So, You Want to Write? A JSARP inspired Writing Workshop

JSARP Editors and Editorial Board Members

Writing for professional publication is an important and useful skill for student affairs practitioners and faculty members. This writing workshop will introduce writers new to professional writing to the processes of writing, submission, and publication in professional journals. A major workshop goal will be to de-mystify the publication process such that participant writers feel confident about their potential to publish.

Abstract:

1. Educate participants on the processes of topic generation, manuscript production (including motivation), submission, reviewing, and publishing.

2. Offer writing coaching to participants, through the new JSARP coaching program.

3. Build a pool of professional writers for JSARP and other professional publications.

Workshop Goals

Workshop Goals

4. Build a cohort of writers who can support each other in future writing projects.

5. Promote the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice as well as other professional journals and publications in the student affairs field.

Welcome and Introductions

• What is your current institution and position? • What are your greatest joys about writing?

• Greatest fears?

How To Write

Just Getting Started• Ideas for motivation, persistence and positive

behavior Support• Learn your preferred writing process• Develop your own voice

Turning a research project, concept, or dissertation into a manuscript

APA Manuscript Types

• Theoretical Manuscripts,• Review Manuscripts,• Reports of Empirical Research,• Methodological Manuscripts,• Case Studies,• Media Reviews,• Others?

• Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

• Don't use contractions in formal writing. • Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do. • Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky. • Reserve the apostrophe for it's proper use and omit it when

its not needed.

Fumblerules by William Safire

• Better to walk through the valley of the shadow of death than to string prepositional phrases.

• Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

• Never use prepositions to end sentences with.

• Don't use Capital letters without good REASON.

Fumblerules by William Safire

• In their writing, everyone should make sure that their pronouns agree with its antecedent.

• A writer must not shift your point of view.

• Use parallel structure when you write and in speaking.

Fumblerules by William Safire

Proofread Carefully

Ask a Colleague to Read Your Manuscript

Adhere to the Format Required of the Publication

Dos and Don’ts of Scholarly Publishing

Suggestions to deepen the research findings:

• What is different about your study from ones conducted in the past? • How can you report data that makes a significant contribution to the

field?• What do these findings mean in the larger context of student affairs

practice?• What implications and insights can we suggest that would move the

student affairs field to more solutions about the problem under study?

• What issues prevail? How can you re-state the findings in a way that offers innovative solutions to these issues?

• How can we firmly ground our findings in the literature in ways that open up new insights and implications for practice?

Writing Coaching

Writers. We are looking for current graduate students and professionals with at least three years experience in the field and/or individuals who want to learn how to become published.

Criteria:• Have a piece of writing that you want to publish.• Strong desire to work with another colleague in the field.• Must have obtained or be enrolled in a Higher Education and Student Affairs

graduate program. If not, must have a baccalaureate degree and at least three years experience in the field.

Thank you in advance for continuing to promote the scholarly and collaborative efforts of JSARP. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Ms. Jilliene Johnson or Dr. Kathleen Manning at jsarpedt@uvm.edu.

Publication Outlets

• Chapters, • Refereed articles, • Books, • Newsletters, • Magazines,• Refereed journals,• Other

Read the Guidelines for Authors.Examples:

JSARP: www.journals.naspa.org/jsarpACPA Media:

www.myacpa.org/pub/pub_media.cfmRoutledge:

http://www.routledge-ny.com/info/authors

How to Submit a Manuscript

Timeline for review

SubmissionBePress System: Assigns manuscript a number, emails author confirmation

Editorial Assistant: Removes all author information, Uploads blind review version, and Assigns 3 reviewers and Associate Editor

Goal: 24-48 hours

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Timeline for review

Review 1Reviewers submit decision: • Reject, Major revisions required, Accept pending minor revisions, or

Accept• Edited manuscript using Microsoft Word track changes• Confidential note to the Executive Editor

Goal 3 weeks

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Timeline for review

Decision 1Executive Editor reviews conclusions and renders final decision

Goal: 1-2 weeks

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Timeline for review

Revision 1 Author views editors decision letters and edited manuscripts. Author revises the manuscripts based upon this information.

Goal 3 weeks

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Timeline for review

Review 2Reviewers submit decision: • Reject, Major revisions required, Accept pending minor

revisions, or Accept• Edited manuscript using Microsoft Word track changes• Confidential note to the Executive Editor

Goal 3 weeks

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Decision 2Executive Editor reviews conclusions, edits manuscript, and renders final decision

Goal: 2-3 weeks

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Timeline for review

Revision 2 Author reviews editors decision letter and edited manuscripts. Author makes revisions based upon this information.

Goal: 3 weeks

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Timeline for review

Review 3Manuscript is reviewed by the Executive Editor. This review is to ensure that all changes have been made and it is ready for the Copy Editor.

Goal: 1 week

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Timeline for review

Copy EditorCopy editor works with author directly to prepare the manuscript for publication.

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Timeline for review

PublicationExecutive Editor determines the publication date and communicates with the author.

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A third review and several rounds of copy editing will occur, if necessary. This exists to assure that only the highest quality articles are published.

Decisions

• Accept: The manuscript is considered appropriate and timely for the JSARP as is. The manuscript is forwarded to the copyeditor at BePress.

Decisions

• Accept Pending Minor Revisions: The manuscript is considered worthy of publication pending the successful completion of a few minor revisions. Authors are requested to make the revisions and the Executive Editor reviews the final manuscript to ensure that the suggestions have been appropriately addressed

Decisions

• Major Revisions Required: The manuscript has potential, but revisions and further review must be completed. The author is asked to respond to these and make appropriate changes within one month. Authors submit a revised draft, but these revisions do not guarantee acceptance.

Decisions

• Reject: The manuscript is unacceptable for publication in the JSARP. A letter from the executive editor is sent to the author specifying reasons for the rejection. Other sources for publication may be suggested. When appropriate, direct comments from the reviewers, as well as portions of the edited manuscripts, will be shared with the author.

JSARP by the numbers

• 150 manuscripts to date• 16 Acceptance (~19% of decisions)• 62 Not accepted (~75% of decisions)

• Numbers as of February 15, 2010

Common Submission Mistakes

• Author identification,• Lack of APA formatting,• Grammatical and writing errors,• Weak conclusions and implications for practice

,• Inadequate connection to student affairs,• Poor writing quality.

Susan Longerbeam, Editorial Board MemberSusan.Longerbeam@nau.edu

Kathleen Manning, Executive EditorKathleen.manning@uvm.edu

Patience Whitworth, Editorial Assistantjsarpedt@uvm.edu

Questions?