A Publishing Resource for Geographers

Good practice in writing for journals

1. Selecting a journal 4. Writing a book review
2. General writing tips  5. Writing an editorial/commentary 
3. Revising a manuscript for resubmission

 

Academic journals provide a specialised site through which to disseminate your work. They are usually peer-reviewed (2 or 3 people read your manuscript to judge whether it is 'suitable' for publication) and the intended audience is an 'expert' group of scholars and practioners. Each journal has a specific set of aims and objectives which differentiates it from others. Your article must be written with both the journal's aims and objectives, and its audience, in mind.

 

1. Selecting a journal

It is often quite difficult to determine which journal will be the best outlet for your work, but it is perhaps a decision to be made before drafting an article. This is because it is easier to write with a journal in mind - acknowledging from the outset its desired foci, content and style - than to retro-fit the article to a journal.

In general, there are two main kinds of journals: generic and specific. The generic journals are more wide-ranging and will publish material from across the breath of a discipline. Often they are journals of learned societies and many are tied to national organisations (e.g. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Canadian Geographer, and so on), although there are exceptions (e.g. Environment and Planning A, Progress in Human Geography). Specific journals are much more focused in the remit of the material they publish concentrating on a specific sub-field of a discipline (e.g. Economic Geography; Social and Cultural Geography) or a particular approach or political perspective (e.g. Antipode).

It used to be the case that generic journals had wider circulations, readership and citation indexes than specialist journals, but this is now often not the case, and it should not be a serious consideration in selecting an prospective journal. Maybe more important is who you want to read the article - a general or specialised audience; academics or practioners; geographers or researchers from other disciplines. Also of consideration might be the peer-standing of the journal - how well it is respected and the perceived quality of articles published. This can be difficult to gauge, but two useful indicators of a journal's impact and popularity is its citation index and what colleagues have to say about it. The citation index reveals the extent to which articles within a journal are cited in other articles (note new journals do not get allocated a rating for a number of years). Publishing in a journal with a 'high' citation index can be (but not always) important for securing tenure and promotion. Most human geography journals are listed in the Social Science Citation Index which should be available in your library.

Most researchers try to balance submissions between generic and specific journals so that their work is seen by differing audiences.

If you are publishing for the first time, it might be better to start with journals that are not rated as the top publications in their field. These journals often have high-rates of rejection because they have very high standards, though this is not always the case. If you are unsure whether your article is of sufficient standard for a particular journal ask for advice from colleagues who are experienced at publishing their work in journals.

If you choose to send your paper to a specialist journal make sure it fits the aims and objectives of the journal. For example, do not send an article which does not concern gender issues to Gender, Place and Culture as it will meet with rejection. If in doubt ask for advice from colleagues or email the editor of the journal in advance of submitting the article, and they will advise.

Whether you choose a generic or specific journal, read recent editions of the journal to get a feel for the expected content, level of scholarship, and style, and also read the 'notes for contributors' (these often outline what kind of papers the journal seeks to publish). Browsing through different journals can also be a useful way of identifying potential outlets. Another is to consider the journals that have published articles that you have cited.

 

2. General writing tips

Content

The editors of most geography journals are looking for more than a report of empirical research. Instead they want the paper to 'say' something significantand be substantiated with reasoned argument and sufficient evidence. Each journal is seeking a specific kind of content. As noted above, this can be defined by field, approach or style. An article should be tailored to fit the desired content of the journal it has been written for.

Style and structure

Stylistically, editors are looking for articles that are accessible to the reader with conceptual ideas and empirical data clearly described and explained. They will expect the writing style to be of an acceptable standard and for formal English to be used; that is, no slang, no colloquialisms, and no contractions (e.g., I'm, don't, isn't, etc.). Conventions about writing in the third person are changing, and most will now accept those written in the first person. In all instances, editors will expect authors to follow the formatting guidelines as set out in the notes for contributors. These provide specific details concerning the length, format and content of prospective manuscripts (see links).

In terms of structure, your paper should read like a story; there should be a beginning, a middle and an end, with a strong, coherent plot-line running throughout, linking all the intervening sections.

A good way to test the style and structure of an initial draft is to get friends/colleagues/supervisor to read and comment on the paper. This will quickly identify any major problems that exist.

