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Do you want to write an article, but you don’t where to begin?

Taylor & Francis Publishing has shared some guidelines for writing an article to publish in your journal of interest.

We summarise the practical tips that can help you get your article accepted for publication here:

• It is important to know the journal’s style very well, so read the articles they publish and pay special attention to articles from your area, what kinds of methodologies they use, and how they tend to structure and craft their papers.

• Focus on your main point (what is the key contribution from your research that you want to make sure is transmitted to readers?), and then show how your empirical evidence address your research question and adds something new to the literature – we tend to feel like we need to say a lot, but it is better to focus on a single point and develop it in a powerful way, rather than trying to cover too much.

• Don’t be afraid to explain, particularly about your methodology (although it may seem obvious to you, it is not for all your readers!).

• Clarity is key – remember that your article should be accessible to a variety of readers. Once you have the article written, share it with your colleagues and other experts to see your contributions and the story you are telling is understood by others (although we may be afraid to expose ourselves by sharing our work-in-progress with others, it is always good to see the article from different perspectives!)

• Be aware of other literature in your area – and refer to it – to demonstrate how you are building on previous work. Pay attention to what other researchers have done and what issues they have pointed out that merit further research. You can thus demonstrate in your article how you are extending previous work with new theoretical, methodological, and/or empirical contributions.

• Cite recent and relevant sources, and explain how previous articles contribute to your current research. It is important to cite articles from within the last ten years (more or less), to ensure that you are aware of the most current theories and trends. On the other hand, also take a look at the references that are repeatedly cited by other authors – it is crucial to consider the classics, as well! Ultimately, you want to familiarise yourself with the conversation on your topic and make your own contribution.

• Be original, we do not want to reinvent the wheel, rather we want our research to have an impact, both for academics and for others in society who could benefit from this knowledge. Pursue your unique ideas and build understanding of your topic.