20 Editage Insights posts that emerged as community favorites in 2018

Throughout the year, the Editage Insights team is busy making sure that you, our readers, get the best and most important resources that will help you understand the dynamic scholarly communication and academic publication landscape better and stay updated about the latest trends in the industry. The posts we publish include tips-based articles, invited contributions from our guest authors, perspectives of journal editors, personal experiences of researchers, conversations with industry professionals, and much more!

As we entered the first week of the new year, we found ourselves wondering about something:

We did some digging and found that our readers, the Editage Insights community, loved reading a very interesting mix of posts on this platform. We love this list because it reveals how truly diverse and dynamic the academic and scholarly publishing industry really is!

Aren’t you curious to know more? Read on to see which of our posts received the most love and attention during 2018.

Useful tips and quick takeaways on academic writing and publishing

1. The basics of writing a statement of the problem for your research proposal [Downloadable template]  
   Are you feeling lost about writing a statement of the problem? This article, which also happens to be one of our most viewed articles - provides clear, step-by-step guidance for systematically outlining and writing a statement of the problem for your research.  
2. A 10-step guide to make your research paper abstract more effective  
   Your abstract is basically like a trailer of a movie! It sets the tone for the rest of your paper, so you should do your best to write an attractive and effective abstract. This article, which always features among our top 10 most-viewed resources, help you write a great abstract in 10 steps!
3. How to manage work-life balance as a postdoc scientist  
   Considering that most academics have to deal with a dual set of responsibilities – personal and academic – going through a postdoc can be quite challenging. This article helps you develop a pragmatic approach when it comes to maintaining work-life balance during your postdoc.
4. 5 Easy tips to avoid accidental plagiarism  
   Even the most honest authors are susceptible to accidental plagiarism if they are unaware of the practices that are considered plagiarism. Accidental plagiarism could not only lead to journal rejection but also tarnish a researcher's reputation. This video has helped several researchers understand and avoid committing accidental plagiarism.
5. 8 Tips for presenting a paper at an academic conference  
   Attending an academic conference can be daunting but presenting at one can be nerve wracking! Most researchers look forward to presenting their papers at conferences, but addressing a large crowd can be quite intimidating. If you’re a first-time presenter, following these 8 useful tips will help you feel more confident about your talk.
6. 8 Winning hacks to use Google Scholar for your research paper  
   Are you finding it tough to maneuver through your literature search? Google Scholar is a tool researchers commonly use for conducting literature searches.  However, it can sometimes be tough to find exactly what you’re looking for on this platform. This well-received post shares 8 great tips and tricks to help make your Google Scholar search more effective.
7. 6 Article types that journals publish: A guide for early career researchers  
   Are you aware of the different types of articles that journals publish? Knowing the kind of scientific literature you could publish will leave you with more options to explore while planning your publication. Our readers have found this article to be very helpful as it briefly explains the 6 kinds of articles you could consider when planning your next publication.
8. 5 Differences between a research paper and a review paper 
   Have you struggled to tell the difference between a research paper and a review paper? Take a look at this infographic that highlights 5 differences between the two types of publications.
9. Tips for authors submitting a revised manuscript 
   One of the most trying aspects of the publication process is revising and resubmitting the manuscript, and authors often request us for guidance in this regard. So if you are unsure of the best way to present your revised manuscript to the journal, this detailed article with easy-to-follow tips by Helle Goldman, a renowned editor, will be extremely useful for you.
10. 7 Must-read tips for postdocs on how to choose a mentor/PI 
    Finding the right mentor for your postdoc is essential to ensure success in your research career. But  it can be very confusing to choose the right lab and a PI. Read this article for 7 tips every postdoc should be aware of before choosing a mentor.

Personal stories that bring out the human side of academia

11. And I'm still coming out: Making my mark as a depressed, non-binary PhD Student  
    Academic life has its own set of challenges. Imagine the struggles of an academic who is coming out about their gender identity while dealing with mental illness. TL Jordan, a PhD student, narrates an emotional and inspirational journey about making their identity public as a trans non-binary individual and the challenges they faced in the process. 
12. Everybody faces manuscript rejection, even a Nobel Laureate  
    Most researchers, even the successful and well-established ones, face rejection at least once in their life. If this is hard to believe, take it from a Nobel Laureate himself! In this interview, Nobel Prize winning scientist Dr. Tim Hunt talks about journal rejections and the skills researchers need to develop in order to become successful.  

Beyond research

13. 27 Hilarious academics on Twitter you need to start following today  
    If there is a fun read you should keep handy for all those times you feel stressed, it is this! Here are 27 academics who will introduce you to the quirky, humorous, side of the academic world and bust the myth that academia is rather dry and dull.

14. Editage releases a global author survey with critical insights for scholarly publishers  
    Ever wondered what authors really think about academic publishing? Based on a large global survey of about 7,000 researchers, Editage, a global provider of author support services, put together a comprehensive report showcasing authors’ views on a broad range of topics related to scholarly publishing. Interestingly, almost 2000 of the survey responses are from China, the world leader in research output.

Perspectives of industry professionals

15. Academic hijacking: Avoid the dark alleys of academic street crime  
    Having worked with several victims of academic hijacking, we know how stressed and helpless authors feel in this situation. In this article, Prof. Caven Mcloughlin, an experienced journal editor, shares some insights on this issue and provides practical tips on how you can avoid this trap.

16. Behind the scenes: A journal editor's insight into what happens post manuscript submission 
    Ever wondered what happens at the journal end after you submit your manuscript? In this article, Graham Cormode – an experienced editor – reveals the evaluation and decision-making process of a journal. Read on as he unravels many unknown facts about a journal’s publication process right from the editorial structure to how editorial decisions are made.

17. Misuse of bibliometric analysis shifts scientists' focus from their research to pursuing scores 
    This interview with David Pendlebury is a must read if you are faced with questions such as: Are bibliometrics and scientometrics the same? Why are researchers evaluated using bibliometrics? And is this practice appropriate? Pendlebury, a citation analyst at Clarivate Analytics, shares his perspectives on these and more related topics based on the wealth of knowledge he has acquired over the years.
18. Learning how to perform a review should be part of the PhD training 
    We had a very interesting conversation with Dr. Jonas Ranstam, a medical statistician and the winner of 2016 Publons’ Sentinels of Science Awards. Dr. Ranstam has been referred to as one of the world's most prolific peer reviewers. In this conversation, Dr. Ranstam talks about peer review recognition, the scams and changing trends in peer review, and why he believes researchers should be trained in reviewing early on in their career.
19. A journal editor's advice to authors: Work hard, never stop learning, and have a vision 
    While authors face several challenges throughout their journey from conducting research to publishing a paper, even journal editors face their own share of problems. In this interview, Prof. Ana Marušić shares the hurdles and dilemmas journal editors face. She also talks about how she became a journal editor, her stance on early training for peer reviewers, and the most critical ethics-related issues plaguing research today.
20. Content, data, and geography are together transfiguring the academic publishing universe-Nitasha Devasar 
    If the world of academic book publishing interests you, then this interview with Natasha Devasar, Managing Director of Taylor & Francis, India and South Asia, is a must read. Devasar discusses the global academic book publishing space, shares her views on the challenges in the publishing industry, the author-publisher relationship, and more. She also talks about how authors in Asia can increase their visibility on the global publishing stage.

That was our round-up of the most loved posts on Editage Insights during 2018. Which of these did you enjoy reading? Are any of your favorite posts missing from this list? Leave your comments below to let us know!