Most academic staff are familiar with the phrase 'publish or perish' and understand that it is a reality in higher education. However, many struggle with the difficulties in getting published. This article will look at some of the things a novice researcher can do to make the whole process of getting published easier.

If you have the freedom to choose your own research area, the first thing to do is to pick an area that you are highly interested in. The process of writing on a topic you are passionate about is much easier than otherwise. Similarly, it is useful to pick an area that has the potential to solve significant problems.

After selecting an appropriate topic you need to find out what others researching in the area have found. Library staff can provide much assistance in finding appropriate references. One of the most vital tips for making writing easier is to be systematic with your reading. Label the articles that you read. Identify them in a certain fashion, such as with an ID number. Put the details into some form of bibliographic software (such as ProCite or EndNote). Make extensive notes in these entries to refer to later on.

Don't aim for a finished product when you start. Write the first draft for yourself. Begin with major headings, and then add sub-headings. The final paper could be 3000 - 5000 words long but you may only have to write a couple of hundred words for each sub-heading. By breaking the paper down into manageable sections the job is much easier.

Before submitting your paper for reviewing it is a good idea to let some trusted colleagues review it first. They can provide constructive feedback, which can increase the chances of being successful.

If you are unsuccessful you should still receive some useful feedback from the reviewers. Swallow your pride and take the comments on board to either revise the paper or do better on your next attempt. Another reason you might be unsuccessful is because your paper doesn't match the requirements of the publication. It can be useful to resubmit the paper to a different source (although you should never submit to more than one publication at a time). If your references have been stored in bibliographic software you can change the format of referencing with the touch of a button.

With experience you should find it easy to prosper rather than perish in the academic world.


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Greg Smithers is an SEO consultant for Fresh Web Content