How to Get Your Paper Published in JACC
How to Get Your Paper Published in JACC Family of Journals Y. Chandrashekhar MD, FACC Professor of Medicine University of Minnesota Editor in Chief Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Imaging Associate Editor Journal of the American College of Cardiology CRT 2018 – Washington DC: Tuesday, March 6, 2018; 10: 40 AM – 10: 50 AM
Disclosures I have no relevant financial relationships
What is an Author up Against… JACC: JACC Imaging: JACC Interventions: IF 19. 9; Acceptance Rates of 6% IF 10. 2; Acceptance Rates of 7% IF 8. 86; Acceptance Rates of 8%
Editors & Scientists alike insist on the pivotal importance of peer review. We portray peer review to the public as a quasi-sacred process that helps to make science our most objective truth teller. But we know that the system of peer review is biased, unjust, unaccountable, incomplete, easily fixed, often insulting, usually ignorant, occasionally foolish, and frequently wrong Richard Horton Editor, The Lancet
What Does the Editor Do? Max Perkins: Legendary Editor for F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolfe & Ernest Hemingway “Not only did he change the course of the American literary river, but he changed what editors do by becoming their (i. e. authors’) best friend, their money lender, their marriage counselor, their psychoanalyst. Along the way he began offering them titles. He often provided structure for what their novels ought to be. He often gave them whole ideas for what their next book should be. ” Scott Berg, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, 2015 This DOES NOT WORK in Medicine and Medical Publishing! given the excess supply of papers. Authors Need to Come up with Reason for Editors to Feel Warm about their project
What Does the Editor Do? Author Editor Society Promote Scholarship & Advance Science Makes his Journal “Go To” Platform Readership Public Trust Business of the Journal / Organization / IF…. .
Help the Editor Help You! • Strong COVER LETTER • Thoughtful REVISIONS • Sweat Equity from SENIOR AUTHORS • Avoid Salami Science • Connect with QUESTIONS
How to Get Your Paper Published Understand Peer Review Process Understand the Journal you are Submitting to Understand How to Respond to Reviewers Handling Disappointment
Understand the Journal You Submit To JACC gets approximately 100 papers / week JACC Imaging gets about 35 papers / week About 50% Rejected Without Review Papers are discussed for 7 min on Average Know what the Journal Publishes & Most Think how you will Stand Out in the Crowd Cover Letter and Senior Author Sweat Equity!
WHAT is on the EDITOR’S MIND? A Home to Thinkers, Philosophers, Wags, Wits & Teachers: The Verge of a Golden Age Narula J. JACC Imaging 2008; 1: 131 -132. A Follower, a Spectator or Trail-blazer? Chandrashekhar Y, Narula J. JACC Imaging 2008; 1: 691 -693. On becoming an imaging investigator: opportunities, pathways & challenges Chandrashekhar Y, Narula J. JACC Imaging. 2011; 4: 109 -112. Bibliographic metrics at JACC-Imaging: an opportunity for audit and reflection Marwick TH, Chandrashekhar Y, Narula J. JACC Imaging. 2011; 4: 1050 -1051. Publishing the most impactful papers. Marwick TH, Chandrashekhar Y, Narula J. JACC Imaging. 2014; 7: 1180 -1182. Imaging Angiotensin Receptors in Myocardium
Chandrashekhar Y & Narula J, JACC Imaging 2011; 4: 109 -112
Understand the Peer Review Process
Dear God: Thank you for submitting your paper about “Creating Life”. Your paper was reviewed by external editors and the consensus is that it will not be acceptable in its present form. We were quite concerned about your methodology. The main issues raised by the Reviewers were: “How do we know Life would not have happened without you. You need better Controls. The fact that you did it a few billion times since then does not matter. It was not randomized and might be subject to selection bias. Finally, we need more outcome data about your creation. What is Life supposed to achieve? Please resubmit addressing all the reviewers concerns point by point. Given the extensive changes required, your paper will be treated as a new submission. We look forward to seeing more high impact research from you.
Peer Review is Often Unfair & Painful For Everybody Better Get Used to It !
Understand How to Respond to Reviewers
Strategies We See for a Revision! Immovable Author: 5 -10% Some authors think the Reviewers & Editors are stupid and don’t deserve a thoughtful response! Good Faith Effort but: 20% Economical With the Truth Sympathy Trip Woe is Me! Make Minor Changes (& Hope No One Notices): 25% Work With Reviewers: 50%
Terminology of a Decision Reject without Review: Reject: Don’t Even Think of Us Go Bother Someone Else De Novo: Revise – You have a shot & we might like it Accept with Revisions: You have a Great Chance – Please make it right Accept: We Love it – will even pay you! [Alas, does not happen anymore] We Can’t Take It - Our sister Journal will, if revised We Can’t Take It - Our sister Journal might
Types of Responses and Outcomes (somewhat older data!) JACC-IMG JACC-INT Total Submission (N) Original Research ≈5000 ≈1800 ≈2200 Revisions Sought Provisional Acceptance 9% 15% % Acceptance after the Revision 95% 60% (R 1) 85% (R 2) 95% (R 3) 75% (R 1) 95% (R 2) De Novo 11% 22% 8% 25% 50% 70% % Acceptance after Novo Submission De
No ****ing Contest with the Reviewers! Reviews Help Improve Your Manuscript They are neither stupid or your enemy Address Reviewers Concerns Point-by-Point Disagree But Respectfully Provide Additional Data if helpful Outcome data are always a sure-fire way Supporting Citations make your point better If relevant, cite your papers but fairly Explain discrepancies carefully No Cut and Paste Guessing Reviewers & Playing them is a loosing game Make senior authors contribute deeply.
Handling Disappointment in the Review Process
Anatomy of Rejection (This applies to Papers, Grants and Even Life) Don’t Take It Personally They Are Criticizing Your Work And Not You Go through the Stages of Grief / Anger etc Natural to defend, get hurt & withdraw, or loose hope Use 48 hrs to Vent and then be done Use another few days to get a second opinion Respond within a Month Make 3 Piles: Things You Can Fix, Can’t Fix & Can’t Agree Deal With Each Promptly, Efficiently And Politely You Have A GOOD Chance – Make It Right
When Do You Give Up? No Paper Gets Accepted the First Time If You Think The Message Is Worth It, Go All The Way With It! Deconstruct the Rejection Letter (is it a form letter? or elling you something, wrong Journal, Inadequate novelty or data etc) “You Give Up When ………………. ” Harvey Mc. Kay
Journals Need You As Much As You Need Them Make Sure You Sell Them The “Right Stuff” In The “Right Packaging”
Can the Editor and Author Find Each Other? Editor Author
- Slides: 24