A Word to the Wise: Tips for Publishing in International Journals

“How the mighty are fallen”. That  phrase came to mind after I received  an e-mail that rejected yet another of  my research articles.  As a new PhD graduate, I had underestimated  the process of publishing,  particularly in an international journal.  The intoxicating feeling of obtaining a  doctorate had duped me into believing  that it would be child’s play. If one’s  80 000 word thesis could impress a panel  of professors with superior expertise,  surely one’s 6000 word article could do  the same? How narcissistic and naïve  I was. After 15 months of harrowing  rejections, many shed tears and sessions  with my exhausted therapist, I finally  published in a high impact, international  journal. Below I recount my experience.  Hopefully, the younger academics can  derive valuable lessons from my tale of  woe and bypass my pitfalls.  As aforesaid, I grossly overestimated  myself.

As a lover of language and  words, I was convinced that a few  ornate anecdotes about my research  findings could enthrall any journal editor.  Therefore, I was aghast at the lengthy  Duduzile Zwane critique that my first article garnered. I  had selected an international journal that  was favoured by a professor whose work  I admired. Based on the quality of their  feedback, all three reviewers had read my  article painstakingly. Therefore, I knew  that there was no foul play. Consequently,  I decided to incorporate their suggestions  into a new article.  Surprisingly, it got rejected again. The  feedback was constructive, yet I remained  bewildered by the rebuff. My third,  fourth, fifth and sixth article submission  attempts were also rejected. I then decided  to attend a publishing workshop that was  facilitated by a distinguished professor.  Two days later, I applied his power-point  presentation to the abandoned drafts  of various articles. Lo and behold, this  seventh submission was accepted with  minor revisions.

Three months later, it  was finally published. This mortifying  affair taught me the following:  Firstly, one needs to familiarise oneself  with the core objectives of their intended  journal. Figure out what they are trying  to convey through the articles that they  publish. In this way, you can ensure that  your writing voice is congruent with their  target audience. Some journals permit  moderate artistic flair from authors.  Others, are partial to a crisp and concise  tone. Therefore, conform to their housestyle.  Also, try to adhere to the Standards  for Reporting Qualitative Research  (SRQR) guidelines.  Secondly, never be disheartened by the  reviewers’ evaluation of your article.  Bear in mind that the review process is  anonymous. Therefore, their criticism is  not a personal attack on you, nor is it a  metric that measures your intellectual  ability. They are merely appraising a  single submission, which can usually  be improved by integrating their  observations. On the rare occasion when  the commentary feels harsh, ignore it,  remembering every field has its eccentrics.  Lastly, ask for help. Most scholars  self-isolate and flounder by themselves.  However, wise counsel from experienced  colleagues can cushion the blow of the  most scathing article review.

Duduzile Zwane

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