Start your love story with journals

Whether you’re completely new to publishing, or are getting back onto the publishing scene after a break, there are a few things you should bear in mind before getting started.

After a thorough review of the literature, my conclusion is to keep MEETIC advice for dating, but applied to journals/editors instead of people:

• Stay in control. (Heh, heh, …. always under control!).

• Keep it real: You get what you give. Honesty and communication have often been viewed as the cornerstones of a happy relationship, so by being honest about yourself and what you’re looking for in a journal from the start, you’ll have a better chance of meeting a journal who’s right for you. (Target journals which fit your research quality and your curriculum excellence).

• Get the most from your time. If you want to catch editors’ eyes and stand out from the crowd, it pays to be specific in your interests and to highlight the qualities you and your research have. (Submit well crafted papers).

• Trust your instincts. Love generally happens over time, so if a journal you’ve never met or have recently made contact with asks you for money, they probably don’t have the best intention. (Wise piece of advice! Though I don’t necessarily agree with it regarding journals).

• Be Date Smart. Meeting good journals for the first time can be extremely exciting, but be sure to keep your feet on the ground and stay sober throughout the date. (Heed what editors say, be positive and answer always in time, either accepted the paper with changes or rejected).

• Long Distance Journals. Fifty years ago, the idea of ‘courting’ journals ‘who lived’ in the next town (much less across the globe) was pretty much unheard of. Today, technology has made it possible to publish in journals all over the world, and we constantly hear of inspiring long-distance and international journal love stories.

Every day, many academics successfully find love with journals on Gaudeamus, so why not get started now?