Writing for publication: overcoming common obstacles

This article presents the results of a survey of recent authors in the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy who were asked to identify (a) the three most difficult obstacles they encountered when publishing their first article, (b) three types of resources that were most helpful when preparing their manuscript for publication, and (c) advice they would offer to authors who are planning their first paper for submission to a mental health journal. Common problems in manuscripts submitted for editorial review are also highlighted, based on an analysis of 150 letters mailed to authors whose papers were rejected or accepted pending revision. The goal of the present article is to provide guidelines for how to publish successfully.