writing an article

[Toraleistripe]

New ish to academia. Usual pressure to contribute to the ref. I have an idea for an article I want to write. It would only be short and involve a bit of research but essentially a lit review plus some of my thoughts. Only thing is, there is similar stuff out there. How to do something new? How do I even start?!

[MedSchoolRat]

What area?
I think everything depends on that.

[DoctorDoctor]

Wendy Belcher's book Write Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks would be a good starting point.

[Booboostwo]

What was your route to academia? Most people take up their first post after their PhD so revising a chapter from the PhD is an obvious first step.

Another good approach is to write a reply to someone already in print who has gotten something wrong. Is that an option for your discipline? In my discipline journals really welcome this kind of engagement.

A way to get experience of the publishing process is to write book reviews, encyclopaedia entries, etc. They don't count towards REF but are good experience nonetheless.

As for your idea what do you mean similar stuff is already out there? Is someone else has published a very similar idea this will be picked up by the reviewers and will mean a quick rejection for your paper. If you want to say something subtly different to what is out there already then start with what is out there and show why your thoughts are a valuable contribution to an ongoing debate.

[Toraleistripe]

Thanks some good advice. I don't have a PHD but will be working towards one. I think I will do a quick lit review to see what is out there and then see if I can find a response.

[MedSchoolRat]

Are you advancing a new theory?
Highlighting gaps in understanding?

In health sciences, a quick lit review is not substantive enough to justify either of the above unless you're Trisha Greenhalgh or publishing in NEJM or talking about Zika/Ebola/scarylatest. But might justify enough for a scoping review paper.
FWIW, we had a whole workshop about REF the other day ... non-systematic reviews won't be 3 or 4 in med areas. But scoping review could be a stepping stone towards a paper that would tick 3 or 4.

[MedSchoolRat]

ps: what subjects means people without PhDs being REFd? Would not happen where I am. I have a PhD & don't get REFd.

[Booboostwo]

You don't need a PhD to count towards the REF, you need to be employed by the University in an academic post, and not even full time at that.

[Booboostwo]

I read it that the OP is not currently a PhD student but perhaps I misunderstood.

In my discipline you need to be working towards publishing while doing your PhD because otherwise you have little chance of getting any kind of post after you submit.

[Sunshowercap]

It would only be short and involve a bit of research but essentially a lit review plus some of my thoughts. Only thing is, there is similar stuff out there

In my field, that wouldn't be publishable. It sounds like an MA essay, not a publishable piece of research.

What are your research questions? Your research methods?

What is your contribution to knowledge? How are you adding to the topic covered by your lit review?

In my field, I'nm sorry to say this, the approach in your OP wouldn't get you onto a PhD programme, let alone an academic job.

[Toraleistripe]

Well in my field there are a number of the staff who are published, with PhDs, working towards it, or using publication to obtain a PhD.

Obviously I don't want to go into details but we are supported to do small scale pieces of research, some REFable and some not. We are encouraged to start by doing peer reviews and writing in journals in our field. I am in a SL role and no don't have a PhD and that's lucky for me but I had a lot of other relevant experience when I got my job. I teach in an area that isn't wholly academic but has an associated degree and masters course.

I skipped over the detail of my article. Am well aware it needs a research question and specific methods. I am not stupid.

[MedSchoolRat]

Can you find a mentor, Madeleine? Either someone in your area or not too dissimilar area? Several mentors maybe.
I think you need someone to help you strategise who also knows your area & background. Good luck.

[Sunshowercap]

What are the models of scholarly journal article you use on your teaching & research? That might help you sort out what you need to do.

It just worries me that this is basic stuff for academics, and you seem to have no guidance. That's the problem of trying to do a research job without a PhD. The PhD is training in scholarly research.

[Toraleistripe]

I can access support so will do. Thanks all.

[Sunshowercap]

I'd second the advice about conference papers. It's how I write a book over 304 years: each chapter starts as a conference paper, and you get feedback as you go.

This blog has some interesting ideas about writing, which you might find helpful. If you haven't had much research training it at least breaks down the task of scholarly writing:
secondlanguage.blogspot.co.uk/p/40-paragraphs.html