Writers and potential authors may sometimes perceive many obstacles to writing for publication. Such obstacles include a lack of time, fear of rejection, not being sure where to start, or the overall length of the process. However, writing for publication can be a very rewarding experience. There are several reasons to consider writing for publication because it provides opportunities to:
This chapter discusses the planning, preparation, and process for submitting a manuscript for publication. Also, the common types of articles that WOC nurses might consider writing are described.
Writing starts with an idea, and every journal values original data. Preparation and planning are keys to developing a successful publication (Gray, 2010). When writing for publication, it is important to determine the type of article and the purpose and make a brief outline of the key content areas to include. To choose the appropriate journal for the article, consider the target audience that will have an interest in your information (eg, general nursing audience, WOC nurses, home health care, acute care). After you have a general idea of the content and purpose of the article, choose a journal that is the best match for your information and check the guidelines and instructions for authors of that particular journal.
New authors can gain helpful information to assist them in writing by reviewing articles, such as those by Moos (2011) and Redmond (2002), about writing for publication and how to simplify the writing process. Also, seeking a mentor or coach for guidance can help make writing for publication a reality for the novice (Moos, 2011; Redmond, 2002).
For the WOC nurse who is a novice at writing for publication, a good place to start is with the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing (JWOCN). The JWOCN is the professional journal of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society, which seeks contributions from its members and has several types of articles that it publishes on a regular basis from experienced authors as well as novices. The JWOCN seeks clinically based and professional practice manuscripts related to WOC nursing practice, administration, and education. Original research reports, review articles, clinical series, and case presentations are welcome.
“Information for Authors” is included in most journals or on their Web sites. For example, the JWOCN provides information for authors in each print issue and online (JWOCN, 2012). Some journals publish this information once or twice per year. It is important to meticulously follow the reference style specified in the author instructions as well as other guidelines including:
Before preparing and submitting a manuscript to a professional journal, it is helpful to consider the following questions regarding your topic and manuscript:
A query letter can be sent to a journal's editor if the author is unsure of the appropriateness of a manuscript for that journal or if the journal has recently published a manuscript with a similar topic. A query letter should contain an abstract, summary, or outline of the proposed (or completed) manuscript. The grammar, style, and appearance of the query letter are important because they are the editor's first impression of the author.
There are many different types of articles, and journals vary in what they accept. WOC nurses should consider developing the type of article that best meets their interests and abilities.
Some nurses are able to successfully convert an academic paper to an article. This could be from a paper that was developed for an advanced degree, thesis, or dissertation. The paper could be a review article or a research report. It is not always easy to turn a student paper into a journal article. A journal article is often different from a student paper in terms of length and detail, depth of methodological discussion, language and style, interest value of the topic, and the target audience (Webb, 2009). Therefore, as previously mentioned, it is important to review the publisher's guidelines in advance and query the journal's editor if there are questions about the suitability of the planned manuscript for publication. The following discussion provides an overview of common types of articles (Gray, 2010; JWOCN, 2012).
Ideas can come from posters presented at conferences, discussion on a forum, or day-to-day practice; it does not need to be research based. You can base your article on your own clinical experiences and everyday observations. Write it up as a single case study or series of cases. Readers like to hear about everyday clinical issues. The content outline for this type of feature includes the following elements:
Literature review articles are useful resources for readers because they summarize existing knowledge and research about a topic and help identify knowledge gaps to stimulate future research (Webb, 2009). A review article can be an integrative review or a systematic review.
A narrative or integrative review is less systematic and inclusive and might include qualitative as well as quantitative studies. A traditional review paper includes an unstructured abstract, 2 to 3 sentences introducing the topic, 1 to 2 sentences providing a rationale/why the topic is important, and concludes with a final sentence beginning with “This article will review….” The remainder of the article is structured as Introduction, subheads, and Conclusion. The inclusion of tables, figures, and boxes is encouraged to enhance the text.
