Writing and submitting articles to peer-reviewed journals is challenging. When I submitted my first article for a peer-reviewed journal, the process was eye-opening.

I definitely found there was more than one way to write a paper! But don’t let that stop you.

Why Is It Advantageous to Have Scholarly Articles Published in Peer-Reviewed Journals?

As a faculty member, I encourage our master’s degree and doctoral degree students to write scholarly papers and get them published in a peer-reviewed journal. However, writing a paper for a peer-reviewed journal or peer-reviewed conference publication is not like writing for a classroom assignment.

Writers of scholarly papers for peer-reviewed journals must conduct lengthy research and focus on both quality and originality. Having a paper published in a peer-reviewed journal has various advantages:

• Enhanced academic standing – The process of writing for peer-reviewed journals helps you develop a deeper understanding of your topic and field of study. It requires thorough research, critical thinking and good communication skills. In a scholarly paper, you’ll need to present complex ideas clearly and more concisely than in a normal academic paper.
• A useful contribution to existing knowledge – Publishing in peer-reviewed journals allows you to contribute to the current body of knowledge in your discipline. Your research topic should provide new insights, challenge existing theories and inspire further articles to be written.
• Professional development – The process of writing and publishing a scholarly paper helps you develop valuable business skills such as problem-solving and written/oral communication. These skills can be useful in business or academia, and they are also handy if you’re interviewing for jobs in your field. 
• Networking opportunities – Publishing in reputable journals provides you with opportunities to connect with researchers and other professionals in your field. By developing a network of like-minded people, you may hear about new career opportunities.
• Career progression – If you want to become a professor, having articles published in peer-reviewed journals is often a requirement to attain this goal. Even in non-academic careers, having published work can set you apart from coworkers.

The Steps of Writing an Article for a Peer-Reviewed Journal

If you have the drive to write a peer-reviewed article, there are various steps to follow for success:

1. Choose a current topic – Select a research topic that is both interesting and relevant to your field. Find a journal through your university’s library or other libraries and read the journal for ideas or key issues in your field. Study how the journal’s papers are commonly written.
2. Conduct thorough research – It is essential to perform a comprehensive literature review to understand the current state of research on your topic.
3. Develop a strong thesis – Formulate a clear, concise thesis statement that guides your research and writing. Good editing from your professor can be helpful.
4. Write several drafts – Write and revise your paper several times. Be sure to follow the structure of a typical research article: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
5. Seek feedback – Share your draft with faculty members for constructive feedback. Revise your paper based on their suggestions.
6. Follow journal guidelines – Carefully follow the submission guidelines, including formatting and citation styles. If you fail to follow the guidelines, there is a greater chance that your article will be rejected.
7. Submit your paper – Submit your paper to the journal you chose but be prepared for a lengthy review process. During this phase, DO NOT send your article to a second peer-reviewed journal.
8. Respond to the comments of your reviewers – If your paper is accepted with revisions, address the reviewers’ comments thoroughly and resubmit your revised paper. For a scholarly paper, you will have at least three editors from various colleges, and each editor’s comments need to be followed.
9. Don’t argue about recommendations – Each of your reviewers may have a few decades of peer-reviewed writing experience. Criticism is often hard to swallow, but it’s intended as enlightenment; those editors are giving you the benefit of their experience to help you grow.
10. Be persistent – If your paper is rejected, don’t be discouraged. Submit it to another journal, but only after you’re sure that your paper was rejected.

Writing for Peer-Reviewed Journals Can Be Satisfying

Writing papers for peer-reviewed journals might feel daunting, but you can accomplish this goal through dedication, persistence and patience. There’s also the thrill of seeing your name in print. Ultimately, you will contribute to the existing academic literature on your field, and readers will benefit from your insights.