Introducing the Journal Article Structure Template (JAST) Approach to Getting Your Paper Published

Abstract

This paper introduces a new approach to support academic writing: the Journal Article Structure Template (JAST). In an ever-more competitive publishing landscape, academics face increasing pressure to produce high-quality papers quickly. The writing process can be time-consuming and being faced with a blank page can prove daunting. While submission guidelines typically outline formal requirements, the more nuanced stylistic and structural expectations of journals can be harder to discern. This is particularly apparent for the growing number of researchers working across disciplines. Shifting publishing trends within journals, evolving editorial orientations and tacit knowledge add further complexity. This article outlines the development of JAST, a set of Open Educational Resources designed to support researchers, particularly those new to academic writing,  to identify, explore and understand journal expectations in a more nuanced way beyond author guidelines. The paper provides an overview of the rationale for, and development of, JAST. Guidance is offered on how to use the stepwise template-based approach, along with the tool’s applications to date and feedback from scholars across a range of disciplines. Users consistently report that JAST is effective, time-efficient and flexible, helping them navigate structural conventions, stylistic preferences and content trends.