A systematic review uses a highly structured format and process. It is a type of research project and most often focuses on quantitative studies (Webb, 2009). It is important to put the words “systematic review” in your title. The format for a systematic review includes the following content:
Articles reporting data from original research studies receive the highest priority for publication. IMRAD is a standard format for presenting research reports: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion (American Psychological Association [APA], 2010). The article also includes an abstract, a conclusion, references, tables, and appendices, as needed. Follow the IMRAD formula and write in the following order:
Check the word-limit requirements for abstracts of the journal to which you are submitting the article. While the abstract will be placed at the beginning of the manuscript, it is often written last to ensure consistency with the final content. The basic components of the abstract for a research report include the following content:
Some journals, including the JWOCN, specify that reports of research trials follow the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement, which is used worldwide to improve the reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs; Schulz, Altman, & Moher, 2010). The CONSORT Statement is an evidence-based set of recommendations for reporting RCTs. It provides a standard way for authors to prepare reports of RCT results to facilitate complete and transparent reporting. It also aids in critical appraisal and interpretation of results. Additional information about the CONSORT Statement can be accessed at the Website: http://www.consort-statement.org.
Authors should format and organize the manuscript to enhance clarity and readability, peer review, editing, and final printing (APA, 2010). Most journals have specific criteria for the preferred structure or format including typeface and font size, spacing, margins, placement of tables or figures, etc. It is the responsibility of the author(s) to adhere to ethical and legal standards for scholarly publications and to comply with policies established by the publisher. These standards include ethical conduct of research, avoiding conflict of interest and bias in publication, properly citing references, and obtaining permission for using materials from other sources to avoid plagiarism or copyright violations (APA, 2010).
A title page is generally required to accompany the manuscript. The title page commonly includes the complete title of the manuscript, author(s) names, credentials, and affiliations, name and address for the key contact for correspondence, address for reprints, and acknowledgement of all sources of funding or support that require disclosure. Some thought and attention should be given when choosing the final title of the manuscript. The title should be clear, descriptive, and informative. The title should also contain the essential key words that readers might use as search terms when looking for information about a specific topic (Webb, 2009).
Some journals also request that the authors develop a separate list of 3 to 5 key learning points that readers should derive from the article. The list of the key points is generally placed before the reference list in the manuscript (JWOCN, 2012).
Before final submission of the manuscript, check the accuracy of spelling, page numbers and running heads, and references. The references in the final reference list should be the same as those cited in the article, and, conversely, you should not have citations in the body of the article that are not in the final reference list (Webb, 2009).
Check the publisher's preferred method for submission of the manuscript (eg, print copy by regular mail, e-mail, or online submission to a Web site). In the final submission, include a cover letter to the publisher to provide the following information:
Publication is important for WOC nurses to share knowledge and build the evidence that can benefit others and improve practice. Following is a list of general tips for preparing and writing for publication (Brink & Wood, 2001; Webb, 2009; WOCN Society, 2005):
It is important that WOC nurses share their knowledge and expertise with other WOC nurses and other health care providers to advance the science and art of practice. There are multiple opportunities for WOC nurses to publish and present about their practice or research. For experienced as well as novice authors, the key to success in publishing is planning and preparation, which includes careful attention to the author guidelines from the journal or publisher where they plan to submit the manuscript.
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Brink, P., & Wood, P. (2001). Basic steps in planning nursing research: From question to proposal (5th ed). Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Gray, M. (2010, June 14). Turn your idea into a successful article: How to get published. The WOCN/WCET Joint Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. (2012). JWOCN online submission and review system. Retrieved November 2012 from http://www.editorialmanager.com/jwocn
Moos, D. D. (2011). Novice authors … What you need to know to make writing for publication smooth. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 26(5), 352–356. doi:10.1016/j.jopan.2011.05.007
Redmond, M. C. (2002). Simplifying the writing process for the novice writer. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 17(5), 310–317. doi:10.1053/jpan.2002.35368
Schulz, K. F., Altman, D. G., & Moher, D. (2010). CONSORT 2010 statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials. Annals of Internal Medicine, 152(11), 726–732.
Webb, C. (2009). Writing for publication. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved November 2012 from http://www.nurseauthoreditor.com/WritingforPublication2009.pdf
West, S., King, V., Carey, T. S., Lohr, K. N., McKoy, N., Sutton, S. F., & Lux, L. (2002). Systems to rate the strength of scientific evidence (Evidence Report Technology Assessment No. 47, AHRQ Publication No. 02-E016). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Prepared by the Research Triangle Institute-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-97-0011.) Retrieved November 2012 from http://www.thecre.com/pdf/ahrq-system-strength.pdf
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. (2005). Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society professional practice manual. Mt. Laurel, NJ: Author.