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The purpose
of this guide is to help authors, particularly inexperienced authors, get
their manuscripts published in recognized journals. It has been put
together by the Editor of the International Forestry Review and draws on
work carried out by
Fahamu, the Journal of Environmental Management, and the Tropical
Agriculture Association. The breadth of inputs illustrates the
common ground that exists between journals and disciplines when it comes
to writing and publishing scientific papers and highlights the importance
of understanding the principles contained on the following pages.
The guide is divided into the sections covering the key areas of
development, writing and submission of manuscripts but it is not necessary
to read every section. For those who need more support it provides a
step-by-step journey through all the important elements involved in
writing and publishing, but even for those who have more experience
there are likely to be some useful reminders of how papers should be
presented.
You might think "I can write so why do I need a guide?". The
reason is that science writing follows certain accepted protocols which
facilitate clarity and precision of reporting, and which enables the
reader to understand what you are reporting. If you choose to ignore
these accepted norms then you are unlikely to get your manuscript
published.
But the guide is more than just a 'How to' manual. It encourages
the reader to think about their research and how it should be presented at
each stage of the writing and publication process. By the time you
reach the end you should be well on the way to getting your manuscript
accepted by your chosen journal. Good luck!
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