On Oct. 22, the Department of Higher Education hosted a Brown Bag Session on writing and publishing for doctoral students. This event was initiated by Neal Hutchens, professor and chair of the department, with the panel discussion led by Ph.D. students Laura Martin and Kelly Smith Marion.

The focus of the Brown Bag Session was to explore the writing and publishing process from a student perspective. Current graduate students, Martin and Marion provided advice on the writing and publishing process.

Here are the takeaways from the Brown Bag Session on writing and publishing:  

 From Martin:

• Use class assignments as an opportunity to establish your research agenda. For one of my research projects, Planting Seeds through Service, I used my final paper for EDRS 704 to create a research design and my final paper in EDHE 656 to analyze the findings.
• Use conferences to create firm deadlines for your research agenda. Posters, presentations – all can help frame your thinking and essentially create an outline for a longer manuscript. They are also an opportunity to elicit feedback and critique from others in the field.
• Join listservs to learn about publishing opportunities. The service-learning in higher education listserv frequently has calls for proposals for edited volumes and themed journal issues. It’s best to tailor your article to your desired outlet, rather than shopping a completed manuscript to multiple venues in search of a home.
• Build a team and consider co-authorship. My group from EDRS 705 presented our final paper at AERA and then published an article based on that same paper.
• Join mentorship and early career cohorts at conferences to build your network. Find people who care enough about your work to give you honest feedback, push your thinking, tell you when you’re not ready, and help you get to the next level in your scholarship.
• Expect rejection! It sounds like this: We regret to report that your article submission to the Michigan Journal has not been accepted for publication. Attached please find the two peer reviews. Both reviewers found substantive shortcomings with the article. No new ground has been broken. Remember – rejection is part of the process and does not define your trajectory. Peer review, at its best, is an opportunity to critically appraise your work and is an investment in your growth and development as a scholar.
• Volunteer to serve as an article reviewer to get an insider’s view of the submission and editorial process. This is a great way to build service to the profession on your CV.
• Make taking care of yourself an absolute priority. When you are so busy and overwhelmed that you feel you can’t possibly slow down, that is exactly when you need to carve out some time to invest in yourself.

From Smith Marion:

• Seek resources, especially those close to home: We have a wonderful faculty, who are rich with diverse experiences. Don’t be afraid to seek their advice and/or ask for guidance. 
• If you don’t know where to start on your writing, READ: Reading is your best friend when it comes to writing. Reading about a topic from different perspectives and different types of publications will help you ground your piece. When you don’t know where to start, read! 
• Don’t be afraid to write outside your comfort zone: Know that you do not have to be an expert to write about a topic you are interested in, but be prepared to be reviewed by experts. Writing for publication and/or conferences is a great way to thoroughly explore a topic and learn about the different facets of higher education.    

By Veronica Crawford