WK 36

What Editors Want: An Author's Guide to Scientific Publishing

Who cares what Editors want? Well, you do - if you want to publish your work in a scientific journal. Research publications are key to building a successful career in science, yet early-career researchers usually receive little or no formal instruction on how to get their papers peer reviewed, accepted, and published by leading scientific journals. This year’s workshop, geared towards students and early-career researchers, will provide clear information and guidance on topics such as Peer Review (why does it take so long to review a paper?), How to Respond to Decision Letters (what do you do when the peer reviewers’ comments contradict each other?), Ethical Issues in Publishing (how to spot a conflict of interest at 300 paces), and much more. This workshop will provide insight into the Editor’s thinking, each time he or she looks at a manuscript and the peer reviewers' reports on it. Understanding what Editors want gives authors the chance to avoid some common pitfalls associated with publishing papers.