Writing for Insight: a beginner’s experience of research publishing
The SoR’s official CPD publication, Insight, is the perfect place to begin your research career. Louise Tyler recounts her experiences as a newly published writer
When I finished my dissertation, I felt two things: relief – and a quiet frustration. I had spent an entire year researching, writing and editing a piece of work that, after being graded, would likely just sit on my computer, unseen. But I wanted it to do more. I wanted it to matter beyond a grade. That’s what led me to Insight, the SoR’s official CPD journal.
When I finished my dissertation, I felt two things: relief – and a quiet frustration. I had spent an entire year researching, writing and editing a piece of work that, after being graded, would likely just sit on my computer, unseen. But I wanted it to do more. I wanted it to matter beyond a grade. That’s what led me to Insight, the SoR’s official CPD journal.
Why I decided to publish
My dissertation received a mark of around 75 per cent, classed as a first. I remember hearing that research isn’t ‘worth’ publishing unless you score 85 per cent or higher. I wanted to challenge that idea. Marks reflect many things – writing style, grammar, structure – not just the quality of the data or the originality of the ideas. Even if your grade isn’t sky high, your research can still offer valuable insights to others.
The truth is, writing can be improved. Editors will support you, and you can always ask for help in refining your work. What matters most is the contribution your research makes and the potential it has to spark new thinking.
Louise's paper, 'AI in radiography: Student radiographers' perspectives on artifical intelligence,' published in the Summer 2025 edition of Insight
Louise's paper, 'AI in radiography: Student radiographers' perspectives on artifical intelligence,' published in the Summer 2025 edition of Insight
Support along the way
I didn’t do it all alone. My dissertation supervisor played a key role, both during the project and afterwards, by providing feedback that helped me tighten the work. I had guidance from the university’s statistics team to help choose the right tests for my quantitative data – a lifesaver for someone who doesn’t consider themselves a ‘statistician’.
After submission, I received feedback from the Insight Editorial Review Board, especially on refining the literature review and improving the clarity of my writing. Friends and family – none of whom have research backgrounds – proofread my work and helped me make it more readable. That kind of outsider perspective was incredibly useful.
And yes, ethics approval was part of the journey, too. I initially didn’t get approval, but I learned from the process and tried again.
Editing for publication
My original dissertation used both qualitative and quantitative data. When editing for publication, I removed the quantitative sections – the data didn’t meet the statistical threshold (P-value) to be considered significant, but the qualitative insights were still strong and meaningful.
This meant reshaping the piece around the qualitative findings. I rewrote parts of my literature review to be more concise and relevant, made sure my arguments were sharper and cut out anything that didn’t fit within the word count. A tip I’d pass on: create a separate ‘cutting room’ document where you paste sections you remove – just in case you want to bring them back later.
Another challenge was formatting. I had to convert my references from Harvard style to Vancouver. It was time consuming, but manageable.
Submitting and the peer review process
Insight has a user-friendly online submission portal, and it provides a quick guide to help you prepare. There’s a 2,500-word count limit for most articles, but they’re flexible for research papers, especially qualitative ones (references aren’t included in the count).
I uploaded all my supporting files in the required formats and got feedback from editors. The peer review process was surprisingly smooth. If you’re unsure about file formats or submission steps, the editorial and IT teams are just an email away. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
Editing for publication
My original dissertation used both qualitative and quantitative data. When editing for publication, I removed the quantitative sections – the data didn’t meet the statistical threshold (P-value) to be considered significant, but the qualitative insights were still strong and meaningful.
This meant reshaping the piece around the qualitative findings. I rewrote parts of my literature review to be more concise and relevant, made sure my arguments were sharper and cut out anything that didn’t fit within the word count. A tip I’d pass on: create a separate ‘cutting room’ document where you paste sections you remove – just in case you want to bring them back later.
Another challenge was formatting. I had to convert my references from Harvard style to Vancouver. It was time consuming, but manageable.
Submitting and the peer review process
Insight has a user-friendly online submission portal, and it provides a quick guide to help you prepare. There’s a 2,500-word count limit for most articles, but they’re flexible for research papers, especially qualitative ones (references aren’t included in the count).
I uploaded all my supporting files in the required formats and got feedback from editors. The peer review process was surprisingly smooth. If you’re unsure about file formats or submission steps, the editorial and IT teams are just an email away. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
What I’ve learned
Publishing your first piece of research isn’t as daunting as it seems. At first, I didn’t even want to look at my dissertation after finishing university. But with some time, motivation returned. What helped most was realising I didn’t need to do it alone.
You don’t have to be a perfect writer. You just need passion, persistence and a willingness to learn. Getting published is a process – and a rewarding one.
Final advice to new researchers
- Don’t self reject. Even if your grade isn’t top tier, your research could still make a valuable contribution.
- Ask questions. Speak to your supervisor, statisticians, editors – whoever can help.
- Get feedback. Ask friends and family to proofread. A fresh pair of eyes can catch what you miss.
- Be patient. Editing takes time, and that’s OK.
- Back up your cuts. Keep a ‘deleted sections’ document. Trust me – you might want to revisit those paragraphs later.
More about Insight
Insight is the official CPD journal of the Society of Radiographers, offering an accessible and supportive environment for academic writers.
Whether you’re a pre-registration student or an experienced radiographer, Insight is a great place to kickstart or progress your research and publishing career.
From case studies and research papers to personal reflections and posters, Insight welcomes a variety of submission types from across all levels of the radiography, sonography and nuclear medicine workforce.
For more information on submitting to Insight, read the Insight author submission guidelines here.
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