1、Writing for PublicationJames MunroUniversity of SheffieldWhy write?Fame and fortuneBolster the CVPressure from above disseminationSo whats the problem?No ideasIdeas but no writingWriting but nothing sent offWriting sent off but not acceptedThe other problemTimeWriting is a lot of workEven academics

2、dont have timeWhat well talk aboutWriting an academic paper10 ways to be rejectedMagazines and books are a bit differentAny ideas?ExperienceEveryday workingProblemsCostly activitiesMore ideasQuestions from cliniciansespecially those you cant answerThings that go wrongThings you disagree withYou alre

3、ady have somethingBut is it publishable?Is it interesting?Could it affect practice or policy?Is it generalisable?Almost everything is publishable somewhereDont start writing yet!Dont write yet!Whats the context?Whats the story?The contextEverybody needs a contextContext for a research paperWhats alr

4、eady known?Whats unknown?Whats controversial?The need to knowProviding a context and a question creates the readers “need to know”Whats the story?If this was a news report, what would the headline be?What is the central idea?BMJ approachWhat is already known on this topic?What does this study add?Ou

5、tline your story: 1ContextOnce upon a timeMethodsthere were 3 bearsOutline your story: 2Resultsand she ran home.Conclusionsnever go into the woods alone.Dont start writing yet!Who is the story for?Whod like to know?Who needs to know?Reasons for rejectionThe commonest reason editors giveis that the s

6、ubject matter wasnt suitable for their journalSo find the right journalGet to know the journals in your areaWhat are their interests?What are their styles?So find the right journalWhere were other papers on this topic published?JournalologyRefereed or not?Listed in bibliographic databases?Impact fac

7、tor?Write for a journalSelect one of the journals which might be interested in your storyWrite for that journalWriting for that journalInstructions for authorsUsually on the webBut you need to see a copyHeadings, weighting, referencing, interestsDevelop your outlineIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussi

8、onIntroductionWhat is the issue?What is already known about it?Set up a question in the readers mindExplain why your study is neededMethodsWhat did you do?How did you do it?Have a logical orderDont report results here by mistake!ResultsFollow the order of the methodsWho? When? What?DiscussionSummari

9、se the findingsDraw out the lessonsAcknowledge the limitationsWhat should happen now?BMJs suggested structureStatement of principal findings Strengths and weaknesses of the study Strengths and weaknesses in relation to other studies, discussing particularly any differences in results Meaning of the

10、study: possible mechanisms and implications for clinicians or policymakers Unanswered questions and future research StructuringSubheadings are essentialFor RCTs, use CONSORTFor MA of RCTs, QUOROMFor MA of observational studies, MOOSEMacro-editingHighlight the key sentence in each paragraphDoes the s

11、tory flow?Ask others to read the draftGive them a specific taskThe little thingsSpellingGrammarTense, voice, singulars and pluralsConsistent layoutPage numbersReferencesSee When your paper is rejectedDont be discouraged!When your paper is rejectedTry to find out whyDoes it need revising?Send it off

12、to another journal after checking for styleReferees commentsDont be defensiveYou dont have to do everything they suggestBut you do have to address each pointDont!10 ways to get your paper rejected1: Choose a journal which has never shown an interest in this subject2: Write well over the specified wo

13、rd length to show the importance of the topic3: Try to include at least 10 key messages and some extra data from other studies4: See if you can improve on the journals standard headings5: Dont bother with any statistical advice, since nobody understands it6: Dont worry too much about spelling or grammar7: Ignore the journals own referencing style8: Add