citations following journal guidelines (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)

4. Make Your Journal Submission

After choosing the right journal and coming up with a manuscript, the next step is to carefully review the journal’s submission guidelines and make your submission.

Some of the most important issues to consider are: formatting requirements (font, line spacing, headings, etc.), word limits and required supporting documents (cover letter, plagiarism report, ethical approval, etc.). It is best practice to submit manuscript(s) to a single journal only.

5. Go through the Peer-Review Process

Once submitted, your paper will be peer reviewed, where experts in your field assess its validity, originality, and significance. Be prepared for:

• Revisions and feedback: Reviewers may provide suggestions for change to improve clarity, methodology, or presentation.
• Resubmission: If considerable revisions are necessary, address feedback/reviews thoroughly before resubmitting.
• Acceptance or rejection: Upon acceptance, the article will be published in the journal and in the event of rejection, try revising and submitting to another scholarly journal.

6. Promote Your Published Work

·         After acceptance and publication, increase the reach and visibility of your academic journals by uploading it to scholarly networking websites such as Academia, LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar.

·      You can also present in seminars and conferences and cooperate with other researchers for additional research.

Conclusion

Academic journal publishing is a rewarding but tough task that elevates your standing as a researcher. With a wise selection of a journal, good research, strong manuscript and traversing the peer review process, you can succeed in making valuable contributions to your field. Your research deserves publication to the world.

see article on tips to choosing a research topic that will attract quick funding