Preface：Writing a Paper? Or Starring in an Academic Drama?



Prologue 1 The Academic Rollercoaster?

Episode 1: The Friendly Interview?

Episode 2: The Brutal Interview?

Episode 3: The Honest Interview?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Prologue 2 Pressure Makes Scholars?

Episode 1: Opportunities Come to Those Who Take Initiative?

Episode 2: Thrown Into the Deep End?

Episode 3: When Pressure Turns into Preparation?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 1 From Conference Hero to Journal Zero?

Episode 1: Conference Glory

Episode 2: Confronting Reality (Advisor’s Feedback)?

Episode 3: Learning the Hard Way

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 2 The Literature Review That Ate My Soul?

Episode 1: The Lit Reaper Rises?

Episode 2: The Secret Scrolls of Professor Metta?

Episode 3: Organized Chaos?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 3 Journal Matchmaking: Love at First ‘Cite’??

Episode 1: Hacks for Selecting Journals and… Finding Dates??

Episode 2: Red Flags and Research Frauds?

Episode 3: Speed Dates and Submission Waits?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 4 Dear Editor, Please Love My Paper(and Don’t Desk Reject It)?

Episode 1: The First Level Boss Fight?

Episode 2: Sell Me This Research?

Episode 3: Finding Your Academic Voice(and Achieving Inner Peace)?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 5 Ethics, Etiquette, and the Academic Hunger Games?

Episode 1: The Return of the Math Hero?

Episode 2: The Phantom of the Author?

Episode 3: Spam, Scams, and Saving Sam

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 6 Congratulations! Your Paper Is Not Accepted (Yet)?

Episode 1: Revise, Resubmit, and Run Away?

Episode 2: With Great Power Comes Great Rewriting?

Episode 3: Thank You for Lunch—Thank You for Your Comments?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 7 When Reviewers Don’t Agree…And You’re Stuck in the Middle?

Episode 1: Caught Between a Rock and a Reviewer?

Episode 2: Metta the Grey?

Episode 3: Professors! Assemble!?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember



Chapter 8 So You Want to Be a Reviewer? Welcome to the Dark Side?

Episode 1: Look, I’m Your Reviewer

Episode 2: A New Scope?

Episode 3: The Reviewer Rises?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember?



Chapter 9 If They Can’t Find It, They Can’t Cite It?

Episode 1: Titles That Bite?

Episode 2: Writefully Embarrassed?

Episode 3: Abstract Reactions?

Bonus: Research That Talks Back?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember



Chapter 10 Turning Research into Real-World Impact?

Episode 1: You Lost Me at Lexical Threshold?

Episode 2: A BBQ Debrief: Where’s the meat??

Episode 3: Passing on the Torch?

Final Call to Action: What You Need to Remember

Final Reflection: The Beginning of Something Bigger

序



　　Writing a Paper? Or Starring in an Academic Drama?



　　1. Why This Book?(A Not-So-Serious Guide to a Very Serious Process)



　　This book is for anyone who’s ever tripped on the road to academic publishing—got confused, felt crushed, or questioned their life choices—but still decided to give it another shot.



　　Whether you’re a master’s student, a PhD candidate, or a freshly minted assistant professor, publishing can often feel like an escape room without instructions: reviewer comments that feel like riddles, journal requirements written in an alien dialect, formatting rules that read like tax law. There are plenty of books that teach you APA or how to respond to Reviewer 2, but not many that talk about the feeling of it all—those sweaty palms before clicking“submit,” the deep breath before opening a revise-and-resubmit email, or the existential doubt while writing your third version of a rebuttal letter.



　　This book tells those stories—but with a twist. Written in the form of a novel, it follows the journey of a grad student, Ted, as he stumbles, struggles, and slowly grows into a more confident academic writer. You’ll laugh with him, cringe with him, and maybe—just maybe—pick up some useful skills without even noticing. Think of it as a backstage pass to the messy, human side of publishing. It’s not just a how-to guide—it’s a love letter to all of us trying to find our voice in academia.



　　2. Highlights from Each Chapter: Ten Moments of Chaos, Ten Lessons Learned



　　Chapter 1｜No Reviewer, No Growth

　　Ted submits his first paper—and learns the hard way that rejection isn’t the end, but the beginning of becoming a better writer.



　　Chapter 2｜Reviewer Comments Aren’t Love Letters (But They’re Not Breakup Notes Either)

　　Revise-and-resubmit can feel like emotional whiplash. This chapter helps you read between the lines—and respond with grace, clarity, and the right dose of courage.



　　Chapter 3｜Not All Journals Are Created Equal

　　Before you hit submit, are you submitting to the right journal? This chapter walks you through how to “matchmake” with journals that are actually a good fit.



　　Chapter 4｜Your Cover Letter: Not for Begging, but for Framing

　　The cover letter isn’t a mere formality—it’s your opening move. This chapter teaches you how to hook an editor without overselling.



