Category Archives: journal

publishing in top ranked journals

Posted on December 4, 2023 by pat thomson

Doctoral and emerging researchers often believe that they must, from the very get go, publish in highly ranked journals. Where does this idea come from. Well sometimes word of mouth. Sometimes universities may try to point researchers in the top … Continue reading →

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Writing a journal article – 8 steps to So What and Now What

Posted on October 23, 2023 by pat thomson

This post is a generalisation. Be warned. But the general stuff in this post does hold for most things you’ll write for most journals. Just not all. The message in this post is simply this – journals generally do not … Continue reading →

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does the find-a-journal beta service work?

Posted on December 12, 2022 by pat thomson

You may have noticed that a big journal publisher is offering to help you find the right journal for your paper. It’s got a beta version of a “journal suggester” as part of its “how to publish your research” web … Continue reading →

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why journal articles get rejected #1

Posted on April 11, 2022 by pat thomson

Some journal articles never get sent out for review. They are rejected at the outset by the Editor. Why is this? Well, there’s a short and a somewhat longer and a very extensive answer to this question. The short answer … Continue reading →

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writing for publication – finding an angle and an argument

Posted on February 1, 2021 by pat thomson

This is a story, a my story, which leads to eight pointers about writing for publication.  I’m currently writing a paper. Well, yes, always writing something. But right now it’s a paper. A paper designed to do some thinking work … Continue reading →

Posted in argument, choosing the right journal, contribution, journal article, journal publication, literature a resource, the angle | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

five clues – choosing the right journal

Posted on July 23, 2018 by pat thomson

Journal editors often report that the major reason for desk rejecting papers – that is they send the papers back to the author rather than send them out to reviewers – is that the paper doesn’t fit their journal. The … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, choosing the right journal, journal, journal article, journal publication, publishing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

introducing dr deluded

Posted on July 16, 2018 by pat thomson

Meet Dr Deluded. Dr Deluded is angry. Very angry. Dr Deluded just can’t get published. It’s not that he doesn’t try. Dr Deluded writes a lot and submits to journals. In fact, he is so keen to get his work out … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, conference papers, journal, publishing, revision, revision strategy | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

writing for publication – some beginning strategies​ …

Posted on June 18, 2018 by pat thomson

This week – in fact, as this post publishes – I’m running a workshop on academic writing. I do run these kinds of workshops relatively often. And I do really like an opportunity to have a bit of fun. Always. … Continue reading →

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if only …

Posted on October 12, 2017 by pat thomson

This is a confession. One I know I shouldn’t be making in public. But I am. I need to explain, before I let you in on my guilty secret, that I am a fanatical reader. I read every day and … Continue reading →

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managing the PhD – keeping a journal

Posted on January 23, 2017 by pat thomson

The PhD is often stressful and trying. Nevertheless, most people do get through it. Many PhDers keep a journal to help work through the difficulties, challenges and worries that they experience.  Writing about the everyday can of course just be … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, journaling, PhD, reflection, reflection on learning, starting the PhD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments