Writing for Publication

Thinking of writing for publication? The library can help in a number of ways! These include:

  • Access to SPSS for statistical analysis
  • Book, ebooks and journal articles on writing for publication
  • Literature search services to ensure your literature review is comprehensive
  • Membership of BMJ Case Reports for free submission of case reports for publication (fellowship number 915046)

Books and e-books

How to Write a Paper. Hall, George M. (2012) [e-book]

This concise paperback is one of the best known guides to writing a paper for publication in biomedical journals. Its straightforward format - a chapter covering each of part of the structured abstract - makes it relevant and easy to use for any novice paper writer. How to Write a Paper addresses the mechanics of submission, including electronic submission, and how publishers handle papers, writing letters to journals abstracts for scientific meetings, and assessing papers. This new edition also covers how to write a book review and updated chapters on ethics, electronic publication and submission, and the movement for open access.

Writing for Publication in Nursing and Healthcare: Getting it Right. Karen Holland and Roger Watson (2012) [e-book]

Looks at all aspects of writing for publication. It will help the reader to develop skills in writing articles, book reviews and other forms of publications, and can also be used as an aide-memoire for editors and journal or book reviewers. It explores: how to get started, how to write various forms of publication including abstracts, papers, book reviews, journal articles and books, good practice in reviewing, the editorial process, ethical and legal aspects of publishing. Offering guidance, tips, examples and activities, this practical how-to book written by experts in the field is essential reading for all nurses and healthcare professionals.

Anatomy of Writing for Publication for Nurses. Saver, Cynthia (2017) [e-book]

A practical and useful guide for nurses who need to bridge the gap from incomplete sentences to a published manuscript. Removes the fear and confusion most nurses have about the writing and publishing process. Along the way, 25 of nursing’s top writing experts and decision makers share important insights to help you increase the likelihood that your manuscript gets accepted for publication.

Winning the publications game: the smart way to write your paper and get it published. Albert, Tim (2016) [book]

The publications game can seem tricky: knowing where to start, how to plan and draft a paper, who to pitch it to and how to present it can appear difficult enough. With the advent of e-publishing and ever-tougher regulatory frameworks surrounding research, the picture can seem even more intimidating. This book demystifies the process of getting research published. From the initial brief to final manuscript and beyond, all is explained in jargon-free, no-nonsense and encouraging terms, providing indispensable guidance to clinicians, scientists and academics in giving their research the platform it deserves.

Checklists for writing for publication

PRISMA (for systematic reviews and meta-analyses)

PRISMA consists of an evidence-based set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. It focuses on the reporting of reviews evaluating randomised trials, but can also be used as a basis for reporting systematic reviews of other types of research, particularly evaluations of interventions.

CONSORT (randomised trials)

The CONSORT checklist covers parallel group randomised trials

CARE (case reports)

For completeness, transparency and data analysis in case reports and data from the point of care.