Language

Most English language journals will only accept submissions that are written in formal English. There are a couple of exceptions. ACME will accept and publish papers in a number of different languages. Social and Cultural Geography will accept a non-English paper as long as it can find referees to review the paper. If the paper is accepted, however, it requires that the paper is translated into English for publication.

Title

Choosing a title is an important, but often overlooked, concern. Potential readers often judge whether to read an article on the basis of its title. As a consequence, the title should convey immediately the precise concerns of your paper. Try and construct a title that is interesting or amusing (puns are quite commonly used) that will attract readers. A dry, plain title (often, but not always) suggests a dry, plain read.

The abstract

The abstract is a synopsis of your paper. It is generally around 100 words long. It should detail the essence of the article and the ideas contained in the rest of the paper in clear and unambiguous terms, so that a potential reader knows what to expect.

Key words

Key words used for indexing/abstracting are often included at the end of the abstract (check journal guidelines). You should choose the three to five most important, specific terms that will allow someone who might be interested in the article's contents to find it in a database.

Introduction

The introduction is literally what it says - it introduces the substantive content of the paper. It sets the scene, providing the reader with an insight into what will follow, and details a strong rationale for the paper. It is normal for an introduction to start from the general and progress to the specific. As a consequence, it should not plunge the reader into the middle of a problem or theory.

Tables, figures, plates, maps

Tables, figures, plates and maps can be extremely useful for conveying information or illustrating a point. However, they should only be used when relevant and must be referred to in the text.

Place markers for tables, figures, plates and maps should be included at appropriate points in the text (e.g. 'Figure 1 about here') but they should be included on separate sheets at the end of manuscript.

You should consult specific journal's notes for contributors about exact formatting, but in general for all tables, figures, plates and maps

For tables

For figures

For graphs

For maps

Permissions

If a table, figure, plate, map or a section of text of 200 words or more is reproduced from another source, you will need to obtain copyright permission before it can be published. It is up to you, not the editor of the journal, to obtain the appropriate permissions. You will only need to seek permission if the paper is accepted to be published. To gain permission you will need to write to the permissions or copyright editor of the publisher (or newspaper, art gallery, archive, etc) of the original table, figure, plate or map. The journal will often have a standard form for you to include. If not, include the item you want permission to reproduce and details of where it will be published. They will send the permit to yourself, plus a bill if required. You send the permit to the journal editor.

Including statistical formulae

Beyond simple mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction etc., all statistical formulae used should be included. These should use the full form of mathematical expressions, employ standard mathematical symbols and all variables should be fully defined. Although strictly speaking new terms will only need to be defined on their first appearance in the text, subsequent inclusions may increase the clarity of a complicated equation.

Referencing

All the material which has been derived from other sources must be referenced within the text and fully recorded in the reference list. Failure to reference material is plagiarism (using somebody else's work as your own). There are various different ways to acknowledge the ideas of others within the text. These are often referred to as 'styles of documentation'. The rules and form of documentation varies between journals; however four general forms are common:

There are also a variety of style manuals produced which describe the specifics of documentation for different areas of academic study. The style of documentation in most geography journals for referencing is modelled on the author-date method of citation and is commonly referred to as the 'Harvard' system. This system uses a minimum of both a name and a year reference in the text and a list of full references at the end of the text.

You should always refer to the journal's 'notes for contributors' to determine the exact format used by the journal you are submitting to. Use all the correct syntax (full stops, commas, colons, abbreviations, etc.) and font style (e.g., italics or bold).

Quoting

If the quote is short, it is generally retained in the main text. However, if the quote is longer (normally 50 words or more) or has particular relevance it may be separated from the text and indented to distinguish it from the rest of the text. When using a quote it is standard when referencing to also provide the page number from which the quote was taken.

Acknowledgements

It is very rare for a paper to be written in a vacuum and it is customary to acknowledge the formative inputs of others to the final, published paper. This might include friends of colleagues who provided advice and feedback on earlier drafts of the paper, and referees and the journal editor who provided constructive criticism on the submitted manuscript. If the research the paper discusses was supported by a bursary or grant it is usually mandatory to acknowledge such support by detailing the name of the funding agency, the title of the project, and if applicable the award number.

Cover Letter

When you submit your paper you will need to include a cover letter. This simply needs to state that you wish your article to be considered for publication in the journal and that it is has not been published elsewhere. There is no need for any long description of the paper's content or argument.

