Submitting a manuscript to an unsuitable journal is a common mistake. It can be frustrating and time-consuming when a paper is not accepted for publication. It is worthwhile to spend some time finding the right journal for your work.
When choosing a journal, consider the following:
If you have a journal you're interested in, look for the Information for Authors section on the journal's website. Most journals place this information prominently to guide prospective authors to place their manuscripts with the journal and to follow publication directions in terms of style, subject scope, citation style, and how to submit.
Here are some examples from a journal called Future Cities and Environment:
First, a statement about who they are, their history, and what types of subjects they publish:
This information shows the journal's scope. In other words, does your topic fit in with what the journal typically publishes?
While you are on the Information for Authors page, you can also find an overview of their peer review process and other guidelines:
Understanding how review works for the journal is important because, as an author, you'll need to know how your work will be evaluated.
Finally, review your journal's submission guidelines, such as paper formatting regulations and preferred citation style. The more you fit your manuscript to the journal's specifications before submission, the better your chances for sailing through the review and acceptance process!
Some journals require page fees, fees for illustrations or color figures, and more! Before submitting your article for publication, check the journal's guidelines page for information about fees that might be required.
For example, some (but not all) Open Access journals charge publication fees so that your article can be free for anyone to read after it is published. is to make scholarly information available to readers for free. Luckily, ISU has agreements in place with some publishers to cover this cost. Check out our website for more information:
Okay, now that you've got some journals in mind, you need to find quick facts about them, such as:
As you review the policies and practices at the journal you are reviewing, watch out for anything that might look strange or confusing. This isn't necessarily a reason for alarm-- some journals have confusing websites, and that's okay!
However, if you notice that the journal you are evaluating:
they may not be a good choice for your research!
Check out our Predatory Publishers Guide for more information on what to watch out for:
The library's collections and services are available to all ISU students, faculty, and staff and Parks Library is open to the public.
