How to Write Academic Articles for Priscilla Papers
I didn’t expect this workshop at the CBE conference to be controversial or get my dander up. Most of the advice from the editors to writers was what you would hear at any writer’s conference: match the mission of the journal; have a new slant; support your assertions; pay attention to the journal’s audience (in this case, a conservative woman feeling a call and her conservative pastor); be careful with your style and approach (firm but gracious, not antagonistic); stay in your area of expertise; max length, 15 typed manuscript pages. But when it came to the editors’ view of their one year response time turnaround — that’s where I checked out.
I’m sorry, but I’ve been writing academic papers for a long time, and I’ve never had to wait a whole year to hear back from the editor. The only way that a journal can get away with that kind of disrespect for authors is to carve out a narrow niche where they have no competition. Successful authors have the greatest respect for editors and what they do, and they know that editors are busy, have a wide variety of demands on their time, and in the world of journal editors are probably professors, too. They’re even sometimes willing to wait months on end if they know that editors are seriously considering and vetting their work, if they know that their work has a chance. But to have their work tied up for months and even years on end, wondering if their work is lying on a slush pile somewhere waiting for some editorial assistant to give it a cursory look, is simply god-awful impudence.
If I don’t hear from an editor within three months, then I take that as tacit acknowledgement that the editor is not interested. Most articles, with a little work, can be rewritten with another slant or to another market. If it can’t be, then perhaps it’s not worth writing in the first place (from the author’s viewpoint and conservation of time, of course).
I guess at least they are being honest about how long it takes them to get back to people. I agree though that it is a long time. They must be short-staffed. I guess we could still all participate in delayed gratification and wait a year to hear back on what we submitted but I agree with you totally that this should be the exception rather than the rule in an ideal situation. All the best. Just thought I would empathize and be a sounding board.
Wow! I haven’t written any academic articles for P.P., but I did submit a poem and wondered why I hadn’t heard..either yay or nay…in months. Sheesh!
I love your blog, SingingOwl. Everyone go check out this pastor’s blog at The Owl’s Song. Her ruminations about the stupid gender talk you can find on the Internet (and get at Bible bookstores and in some churches) is funny and insightful.
She poses an interesting question. Why don’t men come to church in as big numbers as women? Here’s my question. Are we scaring them off because we teach them role stuff that doesn’t fit their giftedness? We talk a lot about women’s giftedness here. How about men’s?
Oh, thank you!
I really was so hurt and disgusted and angry that I had to write it somewhere…but I’m glad you “enjoyed” my rant. And I really do hope people comment. I am serious about the issue, and that made the tripe I read on the net and elsewhere all the more offensive. Anyway, thanks again.