Re:Ask HN: Getting published in an academic journal without ...
by jballanc on Monday May 18, 2009 @11:47PM
(#616207)
What field?
That can be a very important consideration for a few reasons. First, if you're interested in publishing in the math field, forget peer reviewed journals entirely. From what I've heard, the arXiv (http://arxiv.org/) has essentially replaced most math journals. Similarly, while peer reviewed journals are still very important for physics, many papers will appear on the arXiv first (and in journals like Phys. Rev. Lett. later).
In theory, anyone can publish to the arXiv. In practice, they have a referral system designed to keep the crackpots out (with varying degrees of success). My recommendation would be to find someone who publishes there and is interested in the same topics as you, then contact them directly. No matter which route you pick, don't underestimate the value of personal contacts. As an alternative to the arXiv, Nature has a relatively new preprint server set up as well (http://precedings.nature.com/) though its popularity pales in comparison to the arXiv.
If math or physics is not your game (or even if it is), then I'd recommend PLoS One (http://www.plosone.org/). They have a policy of publishing any work with scientific merit. However, since they work on an Open Access model, they will charge you in order to review and publish your work. That said, if you can convince them that you don't have the means to pay their charge, they will sometimes wave the fee.
Finally, it never hurts to send off your manuscript to Science, Nature, or any one of the second or third tier journals. True, many of them won't give you even a cursory glance without degree and affiliation, but there's always a chance!
That can be a very important consideration for a few reasons. First, if you're interested in publishing in the math field, forget peer reviewed journals entirely. From what I've heard, the arXiv (http://arxiv.org/) has essentially replaced most math journals. Similarly, while peer reviewed journals are still very important for physics, many papers will appear on the arXiv first (and in journals like Phys. Rev. Lett. later).
In theory, anyone can publish to the arXiv. In practice, they have a referral system designed to keep the crackpots out (with varying degrees of success). My recommendation would be to find someone who publishes there and is interested in the same topics as you, then contact them directly. No matter which route you pick, don't underestimate the value of personal contacts. As an alternative to the arXiv, Nature has a relatively new preprint server set up as well (http://precedings.nature.com/) though its popularity pales in comparison to the arXiv.
If math or physics is not your game (or even if it is), then I'd recommend PLoS One (http://www.plosone.org/). They have a policy of publishing any work with scientific merit. However, since they work on an Open Access model, they will charge you in order to review and publish your work. That said, if you can convince them that you don't have the means to pay their charge, they will sometimes wave the fee.
Finally, it never hurts to send off your manuscript to Science, Nature, or any one of the second or third tier journals. True, many of them won't give you even a cursory glance without degree and affiliation, but there's always a chance!