Choosing a topic to write about

What do you want to write about?

Perhaps you already have a specific topic in mind. If you do not then choose a topic that is in your area of expertise or something that you are very familiar with, for example;

• The results, or a particular aspect, of your PhD or MSc research
• A recently completed project or audit
• An innovation developed during the course of your research. For example, a new technique, teaching materials or a guide to best practise (seek advice before publishing anything that has an intellectual property element that you, your employer or the university may wish to protect)
• An idea developed from within your area of expertise - this may not necessarily develop directly from your research. For example, it may be a guide to giving presentations or producing conference posters - a skill developed peripherally to your research interests.

Having decided what you want to write about, consider:

What is/are the key message(s) that you wish to convey in your publication? Try to summarise in only a few sentences what message you would like readers to gain by reading your paper.