In my own words by Paria Sanaty Zadeh, 2017 Pharm.D. Candidate

Journal and magazine articles are crucial to the exchange of ideas to improve practice in any field. Publications on pharmacy topics can ignite valuable changes in pharmacy practice, as they are distributed to thousands of pharmacy professionals and students.

I became involved in writing pharmacy articles through the School of Pharmacy Writing Club. The organization has afforded me excellent opportunities for improving my technical writing skills, and I strongly encourage students interested in pharmacy writing to become involved with this group. After my experiences with Writing Club, the process of publishing my article in Drug Topics was seamless, as I had prior experience with the submission process.

For students interested in pharmacy writing, below are my tips for getting published:

Gauge interest. As a student, it is wise to contact editors to determine interest in your topic prior to manuscript preparation, especially if you are targeting your article to a specific journal or magazine. This will help you understand the likelihood of acceptance prior to submission.

Ensure your article is a good fit. When reading through pharmacy journals and magazines, gain a sense of the publication scope and style. It is critical to ensure that your article is in line with the scope of the journal or magazine prior to submission. It is also valuable to consider if your article is appropriate for the style and format of the publication. Editors work diligently to ensure cohesive editions and only accept articles that match these aspects of their publications.

Collaborate with the right people. If you are writing with others, ensure that authors have similar writing styles. This will avoid producing an article with drastic variations in writing style and voice. Consider contacting pharmacy professionals who are experts on the topic, who are board-certified in that specialty, and whose practice is focused in that area, with the request to collaborate.

Understand the requirements. Some journals do not allow students to contribute, while others consider student work only when co-authored by a pharmacist. Read the publication’s guidelines to ensure that you are following all submission requirements regarding reference style, word limits, and formatting.

Revise, review, and revise again. Ask editors if a peer review process is available. If not, individually contact pharmacists and other experts in the field to review your work and provide feedback. Sharing your manuscript will provide perspective and allow you to incorporate various improvements. It is recommended to acknowledge these individuals for their contributions to your final product.

Most importantly, write only if you truly enjoy writing and are passionate about the topic at hand. This ensures that the impact you make is meaningful. Sharing information with the pharmacy community may spark new ideas, initiate interest, and create valuable discussion. In this way, students can contribute to the ongoing development and passion for pharmacy practice.