Synopses & Reviews
Research publications have always been key to building a successful career in science, yet little if any formal guidance is offered to young scientists on how to get research papers peer reviewed, accepted, and published by leading scientific journals. With What Editors Want, Philippa J. Benson and Susan C. Silver, two well-respected editors from the science publishing community, remedy that situation with a clear, straightforward guide that will be of use to all scientists.
Benson and Silver instruct readers on how to identify the journals that are most likely to publish a given paper, how to write an effective cover letter, how to avoid common pitfalls of the submission process, and how to effectively navigate the all-important peer review process, including dealing with revisions and rejection. With supplemental advice from more than a dozen experts, this book will equip scientists with the knowledge they need to usher their papers through publication.
Review
andldquo;With this book, Benson and Silver have provided a guide to the art of preparing and submitting scientific manuscripts, with particular focus on the editorandrsquo;s likely requirements. But they have done much more than that: they have placed their manual in the wider context of the need for science to be communicated to the public beyond the narrower realm of research. I shall certainly be recommending
What Editors Wantand#160;to authors, particularly those at an early point in their career. And as an editor, I shall even use this book to remind myself what I want.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;
What Editors Want contains clear and practical advice on how to get your manuscript published in the peer reviewed literature. Packed with straightforward advice and insights, it will be useful for new and experienced authors alike.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;This book is a great resource for young scientists as they begin their career-long andlsquo;publish or perishandrsquo; marathon, and for those researchers unfamiliar with the Western STM publishing process. Journal quality is enhanced, and my job as a managing editor is made considerably easier, by authors who choose the right journal, understand the peer review and revision process, and take the time to learn and adhere to a journal's specific requirements.and#160; The section on new trends in scientific publishing is especially helpful in this era of rapid changes in how scientific knowledge is shared across the globe.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;What Editors Want is an absolute goldmine of information.andquot;
Review
"A sharply focused manual for navigating the mainstream of academic publication. With an easy authority and relatively few citations, authors Philippa J. Benson and Susan C. Silver present advice on how to publishand#8212;rather than perish. It is hard to imagine a science graduate student whose career would not benefit from reading this book."
Review
"A thorough explanation of the basic workings of science publishing [What Editors Want] gives the readers a perspective on not only what requirements they may encounter in trying to publish, but why those requirements are in place."
Review
"While there are other guides on how to write about science, What Editors Want is the first guide to understanding how the U.S. science publication process works. In this new book, Philippa Benson and Susan Silver have done an excellent job of explaining the publishing standards that apply to science writers and how to meet them. They also present this information in a way that is readable and easily accessible."
Review
"An interesting, useful, and above all, an eminently accessible book for authorsand#8212;easy to read, pragmatic in its advice, and suffi ciently detailed to provide useful information."
Review
andquot;An extremely comprehensive and useful book particularly for relatively new authors.andquot;
About the Author
Philippa J. Bensonand#160;has taught science writing and technical communication at Carnegieand#160;Mellon University, Georgetown, the United Nations, and the National Institutes of Health, and has launched scientific publications for two conservation organizations.
Susan C. Silver is editor in chief of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, published by the Ecological Society of America. Previously, she held editorial positions at Academic Press and the British Dental Association and was editor of Biologist and the Lancet Oncology.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Who cares what Editors want?
Chapter 2. Changing perspective from author to Editorand#160;
Chapter 3. Judging the newness of your science
Chapter 4. Authorship issues
Chapter 5. Choosing the right journal
Chapter 6. Understanding impact factors
Chapter 7. How to write a cover letter
Chapter 8. Preparing for manuscript submission or andldquo;What Editors wish you knewandrdquo;
Chapter 9. Who does what in peer review
Chapter 10. Dealing with decision letters
Chapter 11. Ethical issues in publishing
Chapter 12. Trends in scientific publishing
Appendix 1and#160; Resources for improving science writing
Appendix 2and#160;and#160; Databases with free access to articles or abstracts
Appendix 3and#160;and#160; Presubmission checklist
Appendix 4and#160;and#160; Free and low-cost image resources
Appendix 5and#160;and#160; The Brussels Declaration
References
Index