For many of us, secure employment will be contingent upon successful research, teaching, and community service. Although many are cognizant of the "publish or perish" principle operating within the academy, some may not receive formal training regarding academic publishing. This article will provide a brief overview of some issues related to developing research, writing, and publishing.

Dr. Mary Bucholtz, Professor of Linguistics at the University of California Santa Barbara suggests that emerging scholars should consider several issue related to academic publishing. To begin with, it is important to be aware of the specific expectations held by the institution where you are employed. If you are not currently employed, then consider the type of career path you plan to pursue, once you are finished with school. Typically, one can expect publishing requirements to be more demanding at departments and universities that are highly ranked, very competitive, and considered to be "Research 1". Discussing this issue with colleagues, mentors, and associates will also be useful in determining the type of career you would like to pursue and what kind of institution and department will help you achieve this.

When producing a manuscript, several challenges may emerge. Strive to see your own research process and product as unique and avoid comparing yourself to others. The quantity and content of research varies from scholar to scholar. As with many things in life, there will always be others who are more productive and creative. Spend time striving to discover research that is personally inspiring to you. As they say, "If you love what you do, you will do it well". The desire for perfection may also deter publishing success. When beginning your writing, let your ideas flow freely without stopping every other second to rethink a word choice or phrase.

Establishing the main ideas and findings of the study are at the heart of academic articles, so record the facts first and refine the presentation later. Conceptually, realize that the work you have contributed is one important piece of information and not the final conclusion on the topic of inquiry. Establish a sound and rational argument, present your findings, and summarize the contributions of your work. Also, ensure that you review your draft often to refine word choices, develop arguments, and to make sure you have a clean document that is free of typos and careless mistakes. Professional writing is equivalent to your "clothing" in the academic community and will influence how your research and professional competence are evaluated.

Establishing firm goals will also assist you in successful publishing. Often, it seems that we tend to develop our research schedule around conference or publication submission deadlines. It may be useful to come up with a long-term research plan that furthers the specific research involved in your career goals. Once you have presented an article at a conference, you should actively pursue publishing it, even if you have to submit it to several journals before it is accepted (although you should NEVER submit the same article to more than one journal at a time). Remember that the article was included in the conference and it is likely that the ideas are valuable and will make a positive contribution to the field.

You may also want to write down other research ideas that you have, even if you cannot pursue them in the present. This way, you have ideas to draw from to maintain the "publishing pipeline". Do your best to have several projects developing at the same time, yet in different stages. For instance, you may have some ideas that you are conducting background research about, while you are collecting data on another project. You may also have some articles that are under review at this time, with some that are in press.

When you are working on writing a new article or making editing changes, adapt to your individual writing style and needs. For instance, some work well in a quiet environment while others like the busy climate of a coffee shop. If you write more gradually, rather than in spurts, then allow yourself the amount of time necessary. If you need to take a break and walk around the house or office every 10 minutes, then allow yourself to do so. Bucholtz (2007) suggested that you "Allow yourself to do whatever weird thing it takes to get your writing done: buy yourself new office supplies, lock yourself in the bathroom, snack, go for a walk, talk obsessively about your project to your friends" (p. 3).

Research the relative ranking of the journals in your field and send your article to the top ranked ones, at least initially. Prior to submission, research the mission, writing, and style guidelines of the selected journal. You may want to email the editor to inquire about the relative "fit" of your article. It is considered unethical to submit an article to more than one journal at a time (although this does not apply in the case of book proposals to publishers). Generally, pulling an accepted article from a journal or book is viewed negatively.

Ideally, it is good to elicit feedback from mentors and colleagues before you submit an article for publication. Many scholars are busy, so ask whether people have time to review your work and respect their responses. You may also want to develop writing partners at your level (i.e., graduate students) who can review your work and provide suggestions and comments. When you do receive feedback from colleagues or journal reviewers, realize that during a blind review people may be very frank or even unpleasant. However, it is likely that the comments they have provided are useful. Do your best to incorporate the comments you perceive as useful into your article revisions. Also, don't get discouraged when you receive the revision comments from the editor or reviewers. Some comments may prompt you to develop arguments or make other more substantial changes, yet many times, suggested alterations involve a simple clarification or word change.

When you do receive a "Revise and Resubmit" from a journal or book editor, thank them and immediately begin to make the changes they suggest. Many times, revisions will take longer than we expect, so allow yourself the time to author an article that you are proud of and which reflects your professional expertise. When an article is rejected, revise it based upon the comments you received and send it to another journal. Rejection is a part of the process, yet you will eventually succeed. Whatever you do, avoid getting discouraged and DON'T QUIT!

In the meantime, look for paper calls or propose an edited volume. You may also want to consult Alexander and Potter's (2001) book "How to publish your communication research". This is a valuable resource which will provide you an in-depth review of various types of articles (i.e., quantitative/qualitative/theoretical), how they should be developed, and what to expect during the publishing process. Also, consult the Iowa Guide to learn more about various kinds of communication journals and what their formatting and writing expectations are. The website for the Iowa Guide is: http://fm.iowa.uiowa.edu/fmi/xsl/iowaguide/search.xsl.

The first step in successful publishing begins with the discovery of your specific research interests. Seek out projects that you find personally meaningful and be open to new inspiration along the way. As you become experienced, research and publishing will become more familiar and enjoyable. You may even find yourself mentoring other emerging scholars someday.

Alexander, A., & Potter, W.J. (2001). How to publish your communication research: An insider's guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Bucholtz, M. (2007). Tips for Academic Publishing. Retrieved on October 20th, 2008 from http://www.linguistics.ucsb.edu/faculty/bucholtz/sociocultural/publishingtips.html.