Navigating the World of Academic Journals

I'm a busy bee. A very busy bee. Working full-time and pursuing my MBA all while trying to still have a social life? Some people may find that torturous, but that's my happy place. So, when the opportunity to present at the Women's Leadership Summit at Saunders College of Business landed in my lap, I jumped on it faster than you can say "professional development" (Side note: Does anyone else immediately start planning the next thing before they've even finished the current thing? It's a problem...or is it a superpower?) Anyway, my "what's next?" radar pinged just in time for an email about a writing retreat focused on publication, led by none other than Mary Jane Curry, author of The A to W of Academic Literacy and A Scholar’s Guide to Getting Published in English. Clearly, the universe was telling me something.

More Than Just Writing

Curry's approach, based on a Professional Academic Writing in a Global Context (PAW) study, which focused on 15 teachers from Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Slovakia, emphasized that publishing is a social practice. It's not just about perfect grammar and stylish prose (though those definitely help); it's about understanding the conventions of your discipline, connecting with your audience, and navigating the sometimes-treacherous waters of academic journals. She introduced the acronym AIMRDC (Abstract, Intro, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion), which is now my new favorite organizational writing tool. Think of it like a roadmap for academic writing.

Finding Your Community

One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of academic discourse communities. These are the networks of scholars who share and exchange information within a specific field. Think of it as the academic version of a book club, but instead of discussing the latest thriller, you're debating the merits of different research methodologies. Identifying and engaging with these communities, whether online or in person, is crucial for getting your work published. Curry highlighted resources like Academia.edu, Researchgate.net, Google Scholar, and ORCID (which I immediately signed up for – gotta get that academic street cred!). The cool thing was, even though I was at a table with grad students specializing in computer science and biology (totally different worlds from my business focus!), we were all able to offer each other helpful suggestions. It really drove home the point that while the specifics might vary across disciplines, the desire to share our work and contribute to the conversation is universal. It's important to do your research on what is the status quo for your discipline. For example, in some tech fields, getting a paper accepted to a conference is considered a huge win.

Choosing Your Battlefield (aka Journal)

Another critical step is selecting the right target journal. This is where the "know your audience" mantra really comes into play. It's like choosing the right outfit for a party – you wouldn't wear a ballgown to a casual barbecue, right? Similarly, you wouldn't submit your groundbreaking research on multigenerational mentorship to a journal focused on, say, astrophysics. (Unless, ofcourse, you've somehow managed to connect mentorship with black holes, which would be very impressive.) Curry stressed the importance of reading the journal's aims and scope, examining its recent publications, and even reaching out to the editor with a query letter to gauge their interest in your topic. It's all about finding the perfect fit.

The Revision Rollercoaster

The retreat also provided valuable insights into the revision process. Curry encouraged us to embrace feedback, even if it stings a little (or a lot), and to use a "Feedback Response Table" to organize our responses to reviewers' comments. She emphasized the importance of clear communication with the editor throughout the revision process. This is the part where it's easy to get discouraged. You pour your heart and soul into your research, only to have someone point out all the things you could have done better. But remember, feedback is a gift! It's an opportunity to strengthen your work and make it even more impactful.

The AI Elephant in the Room

Of course, no discussion of academic publishing today would be complete without addressing the role of artificial intelligence (AI). Curry acknowledged the potential benefits of AI tools for synthesizing research, improving writing quality, and even facilitating the review process. However, she also cautioned against the ethical concerns surrounding AI, such as plagiarism, the environmental impact of large language models, and the potential devaluation of human effort. It's a brave new world, and we need to navigate it carefully.

My Personal Takeaways

This writing retreat was more than just a learning experience; it was a call to action. I left feeling empowered to take the next steps in my publishing journey. As previously mentioned, I'm currently working on a presentation to give at the Women's Leadership Summit about multigenerational mentorship, and I plan to use the strategies I learned to transform it into a publishable article. Baby steps first! I'm also excited to explore the resources and networks Curry introduced us to. The retreat reminded me that publishing is not just about disseminating my research; it's about contributing to the ongoing conversations in my field and connecting with a wider community of scholars.