BJUI Author Workshop, Tuesday 23 rd June 2009 Hashim Hashim How to get started

Steps in writing a paper Choose a topic Choose the type of article Choose the journal to submit to Write the article Correct the article Send the article

Choose a topic

Choose the type of article

Choose the journal to submit to

Write the article

Correct the article

Send the article

Choosing a topic May be the most difficult step Literature search Interesting Original Advice of supervisor/consultant/colleague

May be the most difficult step

Literature search

Interesting

Original

Advice of supervisor/consultant/colleague

Types of articles Letters to editor Case reports Editorials Review Articles Original papers

Letters to editor

Case reports

Editorials

Review Articles

Original papers

Where to submit – Factors to consider Impact factor Audience Prestige Author’s preference Indexed on Medline Journal reply time Anonymity Frequency of publication

Impact factor

Audience

Prestige

Author’s preference

Indexed on Medline

Journal reply time

Anonymity

Frequency of publication

BJUI Eur Urol J Urol Urology 2005 2.25 3.42 3.59 2.14 2006 2.64 4.85 3.95 2.13 2007 2.75 5.63 4.05 2.13

Questions to answer before writing? What do you want to say? Is it worth saying? What is the right format? What is the audience? What is the right journal?

What do you want to say?

Is it worth saying?

What is the right format?

What is the audience?

What is the right journal?

Writing the article How to begin? Where to begin? When to begin? What to include? Who to include?

How to begin?

Where to begin?

When to begin?

What to include?

Who to include?

Referencing Reference manager Endnote

Reference manager

Endnote

Correcting the article How to correct? What to correct? How many times to correct?

How to correct?

What to correct?

How many times to correct?

Sending the article Where to send? How to send? What to send with it?

Where to send?

How to send?

What to send with it?

Waiting for journal reply May take time Correct as per reviewer instructions Don’t be ‘put off’ if rejected

May take time

Correct as per reviewer instructions

Don’t be ‘put off’ if rejected

‘ Rookie’ mistakes Not ‘sticking’ to the author instructions Word count References Style Figures/tables/pictures Title page Not checking Spelling Grammar Not getting Permissions/Copyright

Not ‘sticking’ to the author instructions

Word count

References

Style

Figures/tables/pictures

Title page

Not checking

Spelling

Grammar

Not getting Permissions/Copyright

Tips PLAN, PLAN & PLAN!!!!!!! Be patient & realistic Ask your colleagues who previously published Read previous papers on the topic Obtain all necessary signatures Attend courses and workshops ECDL Statistics Anticipate hurdles ENJOY IT!!!!

PLAN, PLAN & PLAN!!!!!!!

Be patient & realistic

Ask your colleagues who previously published

Read previous papers on the topic

Obtain all necessary signatures

Attend courses and workshops

ECDL

Statistics

Anticipate hurdles

ENJOY IT!!!!

What you could expect in 5 years!! 4 books (1 st editor and author) 3 book chapters (2 first author) 9 original papers (7 first author) 14 review articles (8 first author) 4 case reports (2 first author) 4 letters (3 first author)

4 books (1 st editor and author)

3 book chapters (2 first author)

9 original papers (7 first author)

14 review articles (8 first author)

4 case reports (2 first author)

4 letters (3 first author)

Conclusion Develop your own writing style Writing is an art, you need to practice it

Develop your own writing style

Writing is an art, you need to practice it

Pearls of Wisdom Necessity is the mother of invention A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step Beggars can't be choosers Practice makes perfect

Necessity is the mother of invention

A journey of a thousand miles begins

with a single step

Beggars can't be choosers

Practice makes perfect