The times they are a-changin’ and academic publishing is no exception. The rise of open access has made more research freely available but brings its own set of challenges. Generative artificial intelligence looms large across the sector as both friend and foe, and competition for space and visibility is more cut-throat than ever. Yet, the core academic skills of writing, editing and pitching remain crucial to success, alongside an understanding of what, when and where best to publish. This spotlight guide provides pointers on how to pitch your ideas and get them down on paper but also explores peer review, open access and how to start your own journal.
Academic publishing today: what you need to know
A guide to the complex and changing world of academic publishing and how to work with it to get your research out there
Academic publishing today: what you need to know
The times they are a-changin’ and academic publishing is no exception. The rise of open access has made more research freely available but brings its own set of challenges. Generative artificial intelligence looms large across the sector as both friend and foe, and competition for space and visibility is more cut-throat than ever. Yet, the core academic skills of writing, editing and pitching remain crucial to success, alongside an understanding of what, when and where best to publish. This spotlight guide provides pointers on how to pitch your ideas and get them down on paper but also explores peer review, open access and how to start your own journal.
Make a start on the road to publication
Resources
Take the first steps on your academic publishing journey by evaluating your place within the sector. Our resources offer guidance on how to know when your work is ready for publication, establishing where your research fits best, and crafting a proposal that shows why your ideas are worth publishing.
Writing advice for academics looking to get published
Resources
Pitching and reviewing is all well and good but will not get you anywhere unless you can first get your words down on paper or, more likely, a screen. Mastering the skill of academic writing takes practice and persistence – find out how to carve out the time you need to write, how to construct a solid abstract, then listen to 10 academics share their top writing tips in a special podcast.
Understanding the peer review process
Resources
The implications of GenAI for publishing
Artificial intelligence (AI) brings huge opportunities and challenges for academic publishing, with the potential to streamline elements of the writing and review processes, alongside the administrative side of running a journal. Two academics explain how to work with generative AI (GenAI), instead of against it.
And if you are fed up with fighting to get your work in front of journal editors, who may take months to review your submissions, consider alternative routes to getting your work out there, from launching your own journal to using university repositories – as described in the resources below.
Launching a journal and alternative publishing routes
Resources
A guide to open access
Resources
How to promote your published work
Your work is finally published! This may be cause for celebration but don’t relax just yet. If you want to ensure maximum impact from your published research, it’s time to promote your paper and make sure it stands out against the millions of journal articles published each year. Here are tips how to get the word out to audiences within and beyond academia.
Tips for reaching wider audiences
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