Dr John W Albarran Dphil, MSc, PG DipEd, BSc (Hons) Dip N (Lon), RN, NFESC, NFEfCCNa

Co-Editor of Nursing in Critical Care

Getting published in a peer-review journal: planning an effective strategy

Identifying a topic area (what is ‘novel’ contribution?)

Choosing a journal

Planning and writing the paper

Strategies for maximising time

Quality assurance

Strategy plan

Preparatory work phase

Valuing and having a positive attitude to writing

• An idea from your area expertise

• Research, an audit or project you completed

• An unusual case study, practice development or clinical intervention, quality initiative

• Something that is innovative in your practice? (teaching materials, on-line packages, patient information leaflets, specialist follow-up service)

• The outcomes of study

Originality, quality, relevance, rigour are essential elements

Plan: Write about something you know a lot about

What am I going to writing about…exactly? (Is it a new development, research findings, a topical issue, or a reflective analysis?)

Who am I writing for…precisely? (Who is my target audience? What style/language do I need to adopt)

Why am I telling them this?...interesting (I feel passionate about the topic. I want to start a debate, to educate, or to analyse policy. It is part of a dissemination strategy. I want to highlight an example of innovative practice/achievement)

(Cook 2000;13-15)

Your strategy must consider, what, who and why?

How else can I prepare?

Review bibliographic databases for topic-fatigue

What types of papers have been published on your topic?

In what ways does your proposed idea stand apart (original) from published work? Is it different in terms methodology, type of intervention, offer a fresh perspective?

Do you need to write to the editor*?

Plan: have you chosen the right journal?Choosing the right journal for your paper is critical to successGo online or visit your library and identify 2-3 possible journalsGet into the habit at looking at aims and scope of the journal, is there a clear statement about what type of manuscripts are welcomed?Is there a clear sense of the target reading audience? *(remember the internet widens the scope of readership if your search terms are sound)Examine the editorial board & contributors? Do you recognise any names?

Check the author/contributor guidelines• Can be accessible via print version of the journal• Available at the journal website (instructions for authors)

I would rate the formatting and targeting of an article to a particular journal as the most important factor in successful writing for publication (Cook 2000; 23)

This kind of activity is very important in pre-writing, as ensuring your paper meets the aims and scope of the journal together with choosing the one that reaches the most appropriate audience...essential first steps to successful publication (Watson 2012; 61)

Do you have a realistic writing plan?

Writing takes time- develop and action plan and brainstorm

Ensure you have enough material- Literature, data, and organise this

Know the journal you are writing for- Get examples and cite journal

Format journal according to house-style- Follow journal guidelines

Use the Pomodoro technique- Set a mobile timer go after 20 mins and write! Have a 10 mins break and repeat for at least three cycles

Set yourself achievable writing targets

• Decide that you want to write • Develop an action plan with realistic goals and commit to it

• Plan your workload in manageable blocks (writing tasks /sections)

• Adopt an incremental approach (write regularly and often)

• Set yourself instructions for next writing tasks• Set time for reviewing and redrafting

Spend time in planning the structure of the paper

Top concepts/ messages of your paper

Top concepts/ messages of your paper

Top concepts/ messages of your paper

Identify three factors or concepts to explain, validate, support the concept above

Identify three factors or concepts to explain, validate, support the concept above

How do I demonstrate originality in my work?

• Strong review of the literature which identifies strengths and weaknesses in subject and methodologically (what is known)

• In the way the study design and methods are developed

• Results and discussion (review of current data with other previous research) (what this paper adds)

What do productive writers do?Write a short term goal for your writing period, limit to < 400 words

After completing each writing task, leave yourself instructions for what points/section you will tackle in next writing section

Write regularly and often

Allocate time to revise and redraft on two occasions minimum

Read, read and read –this will help with conceptual clarity

Collaborate with trusted and respected colleagues

• Present a lengthy account of the problem

• Overstate the nature of the problem and exaggerate solutions

• Overdo the critique of other work in the field

• Writing tends to lack focus so that meaning is lost

• Include too many ideas in one paper

What are common novice errors?

Plan a stage of quality assurance review Read it out aloud to yourself

Co-authors to check paper

Seek a Critical review and consumer’ view (someone will not stroke your ego)

Check for potential signs FFP (Citation and self-plagiarism)

Reduce, Refine and Rewrite

Check for accuracy of content & grammarRemove repetitive passages, awkward text, and obscure/dense passages

Format paper as per journal house-style

Scientific misconduct: Fabrication, falsification and plagiarism?

Scientific misconduct damages professions, to individuals and to society’s trust in science?

Fabrication: includes deliberately making up data or information, recording and reporting it

Falsification: deliberately manipulating information, processes and equipment or changing, altering data leading to misrepresentation of the facts/results (only selecting data/references that support your argument/hypothesis)

Plagiarism: is the (wilful) intentional use of other’s ideas, concepts, theories, images and words without fully acknowledging/ crediting the author/ source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_misconduct and http://publicationethics.org/text-recycling-guidelines

Submit paper as recommended in author guidelines

You will be required to submit manuscript online

Register at the journal’s website Log-in Follow instructions upload your files

Title Authors & qualifications Abstract Main body of text and references Tables and or figures Covering letter confirming authorship Suggestions for academic reviewers

Final words• Have a personal reason to write, rather than for others expectations

• Make writing meaningful to you

• Reward yourself for sacrifices made

• Look after your mental, physical, social and spiritual health

• Identify colleagues with expertise who can motivate and support you

(Murray 2013)

Celebrate, be proud and fully embrace your achievement