What Editors Want

An Author's Guide to Scientific Journal Publishing

Benson Philippa J., Silver Susan C.

Research publications have always been key to building a successful career in science, yet little if any formal guidance is offered to young scientists on how to get research papers peer reviewed, accepted, and published by leading scientific journals. With "What Editors Want", Philippa J. Benson and Susan C. Silver, two well-respected editors from the science publishing community, remedy that situation with a clear, straightforward guide that will be of use to all scientists.

Benson and Silver instruct readers on how to identify the journals that are most likely to publish a given paper, how to write an effective cover letter, how to avoid common pitfalls of the submission process, and how to effectively navigate the all-important peer review process, including dealing with revisions and rejection. With supplemental advice from more than a dozen experts, this book will equip scientists with the knowledge they need to usher their papers through publication.

Content

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Who cares what Editors want?
Chapter 2. Changing perspective from author to Editor
Chapter 3. Judging the newness of your science
Chapter 4. Authorship issues
Chapter 5. Choosing the right journal
Chapter 6. Understanding impact factors
Chapter 7. How to write a cover letter
Chapter 8. Preparing for manuscript submission or "What Editors wish you knew"
Chapter 9. Who does what in peer review
Chapter 10. Dealing with decision letters
Chapter 11. Ethical issues in publishing
Chapter 12. Trends in scientific publishing

Appendix 1 Resources for improving science writing
Appendix 2 Databases with free access to articles or abstracts
Appendix 3 Presubmission checklist
Appendix 4 Free and low-cost image resources
Appendix 5 The Brussels Declaration

References
Index

Reviews

"With this book, Benson and Silver have provided a guide to the art of preparing and submitting scientific manuscripts, with particular focus on the editor's likely requirements. But they have done much more than that: they have placed their manual in the wider context of the need for science to be communicated to the public beyond the narrower realm of research. I shall certainly be recommending 'What Editors Want' to authors, particularly those at an early point in their career. And as an editor, I shall even use this book to remind myself what I want" – Andrew Sugden, deputy editor, Science

"'What Editors Want' contains clear and practical advice on how to get your manuscript published in the peer reviewed literature. Packed with straightforward advice and insights, it will be useful for new and experienced authors alike" – Peter Binfield, publisher and co-founder, PeerJ

"This book is a great resource for young scientists as they begin their career-long 'publish or perish' marathon, and for those researchers unfamiliar with the Western STM publishing process. Journal quality is enhanced, and my job as a managing editor is made considerably easier, by authors who choose the right journal, understand the peer review and revision process, and take the time to learn and adhere to a journal's specific requirements. The section on new trends in scientific publishing is especially helpful in this era of rapid changes in how scientific knowledge is shared across the globe" – Lyne Yohe, managing editor, Geology

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