Writing for the NZCOM Journal

Tips to help with

publication

Getting startedO What topics are you enthusiastic about?O What is the current literature around

this topic?O Can you see where you could bring a

new perspective?O Have you been doing some post graduate

study and want to share your findings?O Or is this a burning issue and you want

to share your knowledge/expertise/ understandings?

Who will you write with?Share the writing Why?

We advise that you consider asking your supervisor or lecturer (if studying) if they would co-author with youIf not consider writing with somebody who:O Has a good

understanding of the issues

and/orO Has previously

published

O Writing your ideas and arguments into a written form can be difficult

O The authors need to explain their ideas clearly

O So explaining to each other is the first step – do you all understand what has been written?

O If not how can it be clarified?

Writing with othersHow The process

O You need to consider who will write which parts of the paper

O This can be done primarily by one author with the other authors adding ideas and clarification

O Or different authors can write different parts of the paper (the risk with this is that each person can write quite differently)

O Feedback is usually done using track changes and comments

O You will need to set time lines and work out who is doing what and when

O All authors will take responsibility for the finished paper

Getting to first draftCheck the NZCOM Journal contributor guidelines you can find them at http://www.midwife.org.nz/resources-events/nzcom-journalO Thoroughly review the research literature around

your topicO Put an outline of your paper together firstConsider the following:

1. What – explain your topic – define terms, explain what is already known about it

2. Why is this important to the reader and/or why do you think it is important to look at? Give us your rationale

3. How have you looked at the issue – have you done some research or a literature review or is this a case study or academic argument? How have you gone about doing this?

4. So what – did you find and why is it important?

The template for a research paper

O AbstractO Introduction & rationaleO MethodsO FindingsO DiscussionO Strengths and weaknessesO Conclusion

At every stage - write, edit, write, edit Polish and make changes as you write

Template for other papersLiterature review Case report

O AbstractO IntroductionO Rationale for literature

reviewO Method (how, search

criteria etc.)O Body of paperO DiscussionO Conclusion

O AbstractO IntroductionO Body of

paper/discussion of case

O Discussion of issuesO Conclusion

The Introduction shouldO Grab the reader’s attentionO Say what the topic isO Say why it is importantO State the purpose/or research question of

the articleO include brief literature overviewO Indicate the gap your study will address, but

not give the whole game away

Remember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write

Methodology

O Set out the why, what, when, where, how and whom of your process; this includes how the data was analysed

O Include a clear description and validation of any tools, instruments or apparatus used in the research

O Plus any ethics processes undertaken

Remember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write

FindingsO The finding section provides the details of the

research findings or literature reviewO Tables and figures help explain numbers O Themes and participants stories explain

qualitative data O Each of these elements will need some

explanation for the reader – you need to explain what is important within the tables and what is important in the stories of the participantsRemember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write

Discussion and conclusion

O Interpretation of the results or text – what is important from your study

O Compare to other research findings (from literature review) – what is the same and what is different

O Describe any further research or practice implications (if evidence strong)

O Conclusion, summary of main points, (keep succinct)

Remember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write

Using tables and figuresO These should stand without detailed

explanation O Use consistent terms for text and

tables/figuresO Highlight patterns and trends in the dataO Style should conform to the journal

requirements

Getting to the finish lineO Revise and refine wording

and check that each paragraph is complete

O Smooth the ‘bumpy’ bits so it flows (imagine taking your reader by the hand)

O Have at least one critical friend (or your co-authors) read and provide feedback on the paper

O Read the paper out loud and answer the following:

1. Is there a logical flow to the paper

2. Does each sentence or paragraph make sense?

3. Are the arguments or points being made clear?

4. Does it build to a comprehensive position?

Final touchesO When choosing the title be specific and

concise & choose searchable terms; Go here for tips-

O http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/seo.asp

O Write the abstract - remember this is the bit that will be most widely read

The abstractO The abstract is the paper in summary – it

starts with:O What – define the issue and provide

backgroundO Why – a summary of the rationale and aimO Methods – a summary of what you did and

howO Findings – summarise your key findingsO Conclusion – provide a concluding sentence

Final touches cont.O Check & recheck references O They should conform to the journal’s

requirements (APA 6th edition)O Be sure your co-authors are happy with the

final version & author orderO Write a covering letter. O Submit to practice@nzcom.org.nz subject

line – paper for submission to NZCOM journal

The NZCOM Journal editorial process

O The paper is read by one or both of the co-editors to determine if it meets the Journal objectives

O An email response will be sent to the authors notifying that paper has been received (normally within a week)

O Papers are sent to 2 reviewers for review (anonymised so they don’t know the authors)

O You will get feedback from the reviewers - generally all papers will require some amendment and changes

O A journal editor/subeditor will provide your feedback and work with you to get the paper ready for publication

O There may be several iterations

O The whole process can take several months

O Have a ‘b’ plan in case your paper is not accepted

O See a rejection as a free review

O Take a few days break before re-engaging with the work

Top reasons manuscripts rejected

O Inadequate literature reviewO Content too basicO Insufficient critical analysisO Inaccurate contentO References outdatedO Too biasedO Lack of clarity in the writing itself– arguments not

logical or not clearly explained

References consultedO Belcher, W. L. (2009). Writing your journal article in 12

weeks. Los Angeles: Sage.O Fahey, K. (2008). Writing for publication: the basics.

Women & Birth, 21, 86-89.O Fahey, K. (2008). Writing for publication: Argument and

evidence. Women & Birth, 21(3), 86-89O Huff, A. S. Designing research for publication.. (2009).

Los Angeles: Sage.O Likis, F., & Aikins Murphy, P. (2014). Writing for

publication. Paper presented at the ICM 30th Triennial Congress. Prague.

O Single, P. B. (2010). Demystifying dissertation writing. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus.