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Tips for Publishing Qualitative Research. Sandra Mathison University of British Columbia Editor-in-Chief, New Directions for Evaluation. See Yourself as a Writer Write early, write often…. Read the current literature. Attend conferences and present papers.
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Tips for Publishing Qualitative Research Sandra Mathison University of British Columbia Editor-in-Chief, New Directions for Evaluation
See Yourself as a WriterWrite early, write often… • Read the current literature. • Attend conferences and present papers. • Contact journal editors/conference program chairs and ask to be a reviewer. • Write book reviews. • Work as a contributing author in a study with faculty or graduate student colleagues. • Always ask for advice (authors, editors, etc). • Write for yourself.
Good writing takes time! Take time/make time for writing. Write, re-write, write some more. Get feedback from colleagues. Be direct and simple. Stay on target. Avoid cliches. Use metaphors. Use active verbs/voice. Explore genres. Find your own voice. We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection. Anais Nin How do I know what I think until I see what I say. E. M. Forster Tips on Writing
Choosing a Publication Venue • Who is the audience? • Journal or book? • What kind of articles does the journal publish ~ reports of original research; theory into practice; “how to” articles; conceptual or empirical research? • Is a book a better fit for an extensive, in-depth qualitative study ~ who has a list that might be a good home for your work?
Choosing a Journal or Publisher • Prestige? • Discipline or field? • Refereed? • Acceptance rate? • Recent changes in editor or editorial board?
Prepare & Submit Your Manuscript • Once you’ve chosen a journal or publisher, review the “author guidelines” and follow them. • Talk to the editor ahead of time. • Align your manuscript with the norms for length, readership, reference and editorial style. • Submit your ms in the required format.
The Review Process: What to expect Ms or proposal reviews usually take between 6 weeks and 6 months—wait at least 2 months before status inquiry.
The Review Process: Criteria for Judging Manuscripts • Design • Conceptual Framework • Coherence • Content • Clarity • Format • Audience
The Review Process: Decisions • Accepted (in press) • Accepted with revisions • Revise & resubmit • Rejected (think of it as “returned”)
What Does Revise & Resubmit Mean? • Revision process as important as initial writing. • Send to another journal? • Resubmission should include cover letter explaining revisions made; your reasoning (well-reasoned exceptions are okay). • Separate what the editor suggests from what MUST be done in revision. • Typically resubmission will be sent to original reviewers w/ copy of your cover letter.
Dealing with Rejection & Criticism • Anticipate critiques. • See reviews as a way to improve your work. • Read responses; put away for a few days; separate your emotional response from comments of reviewers; re-read in detail reviewer comments; return to your ms.
References on Writing • Writing in general • Qualitative writing specifically • Style manuals • Autobiographies of writers