Choosing a journal after the paper is written means rewriting most of it. The journal determines length, audience, tone, and how much background you have to explain — none of which can be adjusted with a light edit.
How to shortlist
- Look at which journals you cite most often in this paper.
- Read three recent articles and check whether yours would fit alongside them.
- Read the aims and scope carefully.
- Check the typical time from submission to decision.
Aiming high or low
- Too high costs months and usually returns useful reviews.
- Too low means the paper does not reach the people who need it.
- Have a second choice decided before you submit to the first.
Checking a journal is legitimate
- Is there an identifiable editorial board with people you can find.
- Is the review process described clearly.
- Do published articles look like real peer-reviewed work.
- Unsolicited invitations promising rapid publication are a warning sign.
Open access decisions
- Check whether your funder requires it.
- Check whether fees are waived for authors in some countries.
- Ask before submitting; fees can be substantial.
Before writing a word
- Download the author guidelines and read them fully.
- Use a published article as a structural template.
- Write the word limit at the top of your document.
One thing worth remembering
Look at which journals you cite most in the paper itself.
That is usually the answer: it shows where the conversation your work joins is actually taking place, and that is exactly where the readers who need your paper are looking.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
Why choose a journal before writing?
Because it determines length, audience, tone and how much background to explain — choosing afterwards means rewriting most of the paper.
How do you shortlist journals?
Look at which journals you cite most, read three recent articles to check fit, read the aims and scope, and check time to decision.
What about aiming high or low?
Too high costs months but usually returns useful reviews, too low means the paper does not reach the right readers — decide a second choice before submitting.
How do you check a journal is legitimate?
Look for an identifiable editorial board, a clearly described review process, and real peer-reviewed articles — unsolicited invitations promising rapid publication are a warning sign.
What should you do before writing?
Download and read the author guidelines fully, use a published article as a structural template, and write the word limit at the top of your document.
