Where to Publish: Choosing a Journal for Your Scholarship

Once you have a working title and abstract, the next step is to identify journals that regularly publish work like yours. Use the strategies below to build a short list of potential venues before you dive into detailed evaluations.

Begin with the journals that shape your own reading and citing habits.

• Scan your reference list. Look at where the articles you cite most often are published; those journals are likely to be interested in related work.
• Review recent issues. Browse recent tables of contents for journals in your field and note where similar topics, methods, or article types appear.
• Check editorial boards. Journals with editors and board members you recognize and trust are often good starting points for your shortlist.
• Look at “related articles” links. On publisher platforms and databases, use “related,” “similar,” or “recommended” article features to discover additional journals with overlapping content.

Several tools can help you match your manuscript to journals by topic, keywords, and scope.

• Publisher journal finder tools. Many large publishers offer journal suggestion tools where you can paste your title and abstract to see journals that align with your topic and keywords.
• Subject databases and indexes. Run a search on your topic in discipline-specific databases and note which journals appear most often in the results; these are core venues for work like yours.
• Open access journal directories. Use vetted directories of open access journals such as the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to identify titles that meet basic quality and transparency standards.
• Society and association lists. Professional associations often sponsor or recommend journals, or maintain lists of publications in the discipline or subfield.
• Journal lists used in your department. Some units maintain informal or formal lists of journals they consider central to the discipline; these can help you align with local expectations.

Ask your subject librarian which databases, journal directories, and tools are most useful for your discipline.

Human insight is often the fastest way to narrow your options.

• Ask colleagues where they publish similar work. Senior faculty, mentors, and co-authors can point you to journals that are respected in your subfield and appropriate for your career stage.
• Discuss expectations with your chair or evaluation committee. Clarify how your department views different kinds of journals, including open access titles, practice-oriented outlets, and interdisciplinary venues.
• Consult your librarian subject specialist. Librarians can help you:
  • Check whether a journal is indexed in key databases used in your field
  • Identify open access options and review publisher policies on self-archiving
  • Spot possible warning signs of predatory or questionable journals

If you would like help building or refining a list of possible journals, contact your librarian subject specialist.