Finally

Do not send the manuscript off to review as soon as it is finished. Leave it unread for at least two weeks, then re-read the text from start to finish. This 'cooling off' period means you return to the text afresh, ready to spot errors and tidy-up inconsistencies. It will also allow you to assess the coherency of your arguments.

 

3. Revising a manuscript for resubmission

Very few articles pass through the refereeing process without recommendations for some form of revision, even if it's just stylistic alterations. Indeed, most published papers go through several phases of revisions and editing before they are published (see seven examples from initial draft to final article).

Whilst criticism may at first seem difficult to swallow you should try to look at it in a positive light. Instead of rejecting the criticism outright, sit back and reflect upon what the referees have said and try and understand why they have made the observations and recommendations they have. Referees, if they have done their job properly (see good practice in refereeing), aim to give constructive criticism; advice that will improve the final, published article.

Referees can give a number of reasons for revising the paper, these include:

A useful strategy to aid revision to satisfy both the editor and referees is to carefully go through their comments making a list of suggested changes. Next go through the paper and identify where these comments refer to and decide how they might be addressed. Finally, start to redraft the paper, revising and editing the text and undertaking any additional analysis that might be needed. If the main problems are structural then you will need to think carefully about the 'story' you are trying to tell and how it is told. A useful strategy might be to plot in storyboard form the 'story' and assess if the boards lead you smoothly through the paper.

One of the most difficult tasks can be to reduce down the length of a manuscript. Here, you need to try and determine exactly what material is essential to your argument. If in doubt ask yourself the questions: 'Is this sentence/paragraph/section important to the development of my argument?' and 'What would be lost if I left it out?' Remember, if you can summarise the whole paper in just a 100 word abstract you can reduce the length of the manuscript and leave the reader with a clear understanding of your findings or position. Some useful strategies for reducing length are:

If you are still having trouble reducing the length, then you are probably trying to say too much in one article.

Remember, you do not need to address all the points and queries raised by the referees, especially if you disagree strongly with their assessment. However, when you re-submit the revised paper you need to state in the cover letter how you revised the paper and why you have chosen not to address specific recommendations. If your argument is compelling, and the article is now of a publishable quality, the editor will accept the paper.

 

4. Writing a book review

An academic book review is a critical appraisal of a book. This means that in addition to detailing the central thesis of the book, the review critically evaluates the strength, quality and depth of the arguments made, the style and structure of the text, and the overall significance of the book. In other words, instead of merely describing the book the reviewer expresses an opinion with regards to the value of its content. In general, the review should seek to answer the following questions:

A review needs to be a balanced but critical reflection on the content of a book. You should therefore be mindful that a review should not be:

(see Good Practice in Refereeing)

If you disagree with the arguments made in the book you should be careful to distinguish your viewpoint from that of the author's.

Often in writing a review, it is instructive to illustrate your critique by using short quotes taken from the text and/or providing reference to other relevant work. This should, however, be done in moderation.

If the book is an edited collection of essays, the review should critically appraise the concept and coherency of the collection, as well as the individual essays.

Generally, book reviews are between 500-1000 words long, though they can be longer in specific cases. You should check the guidelines issued by the journal and follow their guidance.

Some journals also publish review essays in which a reviewer critically evaluates and compares two or more books that concern the same topic. Such reviews are either by invite or have been agreed in advance with the book review editor for the journal concerned.

Potential book reviewers are usually identified by the book review editor of a journal, who will then approach the person to see if they will write a review. Most journals are always seeking new potential reviewers and are happy to receive requests to review books.

 

5. Writing an editorial/commentary

An editorial is an introduction to an edition of a journal, most typically a special issue of themed papers. It usually discusses the papers present in that edition, the themes that link the papers, and highlights salient points that merit further discussion and research. It is usually written by the person who organised the special issue, or by an editor of the journal.

A commentary is a polemic piece that seeks to highlight a particular observation, argue for a particular theoretic line of thought, or call for more targeted or systematic research on a particular topic. In short, a commentary seeks to stimulate debate or action. It is usually prudent to contact the editor of the journal prior to submitting the commentary to see whether they might be interested in such an essay.

In both cases, an editorial or a commentary is generally expected to be short and concise - 1500-3000 words. Like ordinary articles both editorials and commentaries require an introduction, well structured argument, references to pertinent literature and a conclusion. They should also be formatted in the house style of the journal concerned.

 

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