The long road to publishing: A user friendly expose

Abstract

The popular axiom which suggests that there are two certainties in life (namely, taxes and death) should be extended to include a third dimension for aspiring academics, that is publish or perish. The scholarly activity of academic enquiry and publishing the results of these endeavours is an inescapable pre-requisite for a successful academic career. While some academics are prolific publishers, others are not. For those who find publishing a convoluted soul-destroying experience, this paper provides an expose´ of the publication process from an author’s perspective. It illustrates that the refinement of academic papers for publication is a collaborative effort between authors, editors and referees. Further, it shows that, for authors, there is no substitute for focus, perseverance and hard work. Copies of the letters tabled in this discussion are intended to serve as a useful framework for those who feel alienated by the academic review process.