By John Bond

Early in one’s career, academics and researchers focus on individual wins (early wins = getting published). Long term, however, they are better served by developing a personalized Publishing Strategy. This may sound highfalutin, but it is simpler than it sounds and easier to develop and curate over time than most people think.

First, what is a Publishing Strategy? A Publishing Strategy is a long-term, intentional plan for when, where, and how you publish your research, aligned with your academic goals, research agenda, and career stage. Most people only start to think about this after achieving their first position in academia. They’re anxious to get their first publication under their belt. It is gratifying and validating. This first publication might enable them to fulfill a requirement for employment or for a research grant. These first few wins are important, but I suggest you quickly move past them to develop a wider plan.

I would suggest you start thinking more broadly by asking, “What is the intellectual thread that connects your work?” and then building a strategy that maximizes this theme.

Use this as a jumping off point in developing your Publishing Strategy. I suggest this work actually be done in writing, and not just in your mind. It’s important to memorialize this in a place that you’ll be able to see and refer to in the future. Nothing you’d be writing down would be set in stone. It is all up for future revision as your career takes the inevitable twists and turns that are ahead. Wherever you codify your Publishing Strategy, set a calendar reminder to review it and chart your progress. It could literally be a chart or dates or goals. It will be concrete statements that you’re able to measure yourself against in the future.

Developing a Publishing Strategy will help you to not react opportunistically (publishing randomly through the years ahead). All your work needs to contribute to your strategy. You will be working with purpose and focus.

So, what does a Publishing Strategy actually look like? There is no one set format. As I said, it might be a narrative, with bulleted items with goals and dates assigned. It definitely should be aspirational and push you to achieve all that is possible. Some of the points that might be covered include:

• Start by choosing two or three main goals that align with where you want to go. They will likely help you achieve career milestones like tenure, promotion, or grant qualifications.
• Start to detail journal publication objectives, specifically the types of journal, such as high-impact journals, field-specific audiences, or open access visibility. Think of each publication as a stepstone on an intentional path.
• Do you need publications for grant competitiveness, conference invitations, or industry consulting?
• Do you want to establish yourself as a thought leader?
• Do you want to publish a book or monograph?
• Do you want to increase your international visibility?
• Do you want to work in an interdisciplinary fashion or cross collaboratively?
• Do you want to be invited as a keynote speaker or journal editor?

If any of these points resonate with you, turn them into detailed objectives. Add specific steps to achieve any one goal.

Reflect annually (or more often) on your Publishing Strategy. What worked? What didn’t? What needs to change?

A Publishing Strategy can help be a lodestar or guidepost. Happy sailing.

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