Writing for Publication

For Graduate Students in the HESA Program
Virginia Tech

Writing for publication is not difficult and all of you can be successful if you follow a few simple rules. Your professors will encourage you along the way and all of us will be happy to help you with any project that has merit.

Consider the following suggestions.

  1. Good Writers Read – Our best scholars know the literature. They know what we know, what we don’t know, and what we need to know.

  2. Know Your Audience – Read the journal for which you plan to write. Write for the readership, not yourself.

  3. Create the Hook – You must create interest in what you have written. Show the reader that your work fills an important void in what we know.

  4. Write with Purpose – There is no substitute for a well written purpose statement.

  5. Use the Rule of Thirds – Reviewers look for balance in a manuscript. Devote 1/3 of your paper to the Introduction, 1/3 to the Results, and 1/3 to the Discussion.

  6. Form is Everything – If you don’t care enough to submit a paper in good form, reviewers won’t care either. Become an EXPERT with the APA Manual.

    7. See http://www.elps.vt.edu/janosik/apastyle.pdf for some tips.

  7. Develop a Rigorous Design – Just asking some folks some questions and reporting their answers just won't cut it anymore. See the following:
    Anfara, V. A., & Brown, K. (2001). Qualitative analysis on stage: Making the research process more public. Paper presented at the AERA Conference, Seattle, WA.

    Smart, J.C. (2005). Attributes of exemplary research manuscripts employing quantitative analysis. Research in Higher Education, 46(4), 461-477.

    Firestone, W. A. (1987). Meaning in method: The rhetoric of quantitative and qualitative research. Educational Research, 16(7), 16-21.

  8. Write from a Comprehensive Outline – Every word should have meaning and every paragraph should be essential. A good outline creates a road map and ensures focus. The use of appropriate headings (the outline) guides the writer and the reader.

  9. Finish Strong – The end of the paper is the last thing reviewers read. Tell them what you planned to do, what you did, and why it was important. Answer the “so what question.”

  10. Good Writing Takes Time – Most of us can’t write a good paper in a weekend. Give yourself time to edit and rewrite. The paper you submit should be “perfect.”

  11. Learn from Those Who Have Been Successful – The easiest way to learn how to write for publication is to work with those who have. Find someone who writes for publication and ask if you can help with her or his next project. Be sure to be clear about your role.

  12. Good Feedback Doesn’t Always Feel Good – Three or four experienced writers will review your manuscript. Their feedback can be pretty pointed but try and learn from it.

Posted: July 1, 2005
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