2. Getting started
• What topics are you enthusiastic about?
• What is the current literature around
this topic?
• Can you see where you could bring a
new perspective?
• Have you been doing some post graduate
study and want to share your findings?
• Or is this a burning issue and you want
to share your knowledge/expertise/ understandings?
3. Who will you write with?
Share the writing
We advise that you consider
asking your supervisor or lecturer
(if studying) if they would co-
author with you
If not consider writing with
somebody who:
• Has a good understanding of
the issues
and/or
• Has previously published
Why?
• Writing your ideas and
arguments into a written
form can be difficult
• The authors need to explain
their ideas clearly
• So explaining to each other
is the first step – do you all
understand what has been
written?
• If not how can it be
clarified?
4. Writing with others
How
• You need to consider who
will write which parts of the
paper
• This can be done primarily
by one author with the
other authors adding ideas
and clarification
• Or different authors can
write different parts of the
paper (the risk with this is
that each person can write
quite differently)
The process
• Feedback is usually done
using track changes and
comments
• You will need to set time
lines and work out who is
doing what and when
• All authors will take
responsibility for the
finished paper
5. Getting to first draft
Check the NZCOM Journal contributor guidelines you can find them
at http://www.midwife.org.nz/resources-events/nzcom-journal
• Thoroughly review the research literature around your topic
• Put an outline of your paper together first
Consider the following:
1. What – explain your topic – define terms, explain what is already
known about it
2. Why is this important to the reader and/or why do you think it is
important to look at? Give us your rationale
3. How have you looked at the issue – have you done some
research or a literature review or is this a case study or academic
argument? How have you gone about doing this?
4. So what – did you find and why is it important?
6. The template for a research paper
• Abstract
• Introduction & rationale
• Methods
• Findings
• Discussion
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Conclusion
At every stage - write, edit, write, edit
Polish and make changes as you write
7. Template for other papers
Literature review
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Rationale for literature
review
• Method (how, search
criteria etc.)
• Body of paper
• Discussion
• Conclusion
Case report
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Body of paper/discussion
of case
• Discussion of issues
• Conclusion
8. The Introduction should
• Grab the reader’s attention
• Say what the topic is
• Say why it is important
• State the purpose/or research question of the article
• include brief literature overview
• Indicate the gap your study will address, but not give
the whole game away
Remember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write
9. Methodology
• Set out the why, what, when, where, how and whom
of your process; this includes how the data was
analysed
• Include a clear description and validation of any tools,
instruments or apparatus used in the research
• Plus any ethics processes undertaken
Remember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write
10. Findings
• The finding section provides the details of the research
findings or literature review
• Tables and figures help explain numbers
• Themes and participants stories explain qualitative data
• Each of these elements will need some explanation for
the reader – you need to explain what is important within
the tables and what is important in the stories of the
participants
Remember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write
11. Discussion and conclusion
• Interpretation of the results or text – what is
important from your study
• Compare to other research findings (from literature
review) – what is the same and what is different
• Describe any further research or practice implications
(if evidence strong)
• Conclusion, summary of main points, (keep succinct)
11
Remember write, edit, write, edit and polish as you write
12. Using tables and figures
• These should stand without detailed explanation
• Use consistent terms for text and tables/figures
• Highlight patterns and trends in the data
• Style should conform to the journal requirements
13. Getting to the finish line
• Revise and refine wording
and check that each
paragraph is complete
• Smooth the ‘bumpy’ bits so
it flows (imagine taking your
reader by the hand)
• Have at least one critical
friend (or your co-authors)
read and provide feedback
on the paper
• Read the paper out loud and
answer the following:
1. Is there a logical flow to the
paper
2. Does each sentence or
paragraph make sense?
3. Are the arguments or points
being made clear?
4. Does it build to a
comprehensive position?
14. Final touches
• When choosing the title be specific and concise & choose searchable
terms; Go here for tips-
• http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/seo.asp
• Write the abstract - remember this is the bit that will be most widely read
15. The abstract
• The abstract is the paper in summary – it starts with:
• What – define the issue and provide background
• Why – a summary of the rationale and aim
• Methods – a summary of what you did and how
• Findings – summarise your key findings
• Conclusion – provide a concluding sentence
16. Final touches cont.
• Check & recheck references
• They should conform to the journal’s requirements (APA 6th edition)
• Be sure your co-authors are happy with the final version & author order
• Write a covering letter.
• Submit to practice@nzcom.org.nz subject line – paper for submission to
NZCOM journal
17. The NZCOM Journal
editorial process
• The paper is read by one or both
of the co-editors to determine if
it meets the Journal objectives
• An email response will be sent to
the authors notifying that paper
has been received (normally
within a week)
• Papers are sent to 2 reviewers
for review (anonymised so they
don’t know the authors)
• You will get feedback from the
reviewers - generally all papers
will require some amendment
and changes
• A journal editor/subeditor will
provide your feedback and work
with you to get the paper ready
for publication
• There may be several iterations
• The whole process can take
several months
• Have a ‘b’ plan in case your
paper is not accepted
• See a rejection as a free review
• Take a few days break before
re-engaging with the work
18. Top reasons manuscripts rejected
• Inadequate literature review
• Content too basic
• Insufficient critical analysis
• Inaccurate content
• References outdated
• Too biased
• Lack of clarity in the writing itself– arguments not logical or not clearly explained
19. References consulted
• Belcher, W. L. (2009). Writing your journal article in 12 weeks. Los Angeles: Sage.
