A cover letter is a letter or email that introduces your submission to the editor. An effective cover letter should include a brief summary of your findings and a small paragraph on why you feel the study is suitable for the journal and its target audience. Yes, if it’s your first paper and it’s a bit scary, but it may just be a matter of plucking up courage. Most journals require that a cover letter be submitted along with each manuscript submitted for publication. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Now you want to put those papers into suitable journals. What aspect of the topic x does the paper address? dear editor – is my paper right for your journal? I can't find anything written on my topic... really? So what do you say to the Editor? It’s one you used regularly in your research and you cited it in your thesis. Photocredit: honestreporting, FlickrCommons. writing the introduction to a journal article. GIVING A CONFERENCE PAPER? You’ve developed a publication plan and you know the papers that you want to write, papers that have a clear focus and something to say. You know this journal pretty well. Through Elsevier online system I have responded to the journal’s revision request, and after 2 days, the status has changed to 'with editor.' Contacting journal editors: six dos, a maybe and a don’t. The journal Editor’s contact details are usually listed on an “about the journal” page of the journal website. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. This kind of email simply says what the paper will cover. That’s not necessarily helpful. GIVING FEEDBACK AND REVIEWING? ( Log Out /  You know who the Editor is, and you know the academic work that they do. Each letter to an editor is unique, so the following letters are only examples, but they will provide you with ideas about how to format and word your own replies to academic and scientific editors. What’s at stake for an early career researcher in going for publication in a top ranked journal ? Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. After all this research your initial hunch is confirmed. The Editor won’t know a lot about what you want to do if you simply name the topic or the field. Change ). You might still be going to write something about x that won’t be right for the particular journal. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. They might say no, not a fit. Well not pen on paper, I mean emailing. If you are sure that the paper you want to write is a good fit for the journal you might just as well put it in – you don’t really need the Editor’s approval to do so. Once you have the thesis with you, begin writing the email. Now you email. I want to make an inquiry now, so could you show me an example of a polite inquiry email in English. You might still be going to write something about x that won’t be right for the particular journal. – include a few pertinent details about scale, method and scope of the project. Writing that abstract also helps to strengthen the article itself. Editors are busy people and there is no point asking them about a prospective paper if it really obviously sits in the journal’s area of interest. ( Log Out /  SAMPLE EMAIL FOR THESIS SUBMISSION. You’ve now done a bit more research on the journal. This manuscript is my thesis, so I need to know the result asap, since I have to submit it to another journal if the result is negative. That’s not necessarily helpful. Here’s a blog on publishing that I thought you might find useful. However, for the last 2 months the status hasn’t changed. You want to publish in the journal but will the journal want to publish you? What is the research on which the paper is based? It will help the Editor to decide whether your paper is suitable for their journal if you provide more specific details: If you can write this information as a short abstract, with an appropriate title, then you will be telling the Editor what they need to know in order to make a decision. the literature review - how old are the sources? You need to tell the Editor more than this. Dear Prof. John, As you are a member of my Master’s Thesis Committee, I am sending you a copy of my dissertation in PDF format along with my CV. What is the contribution – the point of it all – the So What question. So it’s not an imposition to email them and it may ultimately save you time and heartache. Writing to the Editor is an OK thing to do. You need to tell the Editor more than this. Reblogged this on Cecile Badenhorst and commented: Please advise me how to write a polite reminder. Or they might even suggest a new angle or twist that would be of most interest to their readers – very handy for you if they do. Great advice. If there are two Editors, choose the one in your part of the world, if that is a choice. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! research education, academic writing, public engagement, funding, other eccentricities. LOOKING FOR POSTS ON WRITING FOR JOURNALS? #litreview – getting to argument, part 2. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Appendix: Sample Responses to Letters from Academic and Scientific Editors. Or yes, put it in. ( Log Out /  Three top tips, #LitReview – Getting to structure, part one, this, they, it, those, these – a revision strategy, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. But you’re still uncertain. The Editor won’t know a lot about what you want to do if you simply name the topic or the field. However, do you really need this reassurance? You will also be showing them how the paper might appear in their journal. They also like  to avoid rejecting papers simply because they don’t meet the journal’s remit. Ultimately most journal Editors are keen to help people starting out. READING? But, if you have done your homework on the journal and you still aren’t quite sure whether your paper fits or not, then of course it is a very sensible idea to check out its suitability before you send it in. If you’ve got an invite for the defense, mention the date of defense as well. ( Log Out /  Starting a part-time doctorate? REVISING AND EDITING? This kind of email simply says what the paper will cover. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I’m thinking of writing a paper about x, would that be of interest? Yes, it is wonderfully easy and instantaneous, which are great boons, but it is very different from face-to-face or even telephone communication, and it is wise to keep that in mind. It seems like it’s the right journal …. I am a bit worried if I am giving impressions like urging them. Communicating with Journal Editors via Email Any scholar who uses email to communicate in a professional context sooner or later becomes aware that it can be a tricky medium to negotiate at times. You can turn your thesis into a journal article by identifying your key findings, deciding on the structure, and summarizing the content.This article gives you insights on how to publish your dissertation in a journal. So you’ve finished your thesis and now have to publish from it. Just make sure to give them the best information about your paper that you can. Now an email to a journal Editor won’t help you in the reviewing process – but it might provide some reassurance that the paper you are writing is of interest to the journal, and ensure that it won’t get sent back as soon as it arrives, judged as unsuitable. Should I have to write an email to an editor about the process for the paper? And it’s fine. Maybe a note to the Editor is a good idea? Editors often get emails from prospective authors and they are used to it. You’ve looked at the Editorial Board, and you know a number of them and their work too. blank and blind spots in empirical research. aims and objectives - what's the difference? And you’ve picked a first paper and a journal. Take a deep breath and put it in if that’s the case. There might be regional Editors, in which case you need to contact the person in your area, not the managing Editor. And you’ve checked the contents of some recent issues and you know that they do publish some things that are in your field. VISIT MY WAKES ON https://wakelet.com/@patter. I have submitted a paper on January 10th and the status remains “Editor assigned” for almost 2 months. Well that’s OK, you might write that, but it doesn’t really say a lot. With this more detailed information the Editor will be able to make an informed decision, based on the actual paper you want to write. Are you experienced (at writing journal articles). Should you have further concerns or queries, please let me know.” After receipt of this email, the date of the status is still unchanged. ” page of the project – include a few pertinent details about scale, method scope... Editor ’ s the case thesis with you, begin writing the email paper... And heartache dos, a how to write an email to journal editor sample thesis and a don ’ t from.. Of interest researcher in going for publication in a top ranked journal of posts! Paper is based, but it doesn ’ t really say a lot should i have submitted paper! Experienced ( at writing journal articles ) going to write something about x, would that be of interest email... It doesn ’ t know a lot about what you want to make an inquiry now so! 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