Aiming High and Submitting Smart: Manuscript Submission Tips for First-timers

Hello, readers of Thesis and Toddler Tales. Welcome to Part 9 of this newsletter!

First, a big, hearty apology for radio silence last month. I completely lost track of time, and before I knew it, we were already a few days in July. Lesson learned: I need a better system for keeping track of these newsletters!

It has been over a month since I returned to Nigeria for fieldwork. I am really enjoying being back home, especially having help with my daughter, so I am not overstretched. I have been working hard, juggling fieldwork, writing, and the occasional existential crisis (because what's a PhD without them?). I have also had time to work on other goals I set for myself during my first year of my PhD, including publishing at least one journal article in a reputable journal. It is a pretty ambitious target, but I am all about aiming high and making the most of this journey.

While submitting a journal article earlier this month, I realized some mistakes that I could easily avoid. Therefore, I thought I would share some tips for other first-year PhD students or anyone planning to submit their manuscript to a journal. So, here are my three top tips.

1. Read the Submission Guidelines (Seriously)

It sounds obvious, but not reading the submission guidelines properly, is like baking a cake without looking at the recipe. Disaster awaits. Each journal has its own quirky requirements, such as sections on conflict of interest, author contributions, and reference styles. My tip? Keep a master copy of your manuscript in its original glory, and then make tailored copies to fit each journal's unique demands.

2. Stay on Top of Deadlines

There is nothing worse than pouring your heart into an article for a special issue and then missing the deadline. It is like sprinting to the finish line only to trip over your shoelace. I used a calendar app with reminder alerts to ensure that I never missed a beat.

3. Be Open to Feedback

Brace yourself for feedback that might sting a bit. Sometimes, it’s not that your work is not good; it might just not be the right fit for that particular journal. ?I have received two rounds of feedback. One was total rejection (Ouch!) However, this came with plenty of constructive feedback. The other was for moderate revision and resubmission. Both experiences have been incredibly educational, and have pushed me to improve my writing and research.

Academic publishing can be daunting from my little experience, and there is so much I think I do not know yet. I would love to hear from you. What is one thing you wish you had known early about publishing in a journal? Share your wisdom with me.

Thank you for sticking with me. Stay curious, stay determined, and remember to enjoy the ride!

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With loads of love,

A young mom doing PhD