How to publish your manuscript successfully (with Wiley)

Part of the training module on publishing with the Council of Australian University Librarians, this 1h webinar provides tips to Early Career Researchers on how to write and accompany an article through the peer-review process. Not specific to Wiley journals, but why go elsewhere, really?

Transcript

1. How to publish your manuscript successfully (with Wiley) Dr Matteo Cavalleri, Publisher @physicsteo
2. Agenda • Why publish? • Before and during the manuscript submission: • What to expect • Peer review • Writing tips • Tools for authors
3. Who are we?
4. Our beginning Throughout 212 years of excellence, we have never wavered in our belief that knowledge can change the world. 1807 mid 1800s Today Charles Wiley opened a print shop in New York City, publishing literary fiction and non-fiction. John Wiley & Sons began focusing on science, technical, and engineering publishing. Seven generations later, Wiley is one of the oldest independent publishing companies.
5. Our content Our content is the heart of what we do. Around the world, audiences value and trust the content we publish. We help researchers share their work and librarians make it available to their communities. With our customers, we build networks that help the research we publish reach the people who need it. 1700+ journals 100+ OA journals Over 7.5 million articles Our articles are downloaded 300 million times per year 2 million society members 200+ countries 25,000+ institutions 590+ societies 450+ Nobel Laureate Authors 665K authors
6. Our expert: Dr. Matteo Cavalleri M.S. in Chemistry (1999) PhD in Chemical Physics (2005) PostDoc 2005-2008
7. Our expert: Matteo Cavalleri Publisher, Materials Science & Physics, US
8. Dr Matteo Cavalleri: I wish they had told me this when I wrote my first article…
9. There is no universal formula, because every paper is different and different disciplines have different standards. Disclaimer:
10. What to expect before getting started Why publish?
11. Why publish? •Fame •Recognition by peers •Fortune •Promotions •Grant applications •Establish precedence •Responsibility •Taxpayer-funded research • Making your research public • “If your research does not generate papers, it might just as well not have been done.” George Whitesides • Papers provide the shoulders that others can stand on
12. Why journals? Dissemination Spreading the word through publishing platforms But also indexing and generally organizing knowledge Registration Precedence of discovery is established based on article submission date to a journal Archival Safeguarding and preserving knowledge Publishers play an important role preserving the scientific record Certification Peer-review is still the gold standard for certifying articles This is not the same as quality-control! Peer-review management, Curation, Infrastructure, Ethics, & much, much more. Here’s a list of 96 things publishers do: https://bit.ly/2UW3rKX
13. What to publish? LITERATURE REVIEWS • Discuss knowledge accumulated in published literature • Reviews, mini-reviews, overviews, perspectives, essays,… ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLES • Share new results • Rapid Communications, Letters, Full Papers,…. Seek advice from colleagues and coauthors This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
14. Where to publish? • Journal Impact Factor is not everything! • What are the implications of your research? • Whom do you want to reach with this publication? Whom can you (realistically) reach? • How important will others find your research? • In your field? • In related fields? • Where do you read papers related to your research? Which do you like the most? • What is the scope of your candidate journal? • Who reads your candidate journal? • What is the format of your candidate journal?
15. Where to submit? What is the journal’s copyright policy? Is that subscription based or Open Access? How fast is their submission to publication time? Does the journal allow you to comply with your funder’s mandates? DO NOT submit to several journals at the same time
16. Types of journals • Subscription only journals: • Free to publish but need to be subscriber to read • Open Access journals: • Articles are freely accessible online • Authors pay an Article Publication Charge (APC) • The APC can be paid via the author’s institution or funding • Hybrid journals: • Subscription journal that allows Open Access publications • Article can be published behind or outside paywall https://journalfinder.wiley.com/ https://jane.biosemantics.org/
17. Beware of predatory journals • Use the Open Access publication model (Most Open Access journals are okay) • Do not provide legitimate writing , peer-review, and publishing services • Send frequent spam messages • Sometimes use names of researchers without their consent • Look carefully at the publishing company, the affiliated scholarly society and the journal indexation • Beall’s List of Predatory Journals and Publishers: https://beallslist.net/ • Cabells’ Journal Blacklist: https://www2.cabells.com/about-predatory ($) • Useful Appraisal Tool: https://thinkchecksubmit.org/ • Directory of Open Access Journals: https://doaj.org/ PREDATORY JOURNALS INFORM/DEFEND YOURSELF
18. Submission and Review What to expect during this process?
19. Submission • Submissions made via a journal’s online submission system (ScholarOne, Editorial Manager. & others) • Authors are required to respond to submission questions, recommend reviewers, declare any conflict of interest, etc. • Authors have an opportunity to provide a cover letter. • Manuscripts go through an initial checklist to make sure they are complete (files provided) and the Author Guidelines have been followed (format, length, language, etc.) • Manuscripts are checked for plagiarism using special software (iThenticate)
20. What editors look for? MOST JOURNALS • Novelty • Importance (in specific field / in related disciplines) • Interest ALL JOURNALS • Scope • Format (Communication, full paper, review…) • Understandability • Compliance to guidelines, ethical behavior Editors are not always qualified to evaluate the technical merits of manuscripts. This is the job of the referees.
