Interested in publishing academic papers? Here's where to start

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By Dr Ollie Burton

Publishing journal articles is one of those areas that can make students and early careers doctors uneasy. But rest assured, you don’t need a PhD, a famous supervisor or a "big" idea to start. It’s more accessible than you think, and usually just takes a bit of organised, structured thinking.

The first question is "why?" Why do you want to publish a paper? Is it because you’ve found something interesting? To explore a question? Because your boss told you to "write this up"? Because the specialty application matrix told you to? None of these are inherently good or bad, but reflecting on "why" can help you tailor your approach to the situation at hand. A case report could be put together in a week or two; a systematic review in a few months; primary research, a year or more.

Formats available to you:

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the different types of paper you might try to write. Consider what question you are trying to answer and your own reasons for publishing, as each option has drastically different timelines and practical considerations.