Five Suggestions for Transforming A Conference Paper into a Journal Article

Learning how to convert a conference paper into a journal article is a worthwhile skill for any academic. Conference papers are a great way to present your findings to colleagues and get their feedback on improving your work.

It is doubtful that your conference paper will be published as is because the publication of conference papers is uncommon. However, it can still serve as the base for a journal paper. We will look at how to improve your conference paper and turn it into a fantastic journal article in this blog.

What is the difference between a conference paper and a journal article?

A few significant distinctions between conference papers and journal articles clarify why further research is required before submitting to a journal.

• Audience
  A conference paper is written with a particular audience in mind, which may or may not be the same readership that a journal is targeting. For instance, you might have a sizable conference with a diverse audience and a journal with a much smaller audience. Even if there can be some overlap, a journal article must be written with the journal’s readership in mind.
• Comparison of ongoing and finished projects
  Many academics utilize conference papers as a tool to solicit feedback on ongoing research. The presentation and ensuing question-and-answer session provided feedback and insights that can be used to guide continued development. Journal articles, on the other hand, should be prepared after firm findings from a piece of study have been established.
• Tone and language
  The language and tone of conference papers are frequently different from those required by a journal because they are prepared to be presented orally. Journals have different criteria for writing style, which nearly invariably need rewriting or paraphrasing content from an already published conference paper.
• Objectivity in every argument
  A conference paper’s argument clarity is not a deal breaker. After all, the presenter can clarify any points that the conference audience may not have understood right away during the question-and-answer period that follows the presentation. For a journal article, this is not feasible. It’s also important to keep in mind that you might highlight particular sections of your work while presenting your research at a conference. Journal articles, on the other hand, should have all sections developed equally.

Five suggestions for converting your conference paper into a journal article

1. Consider the demands of the journal you wish to publish

Before you begin writing, it’s critical to take the time to select the best journal for your research and make sure you comprehend its standards. One of the most crucial things you can do to make sure the editors will take your article into consideration is to adhere to the submission requirements.

2. Apply the input you have gotten the comments you get after presenting your conference paper

Bianca Stewart explains, “When I delivered my paper, I got quite a few constructive questions from the audience and my fellow panelists. “These pointed out areas where I could make the piece better. Where people didn’t fully comprehend something in my original work, those comments were some of the most beneficial. This showed me where I needed to provide additional detail.

Recall that you are not required to include and consider all feedback. Use your discretion to pick what will enhance your work because you are the expert on your research.

3. Develop your arguments and research

It is crucial that you extend your study further and come to firm conclusions before penning a journal article if it is still in process. Or perhaps your conference paper just touched on a portion of your research, therefore, your arguments for an article will need to incorporate material from additional areas of your work.

Bianca Stewart stated, “My conference paper focused on my research using one specific document, the record of a late medieval neighborhood court.” “I included other aspects of my research that provided a much deeper understanding of the historical context of that document when I was writing my piece. I investigated the professional paths and affiliations of the men who served as the court’s jurors using my social network analysis of nearby residents. You have more room to employ and describe any novel approaches in an article.

4. Consider how your research connects to related works in your field

Journal editors want you to be able to connect your work to that of others in your area and will anticipate that you have read widely on the subject of your research.

Bianca Stewart stated, “your article can explain the importance of your research for your field in much more detail than a conference paper.” “Consider the kind of secondary material that the journal’s readers are likely to be familiar with. How does your work complement or contradict it? Consider the pertinent sections you may use in your article if you have previously produced a literature review for your thesis.

5. Begin on a blank page

It could be tempting to try to expand on your initial conference paper and add to it as you write in an effort to make it become an article. However, this may actually hinder your progress because the method you wrote your conference paper may not be appropriate for the journal’s style or the arguments you are now putting forth.