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Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of articles on writing for publication. The first article was published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal.
After you have developed your idea for an article, you are ready to choose a journal for its possible publication, query the editor, and obtain the author guidelines to direct you on your writing journey. When choosing where to submit your idea, consider your goals for the article. Who do you want to reach? If your target audience comprises perioperative nurses, the AORN Journal would be an ideal choice.
Selecting the right journal is usually easy. Just look in your own mailbox, or visit the local medical or nursing library. Other sources you can investigate include the CINAHL (ie, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) database at http://www.cinahl.com and the Nurse Author & Editor web site at http://www.nurse authoreditor.com. If you want to write for the general public, the Writer's Market,' published annually, is a good source for ideas.
Find out which journals are peerreviewed. This means your article will be read by subject experts who will make recommendations about whether it should be published or what revisions might be needed. Faculty members must publish in peer-reviewed journals as part of the requirements for academic tenure.
Determine how often the journal is published. If a journal is only printed four times a year, you might have to wait longer to see your article in print than if the journal is published monthly. Finally, look at how well the journal stacks up against others in excellence and readability.
ASK BEFORE You WRITE
Before you begin writing, query the editor of the journal to which you wish to submit. Query refers to asking in writing if the editor would be interested in an article on your topic. Sending a query letter offers several advantages. First, you will not waste rime writing an article only to learn that the editor is not interested or has already accepted a manuscript on the same subject. Second, the editor can give you feedback on your idea, which will help you craft the article to best meet readers' needs. Finally, if the editor expresses an interest, you can proceed with more confidence...