21. What is the peer-review process? Peer review is the critical assessment of manuscripts submitted to journals by experts who are not part of the editorial staff. - International Committee of Medical Journals Editors WHAT IT CANNOT DO (*) WHAT IT SHOULD DO • Filter out bad/uninteresting work • Make as sure as possible the work is reported correctly • Make sure results are interpreted correctly, and convincingly • Improve the quality of publication • Detect fabrication • Prevent duplicate publication • Pick the most interesting papers • Ensure quality • Ensure the article is right for the journal (*) AUTOMATICALLY
22. Author submits article Rejected Article assessed by editor Sent to reviewers Author submits revised paper Revision required Further review needed? Reviews assessed by editor Rejected Accepted Publication Production Peer Review Process
23. Most Common Peer-Review Types SINGLE BLIND: Reviewers know authors’ identities. DOUBLE BLIND: Authors’ identities are also hidden to reviewers OPEN: All identities are known. Credit: Andrew Bissette, @andrewbissette
24. What do reviewers look for? MOST JOURNALS • Novelty/Advance in the field ALL JOURNALS • Well conducted studies (appropriate methods, reproducible work, well-reported findings) • Well supported conclusions
25. Accept, reject, or revise? REJECTION • Without external referee reports (Editor) • Based on reports REVISION • Reconsideration or resubmission possible after major revisions ACCEPTANCE • Without changes (rare) • With minor changes The decision is the Editor’s job. The reviewer ‘s recommendation is not a vote -- it’s advice!
26. Revision • Carefully consider referee comments • Not all changes have to be made… • …but need convincing arguments for changes not made • Prepare revision • Revise manuscript • Highlight changes in manuscript • Point-by-point response to all referee criticisms • Changes made • Why changes not made • Response may go back to referees! • Need to convince editor and referees The peer-review process is not a private conversation between authors and referees. Try to work your answers to the reviewers in the revised manuscript!
27. Rejection – not the end of the world! • Most scientists have been rejected– do not take it personally • Try to understand why the paper was rejected • Note that you have received the benefit of the Editors and reviewers’ time: take their advice seriously! • Re-evaluate your work • If you resubmit, begin as if you are going to write a new article • Consider offers to transfer for your manuscript to another related journal
28. Writing tips Step-by-step recommendations
29. General structure of a scientific article 1. Have something to say 2. Say it 3. Stop as soon as you have said it. Billings, J., An address to our medical literature. British Medical Journal 1881, 262-268
30. Writing strategy • Write down, in any order, all important ideas that occur to you concerning the paper • Sort all your ideas into three major sections: • Introduction • Results and Discussion • Conclusions • Organize each of these sections on yet finer scale George M. Whitesides, “Writing a Paper” Adv. Mater. 2004, 16, 1375 ABSTRACT & TITLE FIGURES Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion,…
31. Figures & Tables = Your paper’s storyboard Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 ….. Figure 7 Figure 8 Star Wars, Episode V; The Empire Strikes Back
32. The A,B,C of good scientific writing • Avoid vague language and be precise/specific • Say EXACTLY what you mean and avoid over/under statements • Make the discussion concise but informative. Focus on the important and unexpected results. Not on small details. • Use as few words as possible while retaining meaning without sacrificing scientific details Use simple words and avoid jargon Use verb tense consistently throughout the paper Where possible, use verbs instead of noun forms
33. The core of the article MATERIALS AND METHODS INTRODUCTION • Introduce the reader to what is really relevant to your research and explain why. • Provide the necessary background information. • Put the study into context. Make sure that the cited literature reflects the current state of knowledge in the field. • Characterize methods and materials fully, in extensive details, and according to journal requirements • Be transparent with editors, reviewers, and readers. Impurities, missing data, problems encountered • Already published techniques should simply be referred to RESULTS & DISCUSSION • Focus on the important and unexpected results. Not on small details. • Stand proudly on the shoulder of giants. Don’t sell an old idea as a new one; cite the source. • Tell your main results as a logical easy-to-understand story (this is not necessarily the order in which you performed the investigation). • Discuss all results, and any limitations in your data • Salami are for eating, not publishing • ”Salami slicing”: Fragmentation of results into multiple papers Tips for writing better science papers, Series in ChemistryViews: http://bit.ly/ChemistryViews_BetterPapers
34. Abstract You have 20 seconds to explain your work to a scientist who is unfamiliar with it. • Don’t cram the abstract with details. Tell the audience that the butler did it in the 1st sentence! • Stand alone. Use plain language, avoid citations and non-standard abbreviations • Include keywords • In 7-10 sentences: Key results, what you did, unanswered questions, broader view/implications SHORT, STAND-ALONE SUMMARY OF YOUR RESEARCH
35. Title Better as: “Tree-climbing behavior by mountain cottontail rabbits” OR “Mountain cottontail rabbits can climb trees” • Include only one key message of the study • Completely understandable on first reading • Simple and specific to describe the content. • Be concise, use less words possible. • Not too technical, no jargon. • Include keywords 1st IMPRESSION COUNTS!