• Fahey, K. (2008). Writing for publication: the basics. Women & Birth, 21, 86-89.
• Fahey, K. (2008). Writing for publication: Argument and evidence. Women & Birth, 21(3), 86-
89
• Huff, A. S. Designing research for publication.. (2009). Los Angeles: Sage.
• Likis, F., & Aikins Murphy, P. (2014). Writing for publication. Paper presented at the ICM 30th
Triennial Congress. Prague.
• Single, P. B. (2010). Demystifying dissertation writing. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus.
Notes de l'éditeur
Welcome to this series of slides which offer some tips for authors.
When starting out it is important choose a topic that catches your interest.
Getting from the idea to publication takes time and persistence so you need to have a topic that you are enthusiastic about.
Consider how you might bring a new perspective to this topic.
This may be a finding from some postgraduate study or research you have done and is an excellent way to share these insights with your midwifery colleagues.
It may also be a topic that arises from your practice and one you wish to know more about. In fact that is how most great topics emerge.
If you are a beginning writer consider who might help you with this project.
Choosing someone with a history of publication is a good idea as they will be able to encourage and help you shape your work.
Writing with others though having many benefits is not always easy.
So clear conversations are needed.
These should cover any particular parts of the article, timeframes for the exchanging or meeting to discuss drafts.
Be open to hearing a different point of view or way of structuring your work.
In fact you may need to try several different lines of argument until you achieve a cohesive article..
All authors must take responsibility for the finished article. So make sure that this final step is done before the work is signed off.
To make sure your article fits the requirements of the journal it is important to download and become familiar with the requirements of the editors.
This will include reading some articles with a similar style to what you aspire to write.
In your first draft try to get your topic and terms clear.
Be consistent with your terms so as not to confuse your reader.
Demonstrate by including reference to similar studies that you are familiar with the literature on your topic.
Write clearly why the topic is of interest for midwives .
It may be an article from a research project you have completed, a case study, or an academic argument.
Each type of article will of course be slightly different in style.
A research paper for instance has a formal linear structure. This is so for both quantitative and qualitative research studies.
So starting with these subheadings will help you keep on track.
Whatever your findings and conclusions, they will not be the last word on your topic so show how your have considered the limitations of your paper and point the way for how it might otherwise be explored in the future.
A literature review has a similar framework to a research paper whereas a case report differs slightly.
Take time to write a good introduction.
this is what is read first and should tell the reader about the topic, why it is important to write about and the purpose of your article.
To position your paper include a relevant and up to date review of the literature. This enables you to identify the gap that your article will address.
Next you will write about the way in which you went about exploring your topic.
This should be clear and concise.
Anticipate questions that the reader may have and ensure that you answer them all.
Of particular importance is exploring any ethical issues inherent in your work and how you negotiated these in an ethical way.
Also include the name of the ethics committee that approved your study.
How you set out your results/findings will of course depend on the type of study you have completed.
Some brief notes are also needed to help the reader see the key points you wish to highlight from your results.
If you are new to writing for publication it is a good idea to study how studies that are similar to yours are presented in other articles. This will help you find the best way to showcase your data and results.
Always double check your figures and any calculations.
The discussion segment is where you pull the work together. This includes showing how your findings agrees or contrasts with findings in other similar studies.
It is also where you pull any argument together about your topic, signal any limitations of your study and point to future research opportunities.
Keep your conclusion succinct but ensure that you restate your argument and key findings.
Where you use tables and figures these should be consistent in wording and style and consistent with the Journal's requirements.
Before you rush to push the send button ensure that you and your co-authors are happy with each aspect of the work.
Set it aside for a couple of days before doing the final read as this gives you a fresh perspective for any pesky typos or awkward sentences. Reading it aloud to yourself or a good friend or colleague is also a good plan.
If at any stage you stumble over a word or sentence it is possible that your reader will also.
Check you have made all the key points clearly and that you have established a sound argument supported by the findings and the literature.
Your abstract is written last because now it will be clear what you want to say.
Ensure the title reflects the content and contains terms that are searchable.
Follow the format for the abstract to ensure you have captured your findings, conclusions and any recommendations for practice that arise from your study.
Finally the dreaded reference list needs to be checked carefully.
And you are ready to send.
This slide explains the NZCOM editorial process.
In this slide we indicate some of the more common reasons that manuscripts are rejected.
They stress the importance of an up to date and appropriate literature review using primary sources wherever possible.
Watch your wording for biases. These can creep in when we feel passionate about a topic. This also includes avoiding categorical statements that make unsubstantiated claims for a whole population or group or the use of emotive words that reveal more about the writer’s feelings than they do about the topic.
Best wishes with your writing from the editorial team.
