A word to the wise: Publishing in international journals

“How the mighty are fallen”. That phrase came to mind after I received an e-mail that rejected yet another of my research articles.

As a new PhD graduate, I had underestimated the process of publishing, particularly in an international journal. The intoxicating feeling of obtaining a doctorate had duped me into believing that it would be child’s play.

If one’s 80,000-word thesis could impress a panel of professors with superior expertise, surely one’s 6,000-word article could do the same?

How narcissistic and naïve I was. After 15 months of harrowing rejections, many shed tears and sessions with my exhausted therapist, I finally published in a high-impact, international journal.

Below, I recount my experience. I hope other young academics can derive valuable lessons from my tale of woe and bypass my pitfalls.

Six rejections

As aforesaid, I grossly overestimated myself. As a lover of language and words, I was convinced that a few ornate anecdotes about my research findings would enthral any journal editor.

Therefore, I was aghast at the lengthy critique my first article garnered. I had selected an international journal that was favoured by a professor whose work I admired.

Based on the quality of their feedback, all three reviewers had read my article painstakingly. Therefore, I knew that there was no foul play. Consequently, I decided to incorporate their suggestions into a new article.

Surprisingly, it got rejected again. The feedback was constructive, yet I remained bewildered by the rebuff. My third, fourth, fifth and sixth article submission attempts were also rejected.

I then decided to attend a publishing workshop that was facilitated by a distinguished professor. Two days later, I applied his PowerPoint presentation to the abandoned drafts of various articles.

Lo and behold, this seventh submission was accepted with minor revisions. Three months later, it was finally published.

Lessons learned

This mortifying affair taught me a few lessons. Firstly, one needs to familiarise oneself with the core objectives of the journal you want your work to be published in.

Figure out what it is trying to convey through the articles that it publishes. In this way, you can ensure that your writing voice is congruent with its target audience.

Some journals permit moderate artistic flair from authors. Others are partial to a crisp and concise tone. Therefore, conform to their house style.

Also, try to adhere to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines.

Secondly, never be disheartened by the reviewers’ evaluation of your article.

Bear in mind that the review process is anonymous. Therefore, their criticism is not a personal attack on you, nor is it a metric that measures your intellectual ability.

They are merely appraising a single submission, which can usually be improved by integrating their pointers.

On the rare occasion when the commentary feels callous, ignore it and remember that every field has its eccentrics.

Lastly, ask for help. Most scholars self-isolate and flounder by themselves. However, wise counsel from experienced colleagues can cushion the blow of the most scathing article review.

This article was first published in the 2021 edition of the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors’ Association of South Africa (ANFASA) magazine and has been reproduced with permission.

University World News would like to expand on the tips provided in this article. Academics and journal editors who want to contribute could send their input to cornia@universityworldnews.com.