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Writing A Journal Article: Guidance For Novice Authors: Continuing Professional Development
Writing A Journal Article: Guidance For Novice Authors: Continuing Professional Development
Writing A Journal Article: Guidance For Novice Authors: Continuing Professional Development
4 Page 48
Writing a journal article
CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
4 Page 49
Read Brenda Chivimas
4 Page 50
Guidelines on
multiple choice practice profile on how to write a
questionnaire ethical practice practice profile
Introduction
More than 40 years ago, the philosopher
and writer Idries Shah cautioned against the
unconsidered burgeoning of information,
FIGURE 1
A summary of writing and publishing processes
The time required at each stage of the writing and publishing process varies, depending on numerous
variables, for example single versus multiple authors, the type of article, the time required to research it
and the peer-review process. However, the time between submission of the first draft of the article to the
editor and publication, is typically measured in months, unless the article has been commissioned for
a specific journal issue.
Article conception
Understanding your motives for writing; developing a focus, scope and purpose for the article;
identifying the most appropriate readership and the most appropriate journal for publication.
Design
Deciding whether you will invite others to write with you. For novice authors, writing with more
experienced colleagues, a course tutor or lecturer can be a good way to start and generally
increases your chances of publication. However, you must be prepared to take responsibility for
a portion of the draft and discussion work involved. It may take longer to agree the content and
details of the article when there are multiple authors. Identify informal critical readers who are
willing to review your draft before submission to a journal. Research what information is required to
write the article. Create a plan and decide the content to be included in each section of the article.
Contact a member of the editorial team to discuss your ideas or proposed article.
reader already knows. Complex information debates and arguments are developed in the
can be shared with the readership of a middle (main body), and the main points are
specialist journal. If the article is aimed at a summarised at the end (conclusion) it is more
wider readership, however, then the number likely the article will be accepted for publication.
of points discussed will need to be fewer Planning the article is important,
and explanations developed more fully. The particularly for the novice author. Without a
article should cover less material but more plan that sets out sections, proposed content
clearly, making fewer assumptions about and relevant references, there is a chance that
the readers existing knowledge. the article will become too long, lose focus
4Does
the intended journal publish the type and prove difficult to edit to the required word
of articles that I believe should be written? count. You should indicate the planned number
Reading the journal will help you to decide of words for each section and check this as your
this, whether it focuses on professional writing progresses (Box 5).
and practical issues, or whether there is a The plan, which will have references added
greater focus on abstract and philosophical before writing begins, has three important
information. Neither one of these is superior; characteristics. First, the number of main
it is rather a matter of deciding whether the points to be made is modest, typically two
journal serves the purpose of your article per section. Articles that cover too much
and whether it will convey information that ground can seem superficial and there may
you believe may serve nurses or healthcare be a temptation to write in a shorthand way.
professionals well (Box 4). Shorthand writing is typified by paragraphs
Complete time out activity 2 that have several subjects and that lead the
reader through a series of rapid cognitive leaps
as ideas are shared (Box 6). Such shorthand
Drafting the article writing is often the product of authors
Although journals may state that conventional panicking, as they remember all that they
headings and sections should be used within had intended to address. A novice author
particular types of articles, such as research
studies or literature reviews, it is important to BOX 4
remember the purpose of the article should also
guide the structure of the text. Drafting a journal Caitlins journal selection
article is a process whereby the purpose of the Caitlin selects Nursing Standard as the most
work is made apparent, in which information appropriate journal for her intended article on
is shared in a clear sequence, and one that helps the following grounds:
the reader to understand what knowledge you 4The journal meets the needs of a wide variety of
as the author are trying to convey. If you have nurses who practise rehabilitation in a range of
settings worldwide.
structured the work well the purpose of the
4The journal publishes a range of articles, but
article is clear at the outset (introduction), ideas, there is consistent emphasis on information that
empowers and enables nurses to work
more effectively.
BOX 3 4Caitlin believes that what she has to share can
The purpose of Caitlins journal article be conveyed clearly within the word limit.
4The journal articles are peer reviewed (at
Having spent some time thinking about her intended article, Caitlin has decided least two peer reviewers examine the work
she wants to help nurses to understand the psychological factors that can independently). Caitlin understands that this
undermine patient engagement in rehabilitation. Although she could write about review process is important in ensuring that her
assessing, teaching and motivating patients, it is the problem of understanding article is accurate, provides useful information,
why psychology can undermine patient engagement that she believes most and includes seminal and recent work in this area.
perplexes nurses. Her local consultations with colleagues confirm the need 4The choice of journal fits with the intended
for additional information on this subject, and when she discusses this idea in purpose of Caitlins article. On another occasion,
an email with the journal editor, she receives a positive response. Caitlin now she might target a different journal with another
begins to identify the main factors as she understands them, mindful that she article and a quite different purpose. Caitlin
believes she can only discuss three or four of these adequately in a 3,000-word submits her work to only one journal at a time,
article. Factors that seem most prominent include fear of harm or failure, waiting for the editors response before deciding
misunderstanding of the patients role, confusion over requirements (mixed staff whether to offer her work to an alternative
messages), and what she calls change overload (the pace of what the patient journal. Submission to multiple journals at the
must accommodate and do). Although not an expert, Caitlin has determined the same time is likely to waste editorial time, cause
focus and scope of her article, and identified who the readers will be. confusion and may result in a breach of copyright.
