On celebrating a revision (or enjoying the process of publishing).
A few years ago, a friend shared that it’s not ok to post on social media about receiving revisions.
They relayed people loved to hear about home runs - not single, doubles, or triples - to use an American baseball analogy.
Yet, in my short little league career, my baseball coach taught us to celebrate getting on base. They taught us to celebrate others getting on base.
Bc baseball is hard, we were also taught to celebrate doing a myriad of other small things well.
And because it was little league, we were taught to say thank you to the opposing team - even when we lost.
While publication is not baseball, those lessons learned in my one year of little league baseball - in Singapore no less - have stuck with me for 40 years.
Where my friend only counts the final score - publication.
My little league coaches taught us to celebrate each accomplishment that leads to scoring.
So.
I celebrate each revision.
When I receive a first revision, I take a moment to smile, do a little dance, even take a night off, after receiving a first revision from a journal.
As the revision moves through review, revel in knowing your paper is progressing.
If the paper is accepted, take some time to celebrate with your team & that team includes your family.
If rejection comes, take comfort in having done your very best. Mourn a bit. But also, celebrate having had played a good game.
Celebration makes it easier to keep improving and resubmitting your work
Celebration buffers you against challenges in the next round of revision & it carries over to other part of your academic and personal life.
Celebration is a magical emotion.
So what to do? If celebrating revisions on social media? Is not ok?
(I say this tongue in cheek).
First, post if you want to.
But know there is peril - anonymous reviewers may sort out who you are - if you disclose too much.
So do it with discretion.
Second, share your joy with your team.
Don’t read the reviews and grump.
Let them sit for a bit & enjoy getting on base.
Third, share the joy with your friends.
People around you want to know you are doing well.
They’d cheer if you made a good play? At a sporting event? Right?
So with people close to you, share there is something to cheer about.
Fourth, share your joy with the review panel.
Thank the editor and reviewers in a quick note - maybe a longer one if the paper is accepted.
My coach was not wrong in teaching us to thank the opposing team!
Finally, make celebration a habit.
Rejection is the norm - we all live it - good journals reject more than they accept.
Coaches teach kids to celebrate getting on base not only bc its the exception - it’s also motivating.
So who says you have to grow up?
By making joy a habit, you will find the publication process a lot more fun!
I am certain you can have more fun than my friend who only counts ‘scores’ - I know that I do!
Best of luck!
Comments