Getting an article in a development journal

1. Don’t be discouraged. JDS receives 2000 submissions per year and they don’t have enough referees to send all those papers a review – so many are rejected without review.
2. It’s obvious but your paper must relate to development studies, so it should be clear in the abstract and introduction how you are engaging with the development studies literature. You can be very involved in the details but you need to step back and look at what is connecting to the broader literature.
3. JDS have no strong preference on methodology but the journal’s aspiration is for a mixed method approach. You must explain your methods and why you chose them.
4. Writing style is very important: get your supervisor to read your article or get senior colleagues to feedback on the style of writing.

1. The abstract, title and keywords are your first impression to the editor so avoid being “desk-rejected” by not having this information clear.
2. Pay attention to what debate in development studies you’re addressing. Make a unique contribution. Speak to development studies debates but don’t repeat what others are saying. Papers on the margin or connecting debates from one field to another could be interesting.
3. Get an ORCID ID so that you’re verified as an author.

Book publishing

Bloomsbury

1. Have a conversation with Bloomsbury before you start on the book proposal form, because some publishers will have higher word counts or other differences.
2. If you are thinking of using PhD thesis as a book, use the proposal form to say how you would transform the thesis into a book or send a redrafted chapter if you have it ready.
3. Know that you will not make a lot of money publishing a book! But you will have better writing!

Routledge / Taylor and Francis

1. Look at the publisher’s book proposal form which gets you to set out what the book is about and who for. This helps you get key information focused.
2. The title is important to get right as it get people’s attention. It is also important for online searches.
3. Know what the book is about and your reasons for writing it. Be able to pitch the book and what is its unique selling point. Ensure that the pitch is relevant for your audience, don’t make it try and fit everyone.
4. Think about your desired format, the timeline of the book and where it sits within the wider readership. Look at current titles related to your book.
5. Draft a table of contents so editors know what will be in the book and a draft chapter.

Oxford University Press

1. Find a publisher that looks at development in a concentrated way – not just the occasional development title.
2. Think: why do you want to publish a book and who do you want to read it? This helps you decide who to publish it. Why would you publish a book and not a journal or contributing to an edited volume?
3. Walk into the biggest bookshop and look for where your book would be displayed. And see who is publishing in that area in the last year or two. Look at who you’re citing and recent in the books youre reading in a related topic.