It finally happened! Your paper got accepted. Your hard work has paid off. You will need to review digital proofs and then a few weeks later your work will be available for the world to read. Congrats!

But do not pick up that novel yet. There are some other items that you should do. Here is a brief list:

Promote Your Work

With the many changes taking place in publishing, the biggest threat to scholarly journals is obscurity. With the flood of content out there, publishers need to actively ensure it is available and promoted in the marketplace of ideas. Promotion is equally important to authors. Here are some inexpensive steps you can take to actively promote your article:

• Social media: Choose one channel, perhaps Twitter or LinkedIn, and concentrate on building your connections. Choose the one that clicks best with your discipline. Connections or followers are key. Plan on multiple postings at different times of the week and to use appropriate hashtags.
• Academic social networking sites: Websites like ResearchGate and Acamedia.edu offer a great opportunity to promote your work and connect with others in their field. Members of the sites each have a user profile and can upload research output, including papers, data, and more.
• Speak about your work: At all opportunities, give presentations or present posters of your work and include your article or links to it.
• Blogs: Having a blog or guest blogging can be a great opportunity to discuss your work.  Once again, this endeavor needs to start well before publication.
• Email your contacts: Individually, connect with your colleagues and send them a link to your article. Ask them for any feedback.
• Participate in podcasts or video interviews: Some subject areas have active podcasts or video channels. Many of these hosts are looking for interesting people to interview. Pitch them on an idea that relates to your article. Adapt your article to the interests of the listeners or viewers.
• Listservs or online forums: Once again, many subject areas have active forums for discussions. Participate in them for your long-term professional benefit. When possible, make mention of your article and link to it when appropriate.
• Coordinate all these efforts with the journal publisher: They will appreciate your efforts and will likely support them. Make sure you use the best web address to promote the article.

Write Another One

After your article is published, get started on your next writing project.

• Continue to write. The best way to improve as a writer is to write regularly.
• Learn: Take courses, webinars, watch videos, and read books about writing.
• Read a Blog: If you want to stay in touch with academic publishing, follow the blog Scholarly Kitchen by the Society for Scholarly Publishing.
• Join a writing or research group. Having people to support your work while you are supporting theirs is very beneficial.
• Find a partner. Long term, some writers achieve success with a writing partner. You may help each other through the writing, editing, and revision process. The person may be a co-author or fellow researcher.
• Get or be a mentor. Mentors can be very helpful with your career trajectory and with writing. Likewise, at some point, you can mentor others, which also helps you to grow. Speak to people in your organization about suggestions on finding a mentor.
• Join an editorial or review board. Many journals are looking for qualified professionals to either review manuscripts or help direct a journal. Nothing will give you greater insight into the publishing world and its challenges as reviewing other manuscripts. It will make you a better author, reader, and give you a greater appreciation of your field. You will also start developing a relationship with the editor and individuals who run the journal and give you a front-row seat on what is hot and what is not.
• Network, network, network. Your academic work in many ways depends on who you know, although many will dispute that. These connections can lead to great future projects, great future co-authors, peer reviewers, ideas, or a good friend. Spend the time cultivating a network, and your writing and publishing will benefit.
• Seek help from a professional. I am a Publishing Consultant and work with individuals and organizations on short-term and long-term writing and publishing projects. I would be pleased to speak with you about your project or your career. Contact me at PublishingFundamentals.com or RiverwindsConsulting.com. Of course, there are many other qualified individuals in my field as well.

Finally, do not let these next tasks overshadow what you have accomplished. Celebrate what you have done. Maybe throw yourself a party! Or cupcakes at least. There is always room for cupcakes.

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John Bond is a publishing consultant at Riverwinds Consulting. He just released a new book: The Little Guide to Getting Your Journal Article Published: Simple Steps to Success. He is also the host of the YouTube channel “Publishing Defined.” Contact him at jbond@riverwindsconsulting.com.