Write your research or scholarly work for publication while you are at U of M

It is important to publish your research because having research publications will increase your career prospects, whether you are seeking a career in academia, government, or the private sector. In addition, publishing your original work establishes your expertise and professional identity in the research community.

Tips for writing and publishing your research:

• Seek advice from your research supervisor about the types of journals that may be interested in your research. Find out whether your supervisor is willing to be involved in developing your scholarly work for publication in peer-reviewed journals, edited scholarly books, or other types of publications. Be proactive in discussing issues like order of authorship, who takes the lead in writing the article, and the division of responsibilities for writing and submitting the article.
• The best time to begin writing is immediately after your research is complete. A delay in beginning to write for publication- even as short as one month - will make the task more difficult.
• To establish an appropriate format and style for your writing, use articles in your research area, and those written by your advisor and by his or her students, as guides.
• Recognize that a scholarly publication goes through multiple drafts. Don't freeze up by expecting yourself to write a final version on the first try. Just get something down. It's easier to edit a written document than to begin from scratch. Circulate your drafts to your advisor and to other grad students for discussion. This is particularly helpful when you find yourself stalling out.
• Learn about the publication process by reviewing articles. Ask your advisor if you can work with him or her on journal reviews. Faculty members are often happy to have another opinion. Learning how to review other people's work helps you to develop a critical eye for your own work
• Learn from journal reviewers' comments. Don't be defensive about critical feedback; consider it an opportunity to learn from experts. Try to incorporate suggestions for improvement. Most people who review articles genuinely want to help young scholars develop and strengthen their work.
• Don't be discouraged if your initial attempts at publication get turned down. Everyone - from Nobel Prize winners on down - have had papers rejected. Consider whether you submitted your paper to the appropriate journal and how the paper could be improved for publication elsewhere.