Choosing a journal and submitting your manuscript

Article Outline

• Ask Before You Write
  • Promoting your topic.
  • Timing.
• Author Guidelines
  • Abstract.
  • Artwork.
• Next Steps
• Note
• Copyright

After you have developed your idea for an article, you are ready to choose a journal for its possible publication, query the editor, and obtain the author guidelines to direct you on your writing journey. When choosing where to submit your idea, consider your goals for the article. Who do you want to reach? If your target audience comprises perioperative nurses, the AORN Journal would be an ideal choice.

Selecting the right journal is usually easy. Just look in your own mailbox, or visit the local medical or nursing library. Other sources you can investigate include the CINAHL (ie, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) database at http://www.cinahl.com and the Nurse Author & Editor web site at http://www.nurseauthoreditor.com. If you want to write for the general public, the Writer's Market,¹ published annually, is a good source for ideas.

Find out which journals are peer-reviewed. This means your article will be read by subject experts who will make recommendations about whether it should be published or what revisions might be needed. Faculty members must publish in peer-reviewed journals as part of the requirements for academic tenure.

Determine how often the journal is published. If a journal is only printed four times a year, you might have to wait longer to see your article in print than if the journal is published monthly. Finally, look at how well the journal stacks up against others in excellence and readability.

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Ask Before You Write 

Before you begin writing, query the editor of the journal to which you wish to submit. Query refers to asking in writing if the editor would be interested in an article on your topic. Sending a query letter offers several advantages. First, you will not waste time writing an article only to learn that the editor is not interested or has already accepted a manuscript on the same subject. Second, the editor can give you feedback on your idea, which will help you craft the article to best meet readers' needs. Finally, if the editor expresses an interest, you can proceed with more confidence that your article will be accepted. An editor's interest in your idea does not guarantee publication, however.

Start off on the right foot by addressing your query letter to the correct person. Normally that is the editor or editor-in-chief. You can find this person's name in the author guidelines, which are often published in the journal; online at the journal's web site; or in the masthead located in the front of the journal. The masthead includes the names of journal staff members and editorial board members and the address for correspondence.

Promoting your topic. 

Nurses do not typically think of themselves as salespeople, but you need to sell your idea to increase your chances for publication. Journal editors actively seek and receive article ideas from readers, conference speakers, board members, the media, and many other sources. They must choose the topics that will most interest their readers and fulfill the journal's mission. You can help ensure that your idea receives consideration by including in your letter

If you have already written a manuscript suitable for the readers of the journal, you can submit it for the editor to review without sending a query letter; however, you should include a cover letter that contains much of the same information. Many editors prefer to receive queries by e-mail, and sending by e-mail may elicit a more prompt response. If the author guidelines specify that the letter should be mailed, however, follow them.

Timing. 

Journals plan their content several months in advance, which can affect the timing of your query. For example, if you wish to write an article on injuries associated with boating accidents and the type of surgery often required for these injuries, you might want to submit the query in the fall since the topic lends itself to a summer issue. In addition, some editors plan editorial content for the entire year with a topical focus for each issue. Your chances for success will be greater if you target your query to the appropriate issue. It is acceptable to submit queries to multiple publications, but you should only submit a manuscript to one journal at a time.

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Author Guidelines 

The author guidelines do just that—guide you in writing and submitting an article. Just as you would never circulate for a new procedure without reading about it first, you must read—and follow—the author guidelines.

Author guidelines typically stipulate word count, types of articles the journal publishes, copyright issues, and financial disclosure information. Financial disclosure guidelines instruct authors to declare any financial ties they have with a company that makes or distributes a product discussed in the article. Disclosure includes stock ownership and service as a paid educator. Such disclosures will not necessarily result in rejection, but if you have any questions, talk with the editor before writing the article.

One of the most important sections of the author guidelines describes how to submit your manuscript. Com-mon guidelines include the following.

Abstract. 

Depending on the journal, an abstract may be a bulleted list or several paragraphs. In both cases, the word count is usually 75 to 175 words. An abstract summarizes the article, so it is typically the last section you will write, not the first.

The abstract is not an introduction. Use it to highlight the key points of your article, and remember to include only information contained in the body of the article (ie, do not introduce facts or statistics in the abstract unless they are discussed in the article). If you are submitting a research study, include the background, purpose, methods, and findings. Some journals post only abstracts online, so it is important to give the reader an accurate and complete overview of your manuscript's content.

Artwork. 

Submitting artwork, such as illustrations, photographs, tables, and figures, requires planning and preparation. Often, a well-conceived illustration can replace hundreds of words while clearly explaining a concept. Think about how you read an article. Most likely, your eyes are drawn to the photos and illustrations before you read the text. In the same way, artwork can draw readers into your article.

Conversely, artwork can detract from the text if it is not chosen with care (Table 1). If you are writing about a perioperative fellowship program, the editor is less likely to print a group picture of program graduates than one that illustrates the article's focus on nurses learning and working. Consider submitting a photograph that shows a fellow in action in the OR or perhaps a diagram that clearly outlines the fellowship program from start to finish.

Table 1. General Guidelines for Photographs and Illustrations

A finite number of photographs, illustrations, and tables can be printed in each article, so choose those that best represent what you want readers to know. If you send more artwork than can be printed, your editor can help you decide which to use in the article. Some journals also have a graphic arts department that may be able to produce artwork for your articles if you provide ideas and rough sketches.

Most journals prefer that authors submit original artwork and photographs because most previously published works, including illustrations available on the Internet, are copyrighted. Usually, it is the author's responsibility to obtain permission for use of figures and photographs from other sources or from the illustrator or photographer for use of original, unpublished works. Find out if the journal has specific forms or wording that must be used to obtain permission, and submit the permissions with your manuscript.

Any artwork you supply, such as photos and illustrations, must be of sufficient quality so that it prints clearly. A photograph may look fine on your laptop computer, but that does not mean it will print well. If you are submitting electronic photographs or illustrations, follow the author guidelines to determine acceptable file types and quality requirements. Finally, the journal may not return your original artwork, so keep your own copies.

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Next Steps 

Editors are busy people, so making sure that your submission package is well-organized and strictly adheres to author guidelines increases your chances of being published. You should receive an acknowledgement that your article has been received, but it can take a number of weeks to receive a decision about whether your manuscript will be accepted, rejected, or will require revisions. The next article in this series will discuss how to handle revision requests.

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Note 

1. In:  Brogan KS ,  Brewer RL ,  Masterson J editor. 2006 Writer's Market . Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books; 2005;
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