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Where and how to submit the manuscript

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Some manuscripts are buried in inappropriate journals. ... your paper is accepted and published, your glee will be short-lived if you later ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Where and how to submit the manuscript


1
Where and how to submit the manuscript
2
Great journals are born in the hands of the
editors they die in hands of businessmen.
  • - Bernard DeVoto

3
Choosing The Journal
  • The choices of where and how to submit the
    manuscript are important.
  • Some manuscripts are buried in inappropriate
    journals.
  • The first problem is where to submit the
    manuscript.
  • Obviously, your choice depends on the nature of
    your work you must identify those journals that
    publish in your subject area.

4
  • A good way to get started or to refresh your
    memory is to scan a recent issue of Current
    Contents.
  • You can determine which journals are publishing
    papers in your field.

5
  • To identify which journals might publish your
    manuscript, you should do several things
  • Read the masthead statement (a statement, usually
    on the title page at the front of the issue,
    giving the name of journal, the publisher, and a
    brief statement of purpose)in current issue of
    each journal you are considering
  • read the scope paragraphs that are usually
    provided in the instructions to Authors and look
    carefully at the table of contents of a current
    issue.

6
  • If you submit your manuscript to a wrong journal,
    one of three things can happen, all bad.
  • Your manuscript may simply be returned to you,
    with the comment that your work is not suitable
    for this journal
  • If the journal is borderline in relation to your
    work, your manuscript may receive poor or unfair
    review, because the reviewers (and editors) of
    that journal may be only vaguely familiar with
    your specialty area.
  • Even if your paper is accepted and published,
    your glee will be short-lived if you later find
    that your work is virtually unknown because it is
    buried in a publication that your peers do not
    read.

7
The prestige factor
  • A paper published in a garbage journal simply
    does not equal a paper published in a prestigious
    journal.
  • The wise old bird (and) there are quite a few
    around in science) may be more impressed by the
    candidate with one or two solid publications in
    prestigious journal than by the candidate with 10
    or more publications in second-rate journals.

8
  • Journal A, B, C, you should probably limit your
    choices to those three journals.
  • Journal D, E, F, contain only the lightweight
    papers
  • So each could be eliminated as your first choice,
    even though the scope is right.
  • By publication in such a journal, your paper may
    have its best chance to make an impact on the
    community of scholars at whom you are aiming.

9
  • Be wary of new journals, especially those not
    sponsored by a society.
  • The circulation may be minuscule, and the journal
    might fail before it, and your paper, become
    known to the scientific world.

10
The circulation facotr
  • The U.S. Postal Service requires that each
    publisher granted second-class mailing privileges
    (and almost all scientific journals qualify) file
    and publish an annual statement.
  • This statement must include basic circulation
    data.
  • Journal citation Reports
  • An annual volume supplementing the Science
    citation index).
  • Journals are cited most frequently, both
  • Gross quantitative terms and
  • In term of average citations per article
    published (impact factor)

11
  • The impact factor especially seems to be a
    reasonable basis for judging the quality of
    journals.
  • (http//admin-apps.isiknowledge.com/JCR/JCR?PointO
    fEntryHomeSIDU2GAkCbcJkGL7mgKJ4h )

12
  • http//www.lib.tsinghua.edu.cn/service/SCIcenter/s
    ciimpac.html

13
The frequency factor
  • The publication lag of a monthly journal is
    almost always shorter than that of a quarterly
    journal.
  • If the journal publishes received for
    publication dates, you can figure out for
    yourself what the average lag time is.

14
The audience factor
  • What audience are you trying to reach?
  • EX you are reporting a fundamental study in
    biochemistry, you should of course try to get
    your paper published in a prestigious
    international journal.

15
Packaging and mailing
  • After you have decided where to submit your
    manuscript , dont neglect the nitty-gritty of
    sending it in.
  • Many manuscripts are lost , badly delayed, or
    damaged in the mail, often because of improper
    packaging.
  • Giant paperclips are preferable.
  • (I have known of several dummies who mailed out
    the only existing copies of their manuscript, and
    there was an unforgettable forever lost.)

16
  • Use a special floppy disk mailer, or secure the
    disk between oversize pieces of cardboard.
  • Insert the manuscript and disks into a strong
    manila envelope or even a reinforced mailing bag.
  • The maximum size should be 8 ½ by 11 inches.

17
The cover letter
  • Its worth noting that you should always send a
    cover letter with the manuscript.
  • Manuscripts without cover letters pose immediate
    problems
  • If there are several authors, which one should be
    considered the submitting author, at which
    address?
  • A manuscript perhaps misdirected by a reviewer or
    an editor?

18
  • The contributing author should also include his
    or her telephone number, email, fax number in the
    cover letter or on the title page of the
    manuscript.

19
Follow-up correspondence
  • Most journals send out an acknowledgment of
    receipt form letter when the manuscript is
    received.
  • If you know that the journal doesnt, attach a
    self-addressed postcard to the manuscript, so
    that the editor can acknowledge receipt.
  • Most journal editors, at least the good ones, try
    to reach a decision within 4 to 6 weeks or, if
    there is to be further delay for some reason,
    provide some explanation to the author.

20
The End
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