Advice needed from academics

[WhenInDoubtSmileandPout]

Hi. I'm starting my PhD and have recently submitted an essay which has attracted some great feedback. It's on a very topical issue and I feel it has potential for publication - obviously with some adaptations. I haven't discussed this with my supervisor yet in case it sounds stupid, so I'd like your thoughts first.

I'm aware I'm very early in my phd journey. However, I've been teaching in HE for 20 years now, have published some non-peer reviewed papers and two textbooks. What I mean is that I have strong writing skills, but I'm still learning about "proper" research practice, if you see what I mean.

How can I find the right journals for maximum impact, considering that I haven't got a PhD yet and I'm still learning the ropes?

Talk with your supervisor, talk with anyone else that could have input (mentor, supervisor from Masters) and look at the journals yourself and see what they are currently putting out there.

The fact you don't have a PhD is fairly immaterial, journals do not ask for a CV and qualifications are not always included in name details, it's often just the first and last name.

Go for it!

If you have been teaching in HE for 20 years you are definitely an academic PhD or not. Peer review is blind so they won’t know your qualifications when they are reviewing it.

I agree with the advice to talk to your superior they will have an idea of if it is publishable and where. Think about the journals you regularly read would it fit there. All journals have an advice for authors section which tells your about the format and length of your article.

Thanks for the great feedback. I can have a look at the journals, but some are extremely competitive and I want to be realistic. Is there an easy way to identify one that's still good but less competitive? Maybe there isn't, I just wonder.

you can look at the rankings - but personally I choose to publish where I think the people I want to read it will look. I do have the luxury of being senior and widely published already though. You might want to think about (non fee charging) open access journals if you want it to count in future REF exercises as that will likely be a requirement.

Definitely talk to your supervisor - they'd also be able to recommend journals. Though, if you can cope with potentially brutal feedback, you could go big/go for a journal you rate for your own reading? If you did spend a year with it being reviewed/R&Rd, it wouldn't matter too much?

Only saying that because there's no rule forcing you to go for a more modest journal if you actually think it might fit with a big hitting place.

I don't know which field your in but in my area we always look at the CABS list. I would always aim for the top journal as in the long run that is what determines promotions and your place in the REF. For example in my business school you would struggle to get shortlisted if you have not published in a 2 journal at the very minimum (3 is quickly becoming the norm though).

So in response to your question I would say publish early and publish often.

look at the papers you cite - where are they published?

think of the journals you would read - are there any where you are subscribed to the email table-of-contents for, or that you follow on twitter?

Think of who the target audience would be for your paper - who needs to know about this and what journals might they read?

then google each journal & read the Aims (or similar) which should set out the editor's ideas about what kind of papers the journal can take.

And talk to your supervisor too.