Four Essential Tools for Writing for Publication

By Sarah Krasniuk MSc Kin., PhD Candidate

As a graduate student, writing for publication can be a daunting task. I remember my first manuscript submission took over eight hours to complete, and I was terrified the entire time! Thankfully, throughout my graduate studies, I have become familiar with four tools that significantly improved my writing and productivity.

1.     Pomodoro technique (https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique). Have you ever wondered where the day went and how you could have possibly only written one paragraph? If so, the Pomodoro technique is a time management tool for increasing task productivity and decreasing procrastination. When writing, the technique involves four twenty-minute periods of productivity, with each period followed by a five-minute break. After the four productivity-break intervals, you would take a longer break (e.g., 30 minutes).

2.     Writing framework (http://www.readersbrain.com). Have you ever received feedback on your writing? If so, a writing framework can help structure, organize, and guide writing at the micro (e.g., sentence structure) and macro level (e.g., document structure). One framework that I use is Dr. Jane Yellowlees Douglas’ five principles of writing (or the 5C’s): Clarity, Continuity, Coherence, Concision, and Cadence, found in the book The Reader’s Brain: How Neuroscience Can Make You a Better Writer. Throughout the book, Dr. Douglas discusses each writing principle in its own chapter, with evidence-based reasons for why the principle works for the reader’s brain, along with practical guidelines to implement.

3.     EQUATOR network (https://www.equator-network.org). Have you ever wondered what to report on in a manuscript? If so, the EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) network is an online database library that provides reporting guidelines for various study designs (e.g., randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews). Each study design has a distinct research methodology, procedure, risk of bias, statistical analysis, and interpretation. For each study design, the EQUATOR network provides researchers with a minimum list of evidence-based reporting items. These guidelines ensure transparent reporting so readers can understand what occurred in the study, replicate aspects of the study, or implement the tools, assessments, or interventions into their practice. 

4.     Penelope (https://www.penelope.ai/). Have you ever taken eight hours to submit a manuscript for publication? If so, Penelope is an online tool that assesses common reporting errors and provides feedback within the manuscript. After uploading a manuscript and indicating its targeted journal, Penelope will assess the manuscripts’ structure and format, statistics, referencing, and other common reporting errors. Penelope will provide a downloadable report within the manuscript, in which you can revise prior to submission.

Through implementing these tools, you will become more productive and confident in writing for publication. Pomodoro will help you write first drafts of manuscripts within weeks. A writing framework will help you organize, structure, and guide your writing in an interesting story-telling way. The EQUATOR network will help you document all items necessary for a transparent report. Lastly, Penelope will help you report on all the items necessary for manuscript submission.

 About