Before you start your research and writing, it is worth thinking about where you are going to publish. Contemplating this early means you can look at the requirements of the journal's you're interested in, assess the required style and understand your responsibilities as an author in terms of protocols and data management. This ensures you will be well-prepared when you start the submission process.

Think about these points when choosing a journal:

• Where do you read?
  • What is the readership and audience?
  • Is it suitable for your research?
• Ask your supervisor for the quality journals in your field.
• Check the aims and scope of the journal:
  • Read the information for authors e.g. MJA instructions for authors 
  • Check the different types of articles, formats and lengths accepted by the journal
  • Check acceptance rates and the time it takes to publish
  • Requirements and copyright – can you make the article available through CRO? See our CRO Guidelines.
• Note that the Australian Research Council (ARC) has an open access policy that requires:
  • All 'research outputs' should be open access within 12 months of publication
  • A repository record with publication details (title, authors, etc.) must be public within 3 months of publication.

See Finding the Right Journal for more details.

By thinking about this early you can avoid realising you need to share your data but didn't ask for participant's permission.

• What ethical approvals do you need? See Charles Sturt's Human Research Ethics.
• Get Data Sharing statements and permissions early. Data Sharing is increasingly part of the Open Research Discussion and there is more information in our Research Data Management guide. 
• Evidence of consent (case studies) - NSW Health Consent Toolkit, WHO's Research Ethics Review Committee or NHMRC Ethics and Resources
• IP forms and permission - Charles Sturt's Intellectual Property Policy will be useful.

Discuss this early in the writing process!

• Authorship guidelines vary for each journal
• First author generally does most of the work
• Last author is often the supervisor
• Corresponding author deals with the publisher and is the author used for Read and Publish agreements
• All authors should have an ORCID

Below are some resources to assist you in choosing a title, writing the abstract and using the best keywords.

• How to pick the best keywords for a journal article - think about what keywords/phrases your audience might search for. You can use tools such as Scopus and Web of Science to perform your own test searches to see what articles are selected based on your proposed article title. Then use the keywords and phrases in the title, and repeatedly in the abstract. It will help to make the paper more discoverable by search engines. 
• Tips on writing a research paper title - includes resources for further reading
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for research articles - a guide to choosing a good title and keywords for your paper and promoting your article from Taylor and Francis
• Top tips to make your article visible - a guide from Elsevier that explains how choosing a title and keywords carefully can make your article more discoverable.
• SEO optimization for research articles - a guide to choosing effective titles and keywords for your article from Wiley.
• Fundamentals of manuscript preparation - An online module from the Elsevier Research Academy which provides an introduction to the publishing process including how to structure an article and tips on writing an abstract.

The path to scholarly publishing involves a series of steps, including decisions about when and how to share your work. Each version of the same article plays a role in the research lifecycle. From the first draft shared on a preprint server, to the accepted manuscript deposited in a repository, through to the final published version in a journal, understanding where each version sits helps you navigate open access pathways, meet funder requirements, and maximise the visibility of your research. 

What is a preprint? 

A preprint is a version of your manuscript that has not yet been peer reviewed. Researchers may choose to share a preprint at different stages: 

• Before submission: to gather early feedback, strengthen the work, and invite collaboration. 
• At submission: to make the manuscript publicly available while it is under review, and to establish priority for the findings. 
• After submission: depositing on a preprint server can be part of the open access pathway, increasing visibility of publications. 

Preprints are hosted on dedicated servers (such as arXiv, bioRxiv, SSRN, or OSF Preprints). They make your work available immediately, can attract comments and suggestions, and help increase the visibility of your research. Preprints are free to read, but it is important to remember they are not peer reviewed. 

What is an Author Accepted Manuscript? 

An Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM), sometimes also called a postprint, is the version of your article that has been through peer review and revisions and has been accepted for publication. It contains the same content as the final published article, but without the publisher’s typesetting or branding. This is the version most repositories, including Charles Sturt University Research Output (CRO), prefer for deposit. It ensures wider access while respecting publisher policies.

Preprints as part of the Open Access publishing pathway 

Sharing a preprint does not replace Open Access publishing, but it can be an important part of the pathway, particularly in some disciplines. Some journals and funders encourage or even require preprints. Policies differ, so always check what’s allowed using tools such as the Open Policy Finder (previously Sherpa/Romeo).

Recap – Manuscript Versions 

• Submitted version (preprint): The original manuscript, before peer review. May be shared on a preprint server. 
• Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM/postprint): The peer-reviewed and accepted version, not yet typeset. This is the version most repositories prefer. 
• Published version (Version of Record): The final formatted and branded version, available on the publisher’s website. 

Where servers and repositories fit 

• Preprint servers host the submitted version before or alongside peer review. 
• Institutional or subject repositories (such as CRO) usually host the AAM, often after an embargo period. 
• Publisher platforms host the final published version. 

Preprint servers and repositories 

Since the launch of arXiv in the early 1990s, many discipline-specific and general preprint servers have been developed. Ask colleagues which are common in your field, or consult directories such as: 

• ASAPbio Preprint Server Directory (life sciences, biomedical, and clinical research). 
• List of preprint repositories (all disciplines). 

When posting a preprint: 

1. Check journal policies. 
2. Choose a server (visibility, indexing, funder recognition). 
3. Select a licence. 
4. Get co-author agreement. 
5. Deposit data/code alongside if relevant. 
6. Post the preprint and invite feedback. 

Practical takeaway - Hold on to your preprint and your AAM!

These versions are the most useful for sharing in repositories, meeting funder requirements, and maximising access to your work. 

It is good practice to retain a copy of both your submitted and accepted versions of a manuscript. If you are not the corresponding author, ask them to share a copy with you. 

Watch: What are preprints? [Youtube, 2 min]