2 questions about submitting articles to journals

[HealthShepherd]

Hello all. I am a full-time hospital RN in critical care who finished a BSCN program a year ago. I also have a very modest side career as a writer.

My favourite nursing journal (Neonatal Network) has a lot of articles which are not reports on new research, but rather literature reviews or educational overviews of specific conditions. I'm interested in doing some writing along those lines and submitting them for publication.

1. Do academic nursing journals pay for the articles they print?

2. When deciding which morificecripts to print, do they consider the writer's credentials, or judge the work on its own merits? I have no doubt that I could write an article that measures up to the literary and scientific quality of what I'm reading; but I'm not seeing any other BSCNs as authors, and I don't want to go through the work of writing an article if it won't be considered because of my educational status.

Thanks,

Rhymeswithlibrarian

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Rhymes: here are the official guidelines for authors for that particular journal: http://www.neonatalnetwork.com/nn3/glines.pdf

http://mulford.meduohio.edu/instr/

And here is the best database of journal guidelines for health sciences authors.

I've been told when in doubt, use the Vancouver method: http://www.icmje.org/

Some journals pay for articles, and some don't. All journals have guidelines and faqs for authors, though. Good luck with your project!

[marachne]

BBFRN, what great resources!

Yes, always the first thing to do is find the "instructions for authors" of the publication you are submitting to.

The next thing is to read, really carefully the journal so you get a sense of its voice, tone, and audience (which it sounds like Rhymes has done)

I have not personally heard of any peer-reviewed journals paying for morificecripts -- I think that is because publication is part of what is expected of certain professionals (academics & researchers). Just like the ordinary presenter at a conference doesn't get paid to attend.

Something to be aware of is that it is very, very rare in a peer-reviewed journal to be accepted outright. Usually, if not rejected out of hand, you get a "accepted with revisions" You'll get notes from the reviewers of what they have issues with. Then, as the author you decide if you are going to make changes or justify your decision: one way or another you must address all issues/concerns the reviewers raise.

From what I've heard and my (admittedly limited) experience, you get the morificecript back, fume and the @#$^* idiots, maybe even have a little pity party....and then you pick up you morificecript and the comments and start making changes. And then write the most obsequious cover letter for the rewrite (ok, this is not necessary, but placating tone probably helps, especially when you're pushing back on some of the requested revisions).

I think some reviews are blind, others are not, so credentials can come into play, but from the instructions to the authors for Neonatal Network, that doesn't seem to be the case. If you're concerned, a letter of inquiry might be helpful.

Good luck! It's kind of a thrill to author a published morificecript in a peer-reviewed journal. I have my name on one that I didn't do much work, but we just got one accepted in The Gerontologist (post revisions) that I worked hard on and I am so excited.