The paper is nearly finished, and you're finally asking where it belongs. The first journal you examine doesn't publish this kind of article. The next wants a different emphasis. Choosing an outlet earlier could have made the writing decisions clearer.
The handbook recommends maintaining a list of relevant journals and looking at where your cited literature appears. Use those starting points to build a shortlist you can evaluate.
Begin with the conversation your paper joins
Look at the sources central to your question and identify the outlets publishing related work. Read recent articles, not just the names in an older bibliography. Consider the audience, questions, methods, and forms of contribution.
A journal that once published a related topic isn't automatically a current fit.
Keep a useful record
For each candidate, note:
- Its stated scope and intended readers.
- The relevant article types and submission guidance.
- Recent articles that help you explain the fit.
- The publisher, editorial information, and review description.
- Applicable charges, access options, and other terms to verify.
- Any unanswered questions that need checking.
Use the journal's current information and appropriate library support. Don't fill missing details with a number copied from an unexplained website.
Assess credibility and fit together
Examine the editorial and publication practices rather than treating a familiar title, an invitation, or a metric as sufficient evidence. Ask a knowledgeable librarian or colleague about concerns you can't resolve.
A suggested outlet still needs your own review.
Explain why each journal belongs on the list
Write one sentence connecting the paper's contribution to the readers and scope. If the explanation requires stretching the topic beyond what the study actually addresses, reconsider the match.
Keep the shortlist small enough to compare thoughtfully.
Use the choice to guide preparation
Read the instructions before making the manuscript conform to a structure the outlet doesn't use. Discuss the preferred option and alternatives with coauthors. Check the conditions before submitting anywhere.
Start with three plausible journals from the literature around your current question. Read their scope and a few recent articles, then write a fit sentence for each. The result is a reasoned shortlist, rather than a last-minute search for somewhere to send the file.
Adapted from The New Faculty Handbook by Zafer Unal, pp. 111-114.
