Writing guide for early-career authors
Publishing your first papers is both exciting and demanding!
On this page, we bring together practical, editor-endorsed guidance to help you plan, write and submit a strong manuscript. You will also find direct links to the PMI Journal’s author guidelines and core resources on transparency, authorship and research integrity.
Writing tips from the Editors-in-Chief
We asked our Editors-in-Chief for the writing advice they wish they’d had early on. Below are five practical, editor-endorsed steps, blending concrete how-tos with mindset cues to help you plan, write and submit with confidence to the PMI Journal.
1) Repurpose, don’t reinvent
You have likely written more than you think. Start by mining existing materials – conference abstracts, slide decks, internal reports, protocol notes – and identify a single, publishable claim. Translate headings into an IMRaD outline, convert shorthand into precise prose, and be transparent about any prior public outputs while making clear what is new for the PMI Journal.
2) Anchor your writing in one question
Lead your writing with one focused research question and a crisp take-home message. In Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, readers value work that states early what is novel and why it matters for pathology, microbiology or immunology.
3) Outline early; let structure do the heavy lifting
Use IMRaD as helpful scaffolding. Keep the Introduction tight (problem → gap → aim), make Methods replicable, let Results be driven by figures and tables, and use the Discussion to explain meaning, limitations and the next step rather than to repeat results.
4) Match the journal and article type
Check scope, word limits and article-type expectations before you draft too far. Whether it is an Original Article, Review or Mini-Review, align your narrative, length and references with the PMI Journal’s author guidelines and include a brief, purposeful cover letter explaining fit and novelty.
5) Draft fast, revise hard
Outline first, write quickly to get ideas down, then edit ruthlessly for clarity and concision. Read the abstract aloud, rest the manuscript, and invite a colleague to sanity-check the argument. When it is “good enough”, submit – peer review is part of the refinement process, not the end of it.
Questions? We’re here to help! Contact the editorial office.
Can I submit findings from my PHD Thesis?
Yes. At the PMI Journal, we support submissions from young scientists and have a proud tradition of doing so. We welcome high-quality research contributions within the fields of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. We encourage authors to rework their theses into one or more concise articles that meet our submission guidelines. By doing so, you can share your significant findings with the wider scientific community through our esteemed publication.
Author Guidelines
Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology welcomes submissions from authors in the field of pathology, microbiology and immunology, and related areas of modern biomedicine.
Priority is given to original articles and reviews. Letters to the editor may include comments on articles published or other original contributions of particular interest. Case reports will not be considered for publication.
The Author Guidelines outline the manuscript formatting requirements, ethical considerations, and the submission process to ensure a smooth and efficient review process for your research. Please review the Author Guidelines carefully before submitting your work to our journal to enhance the quality and accessibility of your research contributions.
Recommended reading: An easy-to-follow guide to your manuscript writing
New to manuscript writing or just want the basics laid out clearly? Check out this primer by our associated editor Glen Kristiansen, published in Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology: How to Write a Pathology Research Paper—Basic Principles and Beyond—A Primer for Residents.
The primer is written for pathology residents but genuinely useful to anyone polishing a manuscript across pathology, microbiology and immunology.
Step-by-step Glen Kristiansen walks you through structure, common pitfalls, and the habits that turn drafts into publishable papers – perfect alongside the PMI author guidelines.
The article is open access and you can find it in PMI Journal HERE.
