When preparing to submit a publication:
- Understand the aims and scope of the journal, book series, conference, or publishing house and ensure your work is a good fit.
- Find out what types of articles the journal accepts, or what type of manuscripts the book publisher accepts.
- Understand typical publishing timelines. How long is the submission-to-publication process? How often is the journal published, the conference convened, or the publishing house releasing books? Is currency and a faster turnaround important for you/your discipline?
- Consider the readership of the journal or publishing house, and the readership you would like for your research. Likewise, consider the best research outlet for your intended audience (e.g. journal, book, professional publication).
When you have identified an outlet:
- Read the author guidelines and submission instructions and follow them.
- Look at other articles in the journal, or books from the publisher, for style and content.
- Take note of the word count for particular article types (reviews, case studies, etc).
- Make sure your references are current and relevant, and are formatted according to the prescribed citation style.