Publishing in Rhetoric and Composition

These materials were collected for a presentation to the English Graduate Organization at Old Dominion University on 09/24/15.

Developing Publishable Essays

Seminar papers –> Conference presentations –>
Substantial article-length essays
- Engage broader scholarly conversations (taking place in field and specific journal)
- Take a significant turn in those conversations, making an argument that contributes something new or original
- Remember when discussing others’ work: they may be the people who serve as your reviewers (perhaps also reflect on your own sense of ethics re: how you want to relate to the ideas of others)

Identifying & Deciding on Journals

Notice which journals are assigned in seminars related to your interests
Identify the major scholars publishing on your interests and consider which journals they are publishing in and citing
Consult published lists of journals in your own field (e.g., “Journals in Rhetoric and Composition” by the Council of WPAs or “Journals in Rhetoric” from Stanford)
Strategize re: timing and status of journal, relative to your own scholarly and professional goals
Consider the specific types of opportunities you hope the publication will open up for you
Read the journal’s specific publication guidelines (such as these by CCC)

Submitting Essays to Refereed Journals

Review the publication guidelines again
Attend to any issues that could pose a problem for “blind” review
Adjust citation style if needed
Develop a cover letter to submit with your essay (email me if you’d like to see an example, which I’m happy to share one-to-one if you won’t circulate it anywhere else)
Make a plan B, for what you’ll do if essay is not accepted

Responding to “Revise & Resubmit”

Respond to editor in a timely manner
Plan well in advance for meeting the deadline
Read the reviews and editor’s comments, and then try to set them aside for a day or two
Reread the above, making a chart to plan your revisions process. Include every comment from each reviewer and the editor, grouping like comments together; translate each suggestion into your own words, making sure you understand it; plan for what you’ll do to address each suggestion; note the specific page numbers where you’ll make each change (same as above, if you’d like to see an example)
Use the chart to write a new cover letter in which you detail how you addressed each reviewer and the editor’s feedback (same as above, if you’d like to see an example)
ALWAYS revise and resubmit when given the opportunity to do so!

Learning More about Publishing

The Peer Review Process