Strategies for Strategies for Successful Journal Successful Journal PublicationsPublications

Rachael E. GoodhueRachael E. Goodhue

University of California, DavisUniversity of California, Davis

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Choosing your topicChoosing your topic Doing the work and drafting the Doing the work and drafting the

paperpaper Polishing the paper for submissionPolishing the paper for submission Choosing a titleChoosing a title Choosing a journalChoosing a journal Revising and resubmittingRevising and resubmitting ProofreadingProofreading

TopicTopic

Choose a topic that interests you.Choose a topic that interests you.– If you want to publish, it should If you want to publish, it should

interest others interest others – When you begin a project, write down When you begin a project, write down

why you think it’s interesting why you think it’s interesting – Your topic should have broader Your topic should have broader

implications beyond answering its implications beyond answering its immediate research questionimmediate research question

How do you find such a topic?How do you find such a topic?

TopicTopic

Three ways to find a topicThree ways to find a topic Read the literatureRead the literature

– Published work is often already oldPublished work is often already old– Online resources for fresher workOnline resources for fresher work– ConferencesConferences

Read the newspaperRead the newspaper Talk to peopleTalk to people

– Policymakers, industry membersPolicymakers, industry members

TopicTopic

Literature on doing economic research Literature on doing economic research and writing for graduate studentsand writing for graduate students– Varian, “How to Write an Economic Model in Varian, “How to Write an Economic Model in

Your Spare Time” Your Spare Time” www.sims.berkeley.edu/~www.sims.berkeley.edu/~halhal/Papers/how.p/Papers/how.pdfdf

– edited volume by Medema and Samuelsedited volume by Medema and Samuels There may be a tradeoff between your There may be a tradeoff between your

interest and other factors.interest and other factors.– FundingFunding– AdvisorsAdvisors

Working and Drafting: Working and Drafting: When Is It Done?When Is It Done? Have you answered your research Have you answered your research

question?question?– Does your original question still apply?Does your original question still apply?– Have other questions emerged? Can you Have other questions emerged? Can you

answer them?answer them?– If you are no longer answering your original If you are no longer answering your original

question, does the organization and the question, does the organization and the content of your paper reflect the change?content of your paper reflect the change?

Have you interpreted your results in a Have you interpreted your results in a useful way, e.g. using elasticities? useful way, e.g. using elasticities? – Coefficients aren’t always enoughCoefficients aren’t always enough– Neither are mathematical expressions with no Neither are mathematical expressions with no

explanation of their contentexplanation of their content

Working and DraftingWorking and Drafting

What does “done” mean if it’s from What does “done” mean if it’s from your signed dissertation?your signed dissertation?– How much analysis to include in a paper?How much analysis to include in a paper?– How much information to leave out?How much information to leave out?

Ask your advisorsAsk your advisors Compare to published articles in the Compare to published articles in the

areaarea Very few signed dissertations are Very few signed dissertations are

written completely to the standard of written completely to the standard of refereed journalsrefereed journals

TitleTitle

Title should describe contentTitle should describe content– Choose the important components Choose the important components

of contentof content Cute titles are rewarding, but Cute titles are rewarding, but

Econlit doesn’t have a sense of Econlit doesn’t have a sense of humorhumor– Nor does GoogleNor does Google

Polish Your WorkPolish Your Work

If you don’t care, no one else If you don’t care, no one else willwill

If you’re proud of your research, If you’re proud of your research, then invest the time necessary to then invest the time necessary to

meet professional standardsmeet professional standards

Polishing: IntroductionPolishing: Introduction

ChecklistChecklist– Research questionResearch question– Context Context – Placement in relevant literaturePlacement in relevant literature

Refine byRefine by– Presenting your workPresenting your work– Writing multiple introductionsWriting multiple introductions– Reading others’ workReading others’ work– Having others read yoursHaving others read yours

Polishing: AnalysisPolishing: Analysis

Consistent notationConsistent notation All variables defined when first usedAll variables defined when first used Consistent presentationConsistent presentation

– Example: first- and second-best Example: first- and second-best solutionssolutions

Explanation of steps, techniques Explanation of steps, techniques – Enough for reader to followEnough for reader to follow– No more!No more!

Polishing: TablesPolishing: Tables

TablesTables– Verify contentVerify content– Cross-check content with textCross-check content with text– Uniform formatUniform format– Informative titles, labels, namesInformative titles, labels, names

Not everyone remembers your variable Not everyone remembers your variable namesnames

– Numbering and text referencesNumbering and text references

Polishing: GraphsPolishing: Graphs

GraphsGraphs– Numbering and text referencesNumbering and text references– Informative titlesInformative titles– Informative labelsInformative labels– Clearly distinct lines, points for Clearly distinct lines, points for

different seriesdifferent series

Polishing: Polishing: Citations and ReferencesCitations and References

Citations and reference listCitations and reference list– All citations in the reference listAll citations in the reference list– All references citedAll references cited– All references completeAll references complete– Check spelling of namesCheck spelling of names

Polishing: Polishing: Writing Writing MattersMatters Edit for clarityEdit for clarity Edit for spelling, grammar and styleEdit for spelling, grammar and style Edit Edit EVERYTHINGEVERYTHING

– FootnotesFootnotes– TablesTables– GraphsGraphs– Reference listReference list

Sloppy writing is sloppy thinkingSloppy writing is sloppy thinking

JournalJournal

Choosing a journalChoosing a journal– Publishes work in your areaPublishes work in your area– Is read by people who work in your areaIs read by people who work in your area– Is well-regardedIs well-regarded– Speed of review processSpeed of review process

Preparing your paper for the chosen Preparing your paper for the chosen journaljournal– Style requirementsStyle requirements– Length requirementsLength requirements– Observed style of published articlesObserved style of published articles

Rejection!Rejection!

Read referee comments, and revise Read referee comments, and revise accordinglyaccordingly– Mistake -- correctMistake -- correct– Misunderstanding – rewriteMisunderstanding – rewrite– Reread the paperReread the paper

Your perspective may have changed with Your perspective may have changed with timetime

Rewrite Rewrite

Choose a second journalChoose a second journal

Revision and Revision and ResubmissionResubmission Think positivelyThink positively

– Very few papers are immediately acceptedVery few papers are immediately accepted Plan your revision before beginningPlan your revision before beginning

– Overlapping commentsOverlapping comments– Contradictory commentsContradictory comments

Keep track of your revisionsKeep track of your revisions– Write responses as you complete themWrite responses as you complete them– Make it easy for the referee to check your Make it easy for the referee to check your

responsesresponses

ProofreadingProofreading

Always proof your page proofsAlways proof your page proofs– ErrorsErrors

YoursYours Copy editor’sCopy editor’s

– Updating factsUpdating facts Equations and tables particularly Equations and tables particularly

susceptiblesusceptible

Good Luck!Good Luck!

Next year: The Reprint QuestionNext year: The Reprint Question