It has been always considered a challenge to get a research paper published in a reputed journal. In general, the research faces three kinds of responses from the editors. Firstly, the article gets accepted without any demand for modification, which is a very rare case. Secondly, the article gets returned with instructions to revise and modify the content and approach. Lastly, there is the straightaway rejection, sometimes with an inspirational note of future contribution. In the case of rejection, the researcher offered some feedback, which can be followed to refine the article and get it published in some other journal.
However, this task can be well accomplished if the researcher understands the basic objectives and the core characteristic features of journal articles. To answer How do write a paper for a Journal? this article will offer an in-depth analytical approach, where you will be able to identify the keys to getting your article published in a reputed journal.
To begin with, let us consider the basic features that a journal article must possess.
The most general features are:-
As you strive to get your research paper writing published in a journal, make sure that you have an adequate amount of knowledge on the respective field. Since the platform of the journal is meant to deliver expert points of view, your research must reflect an adequate amount of background study and an intellectual solution.
Thus, the pathway to writing a paper for a journal can be illustrated as.
Right Subject, Right Journal(s).
The foremost step in writing a paper is to select the right subject and the right journal, which can be interested in publishing your article. You should always select a topic that you have explored and learned during your master's and PhD days. With the right selection of topic strive to find the right journal for the publication of your paper. For instance one of the most popular journal databases is Scopus. You can select different journals from SCOPUS as per your specialization and can apply for the publication of your paper. Some of the specialized journals at Scopusare noted here-
Extensive Background Research.
Knowledge is indeed unlimited, even in a specialized subject. However, your selected specialization in a particular subject or topic since undergraduate makes you well aware of its approaches and developments. As you stay connected with the specialized subject during your Masters and PhD days, you start attaining a good amount of hold over it. It is this expertise that your research paper must reflect to get published in a journal. By reading your research paper, your peers and the editor/s must realize that you are well acquainted with the subject and are an expert in the selected domain.
Kindly note that though the Journal seeks to find your in-depth knowledge about the subject or topic, it does not demand any preliminary knowledge. Since your paper will be read by experts in the same domain, the readers will look for a new idea in your paper. To quench this thirst it is always advisable that you read some of the popular articles that the selected journal chose to publish. By reading the published articles in your domain, you will be able to assess the expectations of the editors and your peers. This is the best way to make your paper meet the competitive edge to get published in the respective journal of your choice or similar journals. For a well-equipped paper for the Journal, the researcher must-
Disclose Conflict of Interest.
To write a paper for Journal publication, there is the demand for absolute disclosure of ‘Conflict of Interest’. By definition, the Conflict of Interest stands for a declarative statement where the researcher discloses competing interests which can lead to undue influences in the process of publication. The Journal wants your declarations regarding some of the basic ethical elements. These elements are:
Note: Failure to make the disclosures as demanded by the specific Journal, can lead to a straight rejection of your paper.
Implemented Sources.
Selection of the right sources in the matter of getting published in a Journal is the chief element of concern. In many cases, the researcher remains more focused on delivering a unique paper. In this approach, the researcher sometimes considers sources from diversified resources. As you write a paper for a Journal make sure that the sources are all from authentic and reliable ends. There is no room for unauthorized declarations or write-ups. To get approval for publication, you should always prefer to add secondary sources from Government sites, Company declarations, reports from international organizations, university-recommended books, and above all peer-reviewed journal articles. In the case of empirical research, your paper must consider various former research works that hold adequate relevance to your chosen topic.
Correct Referencing.
Apart from meeting all the requirements of formatting and sources, your paper for the Journal must be written in the prescribed writing style. The writing style can be either APA, MLA, Chicago, or others. Every Journal demands a specific style as per its subject and publication provisions. For instance, let us consider the latest article- Effects of COVID-19 on Business Research, by Naveen Donthu and Anders Gustafsson. This article can be cited in different styles.
Check & Recheck.
The most important element of writing a paper for a Journal is writing an original paper without any grammatical or typing mistakes. The Jurnal never tolerates any kind of informal language or sentence structure. Above all, your paper must be plagiarism-free.
To meet all the aforementioned criteria always check and further recheck your paper before sending it to the Journal. Offer innumerable readings to the content. Let your Supervisors and peers check your paper. Consider their feedback very seriously. Make modifications as per your logic and justifications.
Finalize your paper by checking and rechecking the checklist for submission.
Face the Moment of Truth.
Eventually, always remember that to write a paper for a Journal, demands extensive research-based declarations. However, after the submission of the manuscript, the paper gets scrutinized at various levels. These levels comprise of Thus, giving your best, getting expert assistance, and waiting for the moment of truth for Publication.