After the informal review, the article is consultation. Peer reviewers (two or more) are
revised and written acknowledgement added tasked with reading the work against review
regarding any contributions made by the criteria set by the journal. These criteria
critical reader. Errors in grammar or syntax include the clarity and accuracy of the article
might have been identified and should be and its aim, its relevance to nursing practice,
corrected. The critical reader may also advise use of the literature, and clear use of tables,
you on your writing style. Sentences may have figures and scenarios, all of which should
been overly long and convoluted, which may support rather than detract from the article.
mean it is difficult to convey exact meaning. Where research is reported, questions will
5 Who might you
Short sentences written in plain English are be asked about the credibility of the research
trust to be an informal
easier to understand. If you have not asked design and the claims made.
critical reader of your
permission to use quotations, figures, tables Peer reviewers use their experience of nursing
draft article? What
or diagrams from other publications, this and writing to examine the information
qualities do you seek
needs to be obtained. The article submitted presented. Importantly, the role of the
in a critical reader?
to a journal will be checked for plagiarism by
Is he or she good at
comparing it with other published work, often
writing? You will need
using plagiarism detection software, to ensure
BOX 7
to schedule a review Responses to Caitlins submitted article
the author has acknowledged all sources
meeting with the
correctly and that new and independent Caitlin received a letter from the journal editor
critical reader after
writing is presented. asking her to revise the submitted article,
any informal review
Once the work is submitted to the journal, using the written feedback from the two peer
of your work to discuss
a second and formal review process begins reviewers for guidance. She noted the following:
the article in relation
(Watson 2012b). This formal review process 4Both reviewers wanted her to review sections
to your stated plan. of her writing where it was not clear how the
is usually more demanding than the informal
references were being used, for example to
support her arguments or to offer contrary
BOX 6 view points.
Shorthand and clear paragraphs 4Both reviewers liked the structure of her work,
but identified deductions in her conclusion that
Below are two author versions of written work on psychological problems that didnt seem to fit clearly with the preceding
can limit patient involvement in care planning. information. She was asked to check and
Shorthand paragraph, in which many ideas are condensed into one revise this.
paragraph 4Reviewer 1 alerted her to some recent policies
Patients experience psychological problems that can undermine their ability to on patient consultation and engagement in care
negotiate care with the nurse. Frequently, these are founded on an uncertainty planning, and suggested that she needed to
of role, including fears about how they are meant to behave. Other issues include discuss this in her article.
fear of not having behaved as the nurse expects, including being chastised for 4Reviewer 1 encouraged her to link some of her
their lifestyle. Patients may switch from being passive to assertive. All those points to psychological theories that helped
involved will have different perceptions of what care should be are acted out in to explain patient difficulties, for example
the care relationship. Understanding the patients confusion is an essential skill concerning group compliance.
for nurses who wish to ensure that care is dignified. 4Reviewer 2 asked Caitlin to consider whether
This paragraph is motivated by the authors anxiety to cover more ground. It she thought the case made was unduly
has several foci: first, the origins of the patients psychological problems (two optimistic with regard to how best to respond
are introduced); second, ambivalence regarding whether the patient should to the patients difficulties.
act assertively or passively; third, the possible sequelae of role ambiguity; and, 4Reviewer 2 welcomed the practical focus
fourth, the nurses response. Each of these subjects could warrant a paragraph of the article and valued the fact that it
of its own. It is hard for the reader to follow the authors train of thought, centred on practice experience rather than
except perhaps that he or she is offering an overview of the issues. rehabilitation theory.
Caitlin incorporated the reviewers
Clear paragraph, designed to help the reader understand the point being made recommendations within the article and
Patients are sometimes confused about how they are meant to behave in a submitted her revised version. As part of the
care relationship with the nurse. They may have been socialised to think of the notes, she explained that she had now linked
patient role as a passive one. They may believe that they should listen, learn and her work briefly to two psychological theories,
act on the direction of healthcare staff. When a nurse invites them to be more a compromise that improved the work, but
forthright about their needs, to state what would help them best, they can be which did not complicate the article unduly.
taken aback by such a suggestion. They are not accustomed to being an equal Subsequently, the second version of the article
partner in care. was accepted for publication and progressed to
This paragraph has a single focus the ambiguity of patient role expectations. the copy editing stage, during which the copy
It explains why the ambiguity might arise through past socialisation of the editor worked with Caitlin to refine her article
patient and the nurses expectation of partnering in care. before publication.
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