What is a "holistic publication strategy"?

By Janet Salmons, PhD Manager, Sage Research Methods Community

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Think about your own big picture, and how to paint it. There are many options for sharing ideas and disseminating findings. In addition to scholarly writings, you might want to write more practical books or articles that allow professionals, practitioners, or policy-makers to apply your ideas. You might use informal online posts or newsletters to build your name recognition and draw readers to more formal publications.

Maybe you will be more effective at making an impact with a creative output. Some creative options require us to do more than write-- because they involve visuals, media, and/or communications technologies.

As a visual communicator, I like using mind maps to illustrate ideas and relationships. In this map I laid out four broad categories: books, articles, online, or visual/media communications. Within each category, I suggest types of work and roles needed to accomplish it. Look for synergies among the options that best fit your work and intended audience, so that choices are mutually-reinforcing. Let’s call that coherent plan a holistic publication strategy.

A holistic publication strategy is a thoughtful plan of action for aligning career goals with publication options. (Salmons & Kara, 2020)

What will you publish? What roles will you take?

My own strategy involves writing books and blogs.

I generally prefer the substantive writing involved with books. I also like the immediacy of blogging, offered here on the Sage Research Methods Community and as a guest on other sites For both books and blogs I create a lot of visuals, including drawings, diagrams, photography, and media. In terms of roles, I am a researcher, an author and co-author, a chapter contributor, and an artist. I also take on editing and reviewing tasks when I work with other scholars.

What is your strategy?

Reflect on your career goals and publication needs. Think about the roles where you feel proficient and those where new skills are needed. For each project, identify the roles you will take, those collaborators or co-authors might take, and those you need to hire someone else to do.

Download the Publication Strategy map and annotate it. Add notes, prioritize items, color code items, or add dates to make it your own. Print it out and post it on the wall near your writing desk. When you have a publication strategy, instead of feeling that you are being pulled in too many directions, you will find a sense of coherence in your writing activities.

Learn more about publication strategies in this book, co-authored with Dr. Helen Kara: Publishing from your Doctoral ResearchCreate and Use a Publication Strategy.

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