Navigating the publishing journey can be a challenging process, especially as a new author or early career researcher (ECR). From identifying the right journal and article format to the peer review process and understanding publisher policies, there’s a lot to learn as a first-time author. 

When publishing with Open Research Europe, our expert editorial team is on hand to help authors at every step of the journey.  

Here, we’ve rounded up seven tips and tricks for navigating the publishing process. 

Getting your paper accepted

Tip #1: Choose the most appropriate publishing venue 

Alongside the decision about article format, authors also need to decide which journal is best suited to their research. 

Sometimes, the chosen article format will help decide this, as not all publishing venues will support all article formats. 

Other times, it should be guided by the publishing model, in addition to the the aims and scope of the journal. 

While journal-level metrics like Journal Impact Factor have long been the deciding factor in choosing a journal, authors may look beyond this and think about things like: 

• Audience: Is the journal’s audience familiar with the topics you are researching, and are they likely to engage with your article? A good way to gauge this is to determine if there are studies using similar methodologies as yours. If so, it is likely that the audience will be familiar with your area of expertise and will gain knowledge from your paper. 

• Discoverability: Is the journal indexed in major academic databases? Note that Open Research Europe is indexed in Scopus, PubMed and DOAJ. 

• Support: Does the journal offer the level of editorial support you need? Additionally, does the venue comply with the requirements of your funder? Many funders have specific requests for funded authors, such as mandated open access.  The editorial team of Open Research Europe supports authors in all steps of the publishing experience, from the submission of their draft to the communication of their peer-reviewed paper. 

• Credibility: Is the journal trustworthy? The open peer review of Open Research Europe brings additional rigour to the peer review process. In addition, the requirement to authors to make the data underlying their paper openly available also increases the credibility of their research, and the excellence of the publishing venue they chose. 

Tip #2: Choose the most suitable article format for your research 

One of the first decisions authors must make is the format in which they would like to publish their work. 

Traditionally, Research Articles are the most common type of publications. Journals often prioritize them, across all disciplines. However, this singular focus can devalue other types of research outputs. Indeed, not all research is suited to being published as a Research Article. 

For example, clinical studies may be best represented in a Clinical Practice Article, innovative data or software best published as a Data Note or Software Tool Article, or analytic or interpretive literary opinions best presented in an Essay. 

It’s key to understand the different article types available for publishing your research. At Open Research Europe, authors can publish their work as over 12 different article types, each of which is designed to support a different research phase. 

Tip #3: Read all the article guidelines, journal policies, and funder policies thoroughly 

Once you have decided on your article format and journal, it’s important to read the article guidelines and policies and understand them. Because every publishing venue is different, it’s important to do your research to understand the specifics of your chosen venue. 

Things to consider include: 

• Are there elements in their article guidelines and publishing policies that are specific and would require attention? 

• What is the publishing process and how does it differ from more familiar venues 

• What pre- and post-publication checks will you be required to meet, and how can you best prepare for those? 

Open Research Europe, for example, requires data sharing as part of the submission process, has a set of pre-publication checks to pass, and conducts peer review after publication, as opposed to before publication. 

Although the editorial team will be by your side, understanding the guidelines and journal policies in detail will save you time in revisions and resubmissions. 

Similarly, funders have their own specific policies when it comes to publishing research. Horizon Europe, for example, requires open access for publications resulting from European Commission funding and supports open data, which is important to understand when submitting research for publication. 

Post-acceptance 

Tip #4: Be responsive to editors and the team for a faster publication of your paper 

Once their paper has been accepted for publication, authors will communicate with publishing teams at multiple stages of the process, from initial checks to proof reviews and queries. Responding in a timely manner and providing comprehensive feedback is key to speeding up the publishing process and guaranteeing your readers the highest quality of your paper. 

The editors of Open Research Europe know how to manage expectations if there are likely to be any delays, which can help avoid frustration or confusion on both sides. 

Besides, authors may at all times appoint a co-author who can arrange responses in their absence. 

Undertaking open peer review 

Tip #5: Be thorough in responses 

When revising papers following peer review, authors need to make sure they are thorough in their responses. 

Address each point in turn and provide a full response, including an explanation of any changes made to the paper in light of the comment. 

This is even more important in open peer review, a key element of Open Research Europe, where peer review comments, reviewer names, and author responses are open – and peer review reports citable 

By providing detailed responses, authors can build a relationship with both reviewers and readers. This not only provides more transparency but also boosts credibility of the entire research work. 

Tip #6: Feel empowered to say no 

Authors do not always need to agree with their reviewers. They should feel empowered to say no, where it feels appropriate. 

In these instances, it’s important to provide a detailed response explaining the disagreement and use it as an opportunity to provide any further evidence or explanation that may support the author’s response. This is even more important when the peer review is open as it is in Open Research Europe. 

Reviewers may have expertise in the area, but there are always opportunities for learning on each side. 

Tip #7: Be prepared for multiple rounds of review

Finally, it’s important for authors to be prepared for multiple rounds of review and revisions – don’t be disheartened by this, and instead see it as a learning opportunity to improve knowledge and writing skills from experts in your field. As for any publishing revenue with high ethical and editorial standards, it is not uncommon for Open Research Europe to have two rounds of review, yet three are more of an exception. 

Publish your work with Open Research Europe. From supporting multiple article types to offering comprehensive editorial support and guidelines, Open Research Europe provides a reputable, publishing venue for those looking to publish their latest European Commission-funded research – at no cost to authors or readers. 

Learn more about the Open Research Europe publishing process.