1. 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

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

3. 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%)

4. 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

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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…

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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. Further reading
Guides to academia: the REF, on The New Academic.com
Getting published as an ECR, interview on The Stylish Academic
The impact of the REF on ECRs, talk at Westminster Higher Education Forum the-impact-of-the-ref-on-ecrs/
Early Career Academics in English, notes from talk on Balancing Teaching and Research english-studies-discussion-day/
@cemathieson charlottemathieson.wordpress.com