Writing a journal article can feel overwhelming. Especially when you consider it is actually many distinct challenges fused into one task: writing.
This knowledge hub breaks that process down in to manageable steps — from the early decisions shaping the paper, to final steps when your paper is accepted for publication.
Stuck somewhere specific?
Check out the troubleshooting guide.
Core concepts
The workflows and articles presented on this knowledge hub are based on my own ideas about scientific writing. Understanding the theory behind these workflows helps to write more effectively:
Suggested workflow
For writing & publishing a scientific IMRaD journal article
This workflow is aimed at novice scientific writings and uses a bottom-up workflow that starts with brainstorming and writing chunks of drafts for sections of your paper, then structure them into a logical narrative (as opposed to outlining first and then writing).
Preparing the project:
- Involving your writing team
- Choosing a journal → to establish scope/ambition level of the paper
Building the knowledge:
- Capturing research decisions → produces raw drafts for Introduction and Methods
- Interpreting the findings → produces draft conclusions for Discussion
Writing the paper:
- Structuring your ideas → generates structured Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion
- Writing the final elements → produces study contributions, key messages, implications, abstract
- Editing and polishing → prepare submission-ready manuscript
Submitting and publishing the paper:
- Submitting a paper → prepare cover letters and other submission materials
- Review status & workflow
- Responding to reviewers → write rebuttal
- Getting published
Need hands-on support? See Writing Consultations
Beta stage/living document
This hub is still under development — I’ve written most of the content, but am still reorganising sections to optimise the logic and flow.