Writing Manuscripts for Academic Journals

Writing a paper for publication is not very different from producing a product and trying to market it to the target market. This means that it is important for researchers to understand the criteria journals use to accept or reject a manuscript, in much the same way consumers decide whether to buy or not buy a product. They must understand the articles that appeal to specific journals because they are relevant and potentially interesting to the journal’s readers or “customers.” To the extent articles satisfy their readers’ “consumption” needs and are credible (e.g., peer-reviewed), they contribute to their knowledge. Therefore, the main requirements for getting a paper published include the following: understanding the needs of the journals in one’s field, knowing the type of research that contributes to a specific area, and addressing the criteria journals and their reviewers use to accept or reject a manuscript.