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Interested in Getting Published: Strategies for Success

Southern Association for College Student Affairs Officers, Myrtle Beach, SC, 2005 Conference

Presented by Members of the Editorial Board of the College Student Affairs Journal

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Monday, Nov. 7, 9:00am-10:00am Sessions Four

Tony W. Cawthon. Ph.D. Pamela A. Havice, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Assistant Professor

Clemson University Clemson University

Steven M. Janosik, Ph.D. Dennis Gregory, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Associate Professor

Virginia Tech Old Dominion University

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Outline

Introductions The Writing Process Writing Opportunities The Publication Process Q & A References

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Why would SA individuals want to write for publications?

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Why would one want to write?

Make contributions to field Expected/required Resume Career Advancement Enjoyment Skill you have Asked to do so

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Six Myths that Haunt WritersK. Henson

I am not sure I have what it takes I do not have time to write I do not have anything worth writing about The editor will reject my work because my

name is not familiar to them My vocabulary and writing skills are too limited In my field there are few opportunities to

publish

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Successful Writing

Writing is hard work– Self discipline– Sacrifice– Rejection is high

Successful writing can be learned

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Parts of a Manuscript (Handout)

Title Author Name/Information Abstract Intro Method Results Discussion References

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Range of Options Available

Range of Options (Handout)

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Pre-Submission: Issues to Consider National Journals Reputations

– National, Regional, State

Focus– Practitioners– Faculty and

Researchers– Style/format/content

Shoot for journal above expectations

Consider turn around time

Acceptance rate Who are

authors/reviewers? Understand the

review process Follow APA

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The Writing Process: Finding a Topic

Pick a manageable and interesting topic Pick a topic that will generate an article

which is congruent with the types of articles that publication accepts

Avoid duplicate topics Current interest topics Have a group leader

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Getting Started: Preparation

Find your best time-be realistic, honor it Proper tools-dictionary, post it notes,

etc. Keep highlighter close Keep files of quotes Writing first sentence is hardest

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Getting Started: Preparation

Read, read, and continue to read Know your audience Follow deadlines/guidelines as stated Proof read and proof read again Select journal in advance

Henson, K. T. (1999). Writing for professional education. MA: Allyn & Bacon.

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Writing Styles

Tips

–Write clearly

–Write concisely

–Write positively

–Treat genders equally

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Writing Style Tips

Be precise Avoid ambiguity Orderly manner Economy/smoothness of expression Avoid passive voice Get feedback from others One draft not enough

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Proofreading

Have others read your work Make a line screen Look carefully at beginning of everything Errors come in clusters Be conscious of typeface changes Check numbering Add up all numbers Reference page Vary your proofreading routine

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Writing Opportunities (Handout)

Research Journals– The College Student Affairs Journal-SACSA– The NASPA Journal-NASPA– The Journal of College Student Development-

ACPA– Journal of Higher Education– The Journal of College and University Student

Housing-ACUHO-I– The Journal of College Orientation and Transition-

NODA Magazines

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What do we mean when we say: Is a Journal Refereed?

*Masked/blind review on both ends (author/reviewers)*Sign of credibility and reputation

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Editorial Boards

Editor (1)– Function

Associate or Assistant Editors (1-3)– Function

Reviewers (8-30)– Function

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Submission Process

Journal Process– Received by editor, assigned a number (prefer

electronic copies)– Editor Creates a file– Acknowledged by editor-2-3 months– Editor removes any identifying marks/creates

review sheet– Editor sends copy of manuscript and editorial

comment sheet to reviewers (teams or individuals)– Usually 6 weeks to complete the review and return

with detailed edits

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Writing Opportunities: Publication Process and Timeline

– Editor • receives edited comments (comments for author

and comments for editor only)• reads article for the first time• Complies all comments into response to the

author-Issues here are many:» Decide if agree/disagree with team

recommendation» Not send the editorial sheets as is, format

varies, but key is blind review process of both ends

• Communicates with author a decision

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Writing Opportunities: Publication Process and Timeline

Decisions Include

– Accept as is

– Accept with minor revision

– Accept as abstract

– Reconsider after major revisions

– Reject If accepted, will appear in journal-process usually takes 18

months from time submitted to publication If rejected, author must decide to revise and resubmit or

send to another journal Keep Trying: Do not take Rejection and Stop

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Writing Opportunities: Publication Process and Timeline

Once accepted– Sent to publisher– Publisher edits manuscript and return to editor– Editor makes final review and returns to publisher– Publisher creates page proofs and sends to editor– Editor reviews the page proofs– Publisher prints the Journal issue– Author receives comp copies

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Editor Pet Peeves Over use of ! Use of “crutch” words Improper use of apostrophes into the

contraction “it’s” and remove them in the possessive “its”

Endless, screaming sentences that beg to become two, three or more

“Just” a word that creeps in for no reason Redundancies, i.e. “free gift”, “completely

destroyed” Redundancies in writing structures Unsupported generalities

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Questions and Answers

Your Time to Ask What You Need to Enhance Your Writing

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References: Read More About It

American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: APA.

Gray, T. (1999). “Publish, don’t perish: Twelve steps to help scholars flourish.” Journal of Staff, Program and Organizational Development, 16 (3), 135-142.

Henson, K. T. (1999). Writing for professional education. MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Mosier, R. (1990). “Writing for Publication.” Journal of College and University Student Housing, 20(2).

Rankin, E. (2001). The work of writing: Insights and strategies for academics and professionals. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Silverman, R.J. (1982). Getting started in educational journals. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.

Williams, J. (1990). Style: Toward clarity and grace. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.