Last week, we answered a question on how to make your undergraduate research on fans available to the world. We talked about where to archive existing papers. But what if you have the time or inclination to write something new?
You can still use Zenodo or other academic archives to publish. However, there are also some academic journals that accept work by undergraduates and other people in the (admittedly nebulous) category of “student”.
There are some downsides to choosing an academic journal as your outlet. It’s definitely not quick or easy. For one, there’s no guarantee that your submission will ultimately be accepted. It may not be right for the journal at that particular point in time, or reviewers might decide that your text needs more work before it can meet the journal’s quality standards. Publishing in a journal also means that there will probably be a long gap between your submission of a paper, its acceptance, and its publication. Well upwards of half a year is very common. With many journals, almost everyone involved in the publishing process is a volunteer with a day job. Putting together even one journal issue can be a gargantuan task, from managing a flood of submissions to finding the right reviewers for papers, arranging for editing, and herding flocks of authors and reviewers who have to agree on whether a paper is ready for public scrutiny.
On the other hand, you get all the benefits of scholarly publishing: honest feedback from other researchers who will review your work, professional editing, and the satisfaction of appearing alongside established scholars. Your work will get a lot more visibility, and an academic publication is a great addition to a CV.
In short, depending on your needs, an academic journal could be the right venue for you. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be highlighting a few places where students can publish.
In response to our previous post, Dr. Julia Largent pointed out that the Popular Culture Studies Journal showcases student work in every issue:
If you’re curious about the journal and its submission requirements, check out its website, which offers not only information on sending work to the journal but also open access copies of past issues (hurrah for open access).
As pointed out in the Twitter thread above, you do have to be a current student to be considered for the student showcase. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you just graduated, however. You can also try submitting your work as a general submission, to be considered and evaluated in the same way as offerings from professional scholars. Contact Dr. Largent or the Popular Culture Studies Journal with any questions.
Up next week: Transformative Works and Cultures!