navigating publishing process - from a big idea to a great scientific paper!
TRANSCRIPT
Removing frustration from the publication
processMilka Kostic, Ph.D., Editor
Structure and Cell Chemical [email protected]
@Structure_CP, @CellChemBiol, @MilkaKostic
3 KEY INGREDIENTS OF A GREAT PAPER
- BIG IDEAS
- HIGH QUALITY DATA
- AUTHORS WITH INTEGRITY
2 MUST-HAVE PERSONAL GOALS
NETWORKING&
MENTORING
- Be mindful of the audience- Craft the title and abstract- Tell a story - Put the Cover Letter to work- Keep it simple
5 Tips for publishing scientific research
Be mindful of the audience
• Choose the journal to submit your work not only based on the IF but more strategically in terms of the audience you want to target
• Treat Editors, Reviewers, and Readers with respect and empathy: put yourself in their shoes to experiment with different ways to present your data and explain your results
• Remembers that publishing a paper is a collaboration
Craft the title and abstract
TitleAbstract
Main Text
Anatomy of a scientific paper
TitleAbstract
Article
Anatomy of a scientific paper: reader’s & search engine’s perspective
TitleAbstract
Article
Title is THE most visible part of your paper and probably the only opportunity to attract the reader's attention.
A good title explains what the paper is about and why it is significant with: - clarity- keywords
TitleAbstract
Article
Abstract should be: - informative- interesting - broadly accessible
background statement
clearly defined question
how you addressed the question
accurate summary of key findings
how the findings help answer your questions
concluding statement with implications & speculations
Basic structure of a well-crafted abstract
Telling a story
"Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.
Title
Abstract
Main Text
Telling a scientific story
Telling a scientific story
– Compose the paper logically, not chronologically
– Provide context
– Tell the story through your figures
– Be organized
– Read a lot, and not just science
Putting Cover Letter to work
The cover letter is author’s secret weapon, but only if it:
- Explains why the paper is relevant - Tell the Editors why the paper is a good fit for our
journal - Paint the bigger picture- Share confidential information
KEEP IT SIMPLEEverything should be made as simple
as possible, but not simpler.– Albert Einstein
Keep it simple
- Use “normal” words
- Avoid jargon and buzzwords
- Use active voice
- Stay focused
Beyond publication
Shout it from the rooftops!
Resources galore!!! - Blog and more…
http://crosstalk.cell.com/
Online resources that inspired this presentation and more training and reading material
Excellent online resource hub for early career researchers by Elsevier – covers topics from networking,career planning, to publishing and getting noticedhttps://www.publishingcampus.elsevier.com/
Cell Press Video Guide for authors – Now on Cell Press China Getaway and Youkuhttp://www.cell.com/chinahttp://www.soku.com/search_video/q_cell%20press
From Nature EDUCATION an eBook on English Communication for Scientists that includes a chapter onwriting a scientific paperhttp://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/english-communication-for-scientists-14053993/writing-scientific-papers-14239285
“10 things you need to know about the publishing process”http://www.elsevier.com/connect/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-publishing-process
“Tips for writing better science papers” from ChemistryViews.orghttp://www.chemistryviews.org/details/education/5202161/Tips_for_Writing_Better_Science_Papers.html
How to get published in an academic journal: top tips from editorshttp://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jan/03/how-to-get-published-in-an-academic-journal-top-tips-from-editors
Writing for an academic journal: 10 tipshttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/sep/06/academic-journal-writing-top-Tips
Great series of “Ten simple rules for…” aritcles at PLoS Comp. Biol. that covers topics from publishing apaper, to making figures
Key takeaways:- Big ideas supported by quality data & work done ethically is
what makes a great paper
- Targeting right journal saves time
- Publishing a paper is a collaboration, so help editors, reviewers,
and readers
- Use the resources & keep learning
- Network & mentor
Talk about your science & your scientists!!!
THANK YOU!YOUR TURN:
ASK ME ANYTHING...