Interlude: Rejection Mindsets, Shifting Attitudes, and Volunteer Words
Every researcher knows the sting of a rejection letter. If you've published at all, you've almost certainly received one. And you might see that rejection as a failure.
But what if you looked at it differently? What if you submitted each manuscript expecting that it might take a few rounds before it's accepted? Then a rejection will feel less like a setback, and more like an opportunity to ask "What's next for this paper?" And if the paper is accepted quickly, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
To be clear, I'm not suggesting that you submit subpar work before it's ready. You still need to hold yourself to high standards. What I am suggesting is a mindset shift: framing the rejection as a step in the process rather than a failure of the work.
I see the difference these mindsets make in my work with clients. Some feel disappointed, get stuck, and put off revisions for months (or even years). Others feel just as disappointed, but they ask "what's next?" and get the paper out again within a week. In my experience, authors who frame the rejection as an opportunity take it less personally and make faster progress.
So the next time a rejection letter lands in your inbox, it's okay to feel disappointed. But remember that you're one step closer to accepted.
Now onto this week's round-up...
Round-up
Reading
Coping with the impacts of generative artificial intelligence on scholarly publications
The journal Accountability in Research has seen a sharp rise in manuscript submissions, likely due to generative artificial intelligence. To address the challenges with this rise, the journal has made policy changes in recent months. Check out this article to see what they are up to and what you may see other journals adopt as well.
Biased AI writing assistants shift users’ attitudes on societal issues
“When using the AI assistant, the attitudes participants expressed in a posttask survey converged toward the AI’s position. However, a majority of participants were unaware of the AI suggestions’ bias and their influence. Further, the influence of the AI writing assistant was stronger than the influence of similar suggestions presented as static text, showing that the influence is not fully explained by these suggestions, increasing accessibility of the biased information. Last, warning participants about assistants’ bias before or after exposure does not mitigate the attitude-shift effect.”
ORI's Guidance on Generative Artificial Intelligence Released
”Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is one such advancement that has contributed to scientific breakthroughs and has the potential to contribute to many more. However, generative AI can also be misused, including in ways that constitute research misconduct. ORI has released guidance for institutions as they navigate research misconduct proceedings involving generative AI.”
Watching
Good Writing Should Feel Hard
In this Instagram reel, R.F. Kuang talks about how good writing should feel hard. She shares how when words are not “volunteering themselves,” you are doing the hard word of thinking about what word combination will articulate an emotion, experience, or observation that you want to to convey.
Quote
“Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” – E.L. Doctorow
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
