Publishing

Abstract

Before mailing out your first application for a tenure-track job, set the goal of publishing (i.e., having accepted for publication) at least two article-length pieces; make sure that one comes from your dissertation. While such advice may seem unrealistic, even terrifying, to you at this stage of your career, careful long-term planning and an informed approach to seminar-paper writing can lead quite naturally to the generation of publishable material. The key is to avoid getting too far ahead of yourself since the pressure to publish can sometimes be paralyzing for inexperienced students and professors. Publishing success, on the other hand, can lead not only to exciting job prospects but also the personal satisfaction of knowing you have reached the pinnacle of accomplishment in your field. No one ever forgets the first time.