From Draft to Publication: 10 Grounded Tips for Getting Your Work Published

Abstract

What does it take to get your paper published?

This is a question we have both been asked countless times—by early-career scholars anxiously preparing their first submission, by doctoral students unsure of when to send their work out into the world, and, yes—even by seasoned academics who have grown somewhat weary with reviewer feedback that reads more like code than critique. The truth is, getting published is not a test of academic brilliance; it is a craft. And, like all crafts, it requires sustained attention, multiple revisions, and a mindful appreciation of the space you are entering.

In this editorial, we offer ten grounded and practice-informed tips that reflect our shared editorial experience with International Sports Studies. These suggestions aim to support authors, especially those working in non-dominant research contexts, such as underrepresented regions or emerging academic institutions—who are eager to strengthen their manuscripts and share their insights with the broader international community. This is not a formula. It is an invitation to reflect, revise, and contribute more meaningfully to scholarly discourse.