I'm finally ready to submit something for publication. But now I face a new nightmare: choosing a journal. There are thousands. How do you pick?
Sage Publications has a guide called "Questions answered: How to select a journal" that breaks it down . Here's what I'm learning:
Step 1: Know your paper. What's your main argument? Who is your intended audience? What field does it contribute to? If you can't answer these, you're not ready to choose a journal.
Step 2: Look at journals you already read. Where are the articles you cite? That's a natural place to start. Your work should fit in with the conversation they're publishing.
Step 3: Check the journal's scope and aims. Every journal has a statement about what they publish. Read it carefully. Does your paper fit? If it's a stretch, move on.
Step 4: Consider the audience. Who do you want to reach? Academics in your narrow subfield? A broader interdisciplinary audience? Practitioners? Different journals reach different people.
Step 5: Be realistic about tiers. Top journals have rejection rates above 90%. If this is your first publication, consider aiming slightly lower. You can always aim higher next time.
Step 6: Check turnaround times. Some journals take months (sometimes years) to review. If you need this publication for a job application, look for faster options.
Step 7: Read recent issues. Do they publish work like yours? Not just in topic, but in methodology and approach? If not, keep looking.
Step 8: Ask your advisor. They've been through this. They know which journals are reputable, which are predatory, and which might be a good fit.
A researcher quoted in the guide said: "So you've got your manuscript, but you're trying to find the right home for it. Our Questions Answered posts answers the questions you've asked us about the process of selecting the right journal."
I've made a spreadsheet with five potential journals. Open access vs. subscription, acceptance rates, turnaround times, scope alignment. It's nerdy but it helps.
Anyone else in journal-picking hell?
Sage Publications has a guide called "Questions answered: How to select a journal" that breaks it down . Here's what I'm learning:
Step 1: Know your paper. What's your main argument? Who is your intended audience? What field does it contribute to? If you can't answer these, you're not ready to choose a journal.
Step 2: Look at journals you already read. Where are the articles you cite? That's a natural place to start. Your work should fit in with the conversation they're publishing.
Step 3: Check the journal's scope and aims. Every journal has a statement about what they publish. Read it carefully. Does your paper fit? If it's a stretch, move on.
Step 4: Consider the audience. Who do you want to reach? Academics in your narrow subfield? A broader interdisciplinary audience? Practitioners? Different journals reach different people.
Step 5: Be realistic about tiers. Top journals have rejection rates above 90%. If this is your first publication, consider aiming slightly lower. You can always aim higher next time.
Step 6: Check turnaround times. Some journals take months (sometimes years) to review. If you need this publication for a job application, look for faster options.
Step 7: Read recent issues. Do they publish work like yours? Not just in topic, but in methodology and approach? If not, keep looking.
Step 8: Ask your advisor. They've been through this. They know which journals are reputable, which are predatory, and which might be a good fit.
A researcher quoted in the guide said: "So you've got your manuscript, but you're trying to find the right home for it. Our Questions Answered posts answers the questions you've asked us about the process of selecting the right journal."
I've made a spreadsheet with five potential journals. Open access vs. subscription, acceptance rates, turnaround times, scope alignment. It's nerdy but it helps.
Anyone else in journal-picking hell?
