From “Publish or Perish” to “Publish and Thrive”: Developing a Publication Strategy as an ECR Dr Charlotte Mathieson Teaching Fellow School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics @cemathieson Charlotte.Mathieson@ncl.ac.uk

Creating a publication strategy: overview The Research Excellence Framework Quality – Quantity – Timing Employability

The REF Research Excellence Framework = the system for assessing quality of research in Higher Education institutions in the UK; determines funding distribution from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Last round = REF 2014 (submissions November 2013) Research outputs (65%); impact (20%); research environment (15%)

REF “outputs” Output = piece of research (article/monograph) Typical expectation = 4 outputs per academic (full time, research/ research & teaching) ECR discount Source: “Guides to Academia: The REF” by Charlotte Mathieson, on The New Academic.com

Key message Stay aware of changing HE landscape; be flexible and responsive. Focus on producing the best research that you can in the time available. Aim for fewer, high-quality publications.

Quality - types of publication Monograph Article Chapter in edited book collection Book review Edited book

Quality - types of publication Monograph: single-author, substantial (80-100k words) original research; can be “double-weighted” in REF. Article: 8-10k word original piece of research in peer-reviewed, respected journal. Chapter in edited book collection: typically peer-reviewed (may lack rigour of journal); often shorter (5-6k words). Book review: not original research (exceptions), shorter (1k words). Edited book: not (necessarily) original research, but a lot of work.

Quality – where to publish Journals “High impact” vs good fit Peer-review essential Monograph University (Oxford, Cambridge) / commercial press (Palgrave, Routledge) Good fit important Peer-review essential; level of copy-editing differs

Quantity No golden rule; “An academic track record and/or publications commensurate with the postholder’s career stage”; Competitive posts = ECR “discount” may not factor; Focus on quality not quantity: employers see rigour, and understand that quantity comes with time.

Timing Working with/around REF cycles Getting in to the current REF cycle (2019-ish cut-off) Lead-in time to publication Journal = anything from 6 months to 2+ years Monograph = anything from 10 months to x years…

Timing Working with/around REF cycles Holding back publications for next REF cycle 2011 – finished PhD 2012-15 – in non-REF-returnable job for REF 2014 = delayed 1st monograph for 2015 publication i.e. within REF 2020 cycle Next monograph = aiming for publication post-2020 REF

Writing a publication strategy: key components What – when – where Specifics: draft article titles/ concepts; journals/ presses to target; estimated deadlines for draft/ review / final send-off Look at the overall balance of types of publication Check requirements of journal/presses & other factors (e.g. funding) Remember that final send-off isn’t final – anticipate revisions Review & revise regularly

Writing a publication strategy: benefits Prioritising and balancing quality and quantity; Deadlines: structure and focus to post-PhD time; Basis for feedback; Tracking progress and evaluating what is feasible; Preparedness for job applications and interview.

Further reading Guides to academia: the REF, on The New Academic.com http://www.nadinemuller.org.uk/guides-to-academia/the-ref/ Getting published as an ECR, interview on The Stylish Academic http://stylishacademic.com/getting-published-ecr/ The impact of the REF on ECRs, talk at Westminster Higher Education Forum https://charlottemathieson.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/a-culture-of-publish-or-perish- the-impact-of-the-ref-on-ecrs/ Early Career Academics in English, notes from talk on Balancing Teaching and Research https://charlottemathieson.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/early-career-academics-in- english-studies-discussion-day/ charlotte.mathieson@ncl.ac.uk @cemathieson charlottemathieson.wordpress.com