36. Keywords • Choose 5-10 keywords / phrases • Test your keywords with free tools • Use keywords in: • The title (2-4) • The abstract (3-4) • Subtitles • The fields reserved for keywords (5-7) • Use the keywords in a natural way • Avoid excessive use KEY TO SEO https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/Prepare/writing-for-seo.html
37. References • Cite the main scientific publications on which your work is based. • Make sure that the cited literature is up to date and reflects the current state of knowledge in the field. • Do not “cherry pick” papers that support your viewpoint only; acknowledge contrasting hypotheses. • Do not inflate the manuscript with too many references – it doesn’t make it a better manuscript! • Avoid excessive self-citations. More mistakes are found in the references than any other part of the manuscript! STAND PROUDLY ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
38. Language and presentation • Make sure you set the language on your work processing software to English. • Carry out at least one spell-check. • Ask a colleague in your field to proof-read your manuscript. • Ask a native or fluent English speaker to proof- read your manuscript. • Be consistent with heading/subheading format. Use the Style function of word-processing software. • Be consistent with formatting in the text. Certain scientific terms (e.g., genes, species names, etc.) require italics. • Ensure the manuscript is free from typos and careless mistakes. • Be consistent in formatting in figures/graphics. • Ensure abbreviations are defined in the first instance, and then used consistently thereafter. Note, the abstract should stand-alone. Editors and reviewers are impressed by a well-presented manuscript Wiley language editing service: http://wileyeditingservices.com/en/
39. Poor cover letter: wasted opportunity Explain to the editor: • Why work is significant • What is the major advance • Why the journal is the right one • Disclose conflicts of interest • List related papers in press and prepare to provide copies! • Provide reviewers suggestions The cover letter should take shape from the paper’s intro & conclusion Get the journal/editor’s names right! Especially if not 1st choice… Dear Editor of JOURNAL B, We would like to submit our manuscript *******. We hope you will find it suitable for JOURNAL A.
40. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your article • Search-Engine friendly Title/Abstract • Use keywords throughout the article • Be consistent with authors names • In-bound links rule Google. Link your article across social media, networking and institutional sites • Network, highlight/elevate your colleagues, they will do the same for you! • Share data, code. Open science leads to greater collaboration, increased confidence in results and goodwill between researchers • Most journals welcome preprints! HELP PEOPLE FIND YOU https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/Prepare/writing-for-seo.html
41. Tools for Authors
42. We support our researchers Our authors approach publishing from every level of experience — from first-time submitters to extensively-published experts. We offer resources for every step of the publishing process, through submission, publication, and promotion.
43. Key Resources Wiley Online Library Training Hub Wiley Editing Services Author Services Author Webinars Covid-19 Information
44. Submission Journal Finder Our Journal Finder tool helps authors match their articles to the best journal for their work, using the abstract or their chosen descriptive text. It allows authors to filter results by keyword, subject area, and open access status of the suggested journals. Wiley Editing Services (WES) Through WES, we offer English language editing, academic translation and illustration, figure formatting, graphical abstract design, journal recommendation, and manuscript formatting. Author Webinars Through our Author Services site, researchers will find webinars on a broad range of publishing topics, including maximizing article impact, publishing open access, understanding the peer review process, and many others.
45. Publication Author Services Our Author Services site was shaped by our authors, for our authors. It includes resources to support researchers through every stop of the publishing process. Author Dashboard Part of Author Services, the Author Dashboard presents researchers with all the information they need about their article as it goes from submission to publication. The Dashboard includes OnlineOpen ordering and open access payment options to make that decision simple. Our authors can also use the Dashboard after publication to check their article citations. Open Access Our journals include fully open access and hybrid journals. We support both gold and green open access options and have funding agreements spanning everything from single institutions through countries.
46. Promotion Wiley Editing Services In addition to pre-submission services, WES offers professional video abstracts, cover image design, infographic and conference poster creation, lay summaries, and research news stories to help get our authors’ work the attention it deserves. Cover Images Authors can submit an idea to feature their article on the cover of it’s publishing journal to increase the visibility of their research. Articles promoted through a cover image have 30% higher Altmetric scores and 35% higher full text views.* Promotion Guide Our Author Promotion Guide includes best practice recommendations for article promotion. Authors can download a Promotional Toolkit for additional support. *based on 2018 calendar year data
47. Other resources Authorea Helps authors collaborate on articles, write, cite, host date and publish Manuscripts Helps authors format, edit, and share their articles ORCiD Provides a unique identifier to help authors get credit for all of their research Kudos Helps authors increase the visibility and impact of their articles Publons Helps researchers track and share their peer review contributions GetFTR Helps researchers access the published articles they need We also work with platforms, organizations, and solutions that provide additional support to authors:
48. Thank you very much! Questions? mcavalleri@wiley.com