Workshop
How to write an article
Jos M. Latour
Professor in Clinical Nursing
University of Plymouth, UK
@JosLatour1
Learning Outcomes
Get out your notebook and pen…. This is a workshop
Understanding the
publication process
Writing a
manuscript
Writing a rebuttal to
reviewers’
comments
Plagiarism and
professional
misconduct
The Journey
Focus
Are you clear of
the aim and
purpose of your
paper?
Who are you
writing for and
how will you
engage readers?
How will you
demonstrate
originality in your
contribution?
Activity 1
What is the topic of your paper? Write your topic on a paper!
Journal choice
• Scan journals
• Subscribe to eTable Of Contents
• Paper vs Online version (open access)
• Impact Factor
• Editorial board members
Warning
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jan.13090
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jocn.15947
Put in order
And certainly do
not start with your
laundry, clean
windows, clean
your car or your
house
General
manuscript
lay-out
Title Page: Title, author names,
affiliations, address corresponding author
Abstract / Keywords
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion / Conclusion
If you know the
journal, start writing
and conform to the
author guidelines
If not, start writing by
using a general paper
format
Organise
Detail
Tasker R. Writing for PCCM: The 3,000-Word Structured Clinical
Research Report. Ped Crit Care Med 2021;22(3):312-317
DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000002700
How do I start?
Easy to start... type a title page
Use Keep it Simple and Short
Use plain language
Be accurate and informative
Write short sentences (< 3 lines)
Manuscript
Use guidelines for reporting relevant to
your research
www.equator-network.orgManuscript
Title
Short, sharp, concise
Include study method
Shorter titles, used of colon, no ?,
have more citations (Hudson, 2016)
Examples
Activity 2
What was your title again? Write and share your title!
Key messages
WHAT IS KNOWN WHAT IS NEW
Key messages
Activity 3
Write key messages What’s known What’s new
Abstract
Use
Use keywords in
abstract
Repeat
Repeat keywords
2/3 times in a
natural manner
Structure
Structure the
abstract based on
author guidelines
Background
Background; Aim;
Method; Results;
Conclusion
Introduction
Flow and funneling Focus to aim of the study
Funneling the background / introduction
(Albarran, Latour 2019)
Broad introduction of topic - sets the context
Nature and scale of the problem/relevance
to the readership is made explicit
Review of published studies
and identification of
gaps/knowledge
Study
aim
Funnelling the introduction
Funnelling the introduction
Funnelling the introduction
Methods
Use sub-headings
settings, study
population,
intervention,
outcomes, analysis,
and do not forget
ethics
Results
Do not overlap
the text which can
be read in the
tables and figures
Be clear and
objective and do
not interpreting
the results
Results (tables & figures)
• Table number and title always on top of table
• Figure number and title always at the bottom of figure
• Long tables (>2 pages) consider Electronic Supplement Material
• Figures need to be clear and use journal’s requested format (jpg, PDF, tiff)
• Quotations of qualitative studies: In text and add participants’ study code
Discussion
Start to repeat the aim and
main findings
Discuss and compare your
results with other studies
Limitations, implications for
clinical practice, conclusion
Funneling the Discussion (Albarran, Latour 2019)
Summarise
your study
Present results and emphasise
key findings using relevant data
Discuss results of previous studies
Confirm if your data supports (or contradicts) previous studies
and give reasons
Limitations of your study – write in an honest and transparent way
Implications for clinical practice – write the significance
Conclusion (supported by your results) & future research
References
Check journal reference
style
Use reference manager
software
Double check the reference
list before submitting
Manuscript finished
Do not submit
Do not submit
too quickly
Read out
Read out loud
Present
Present to co-
authors
Ask
Ask a colleague
to read it
Ask
Ask a consumer
to read it
Author and co-authors
Co-authors only with
significant contribution to
your work
http://www.icmje.org/recommenda
tions/browse/roles-and-
responsibilities/defining-the-role-
of-authors-and-contributors.html
Use ‘Acknowledgements’
section
ICMJE authorship (4 criteria)
Substantial contributions to conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or
interpretation of data for the work; AND
Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
Final approval of the version to be published; AND
Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to
the accuracy/integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated/resolved.
Have ready to submit (online)
• Your co-authors details, title, qualifications, phone number
• Some journals require a lot of detail ….
• Cover letter -> short only versus long and selling your manuscript
• Potential reviewer names – required by some journals
Decision by Editor (10 tips)
http://clinchem.aaccjnls.org/content/57/4/551
1
Get mad.
then get
over it
2
Consider
what the
editor’s
decision
letter
really
says
3
Wait and
gather
your
thoughts
4
Even if
reviewer
is wrong,
it does
not mean
you are
right
5
Choose
your
battles
wisely
6
Do not pit
one
reviewer
against
another
7
Be
grateful
for the
reviewers
' and
editor’s
time
8
Restate
reviewer'
s or
editor’s
comment
when
respondin
g
9
Be
prepared
to cut text
10
Do not
submit
the same
version
to
another
journal
Rebuttal
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is an offence
Self-plagiarism is
unethical
If unsure, check your
manuscript before
submitting, because…
Journals use plagiarism
software to check for
plagiarism before
publication
Finally… your manuscript is accepted
• Wait for the article Proof
• Proof is you last chance to change anything before it is published
• Respond time to approve the Proof is 48 hours -> thus…. Hurry!
• Carefully assess your paper and respond to the questions by the
type-setter.
• Wait for the paper to become online ahead of print
4 Easy Ways to Increase the Impact of Your Published Paper
4 Easy Ways to Increase the Impact of Your Published Paper
4 Easy Ways to Increase the Impact of Your Published Paper
4 Easy Ways to Increase the Impact of Your Published Paper
Final Words
Have a personal reason
to write, rather than for
others’ expectations
Reward yourself for
sacrifices made
Look after your mental,
physical, social and
spiritual health
Identify colleagues with
expertise who can
motivate and support
you
Good luck with your publication
Prof. Jos M. Latour
jos.latour@plymouth.ac.uk