　　Chapter 5｜Formatting Has Feelings Too

　　APA isn’t just about dots and commas—it’s about entering an academic conversation. Learn how to make peace (and maybe even friends) with formatting rules.



　　Chapter 6｜Even Your File Name Tells a Story

　　From file versioning to submission order, this chapter shows how the smallest details can make or break your workflow (and your sanity).



　　Chapter 7｜Replying to Reviewers: “Yes, I Fixed It” Is Not Enough

　　Learn how to craft thoughtful, professional responses that show respect, assertiveness, and a pinch of diplomacy—without sounding like a doormat or a diva.



　　Chapter 8｜Rejection Isn’t the Opposite of Success

　　Sometimes rejection is the most honest feedback you’ll get. This chapter reminds you that every “no” carries seeds for the next “yes.”



　　Chapter 9｜Real Publication Starts When Someone Understands Your Work

　　Getting published isn’t the final goal. This chapter explores how to make your research understandable and meaningful to those outside your field.



　　Chapter 10｜When Someone Starts Their Journey Because of Your Work—That’s the Echo of Scholarship

　　Ted finds out that his paper has inspired a teacher to apply for grad school. In this quiet moment, he realizes that impact is more than citations— it’s about touching someone’s path.



　　3. What This Book Means to Me (and Maybe to You Too)



　　We wrote this book not just to help you stumble less, but also to be there with a laugh when you do—and to help you get back up again.



　　Nobody is born knowing how to publish. All those moments that make you feel lost or stupid? They’re part of becoming an academic. This book isn’t a shortcut. It’s a map. It’s not a sermon—it’s a sidekick. And it’s here to remind you: Your confusion and self-doubt aren’t weaknesses—they’re proof that you’re growing.



　　If this book helps you feel a little braver the next time you open reviewer comments, or a little more confident before hitting submit—then it’s done its job.



作者序



寫一篇論文？還是演一齣人生？



　　一、本書的誕生：為什麼要寫這本「不太像學術書」的書？



　　這本書，是給在那個學術投稿路上跌倒過、心碎過，曾經懷疑人生，卻仍願意再試一次的你。



　　你可能是一個碩士生、一位博士候選人，或是剛升等的助理教授，這段投稿歷程，可能讓你覺得簡直像是在玩一場沒有說明書的密室逃脫——字裡行間充滿奧妙的審查意見，難以解讀的期刊要求像國家機密，像天書般的格式規範……等等，可能都是你



　　坊間有很多教我們怎麼使用APA格式撰寫作品或是處理和回覆審查者的書，但我相信，很少有人告訴你這一切背後的「人味」：毅然決然按下「寄出」前的手心冒汗，收到審查回信時，打開前的深深深呼吸，或是明明修正完稿件，卻還是不知道自己到底做對了沒的困惑感。



　　這本書，說的就是這些酸甜苦辣、嘻笑怒罵。但說法不一樣，我們用小說筆法，娓娓道來一位研究生「Ted」如何從困惑到開悟，從稚嫩到成熟的旅程。我們希望當你讀這本書時，就像看劇一樣輕鬆幽默，但卻能在不知不覺中習得了學術出版的基本功。



　　這不只是一本「教你怎麼發表」的書，更是一封作者給學術圈新人們的情書。



　　二、每章精華導讀：十個轉折，十種成長



　　第1章｜沒有 reviewer，就沒有靈魂成長

　　投稿不是寄出就算了的廣告傳單，而是一場有來有回的時空對話。讓我們從這裡開始，一起經歷 Ted 的第一次投稿震撼教育：那是一個從「被狠狠打槍」到「能被細細打磨」的蛻變契機……



　　第2章｜審查回信不是情書，但也不是分手信

　　面對 revise and resubmit，我們該怎麼安撫此時正在心中澎湃的內心戲？歷經百戰的我們想傳授你如何快點讀懂 reviewer 的「弦外之音」，也教你怎麼用語氣不卑不亢地回應──菜，也能菜得又有禮貌又有尊嚴！



　　第3章｜學術投稿就像交友配對？期刊不是全都一樣的！

　　投稿前的關鍵選擇題：投哪裡？選哪裡？本章教你如何透過期刊 scope、過去刊文、審查風格等蛛絲馬跡進行「期刊配對」，讓我們走上最閃亮的舞台，一起避免走錯棚。



　　第4章｜投稿信：不是用來求情，是用來鋪梗的

　　Cover letter 不只是格式而已，而是一種「開場白的藝術」。怎麼讓編輯願意讀下去（再多花一些時間看看我們的好作品），而不只是拖進審稿清單？這一章，讓我們給你答案。



　　第5章｜格式比你想的還要有感情勒

　　APA 格式常常讓你覺得綁手綁腳？Come on，我們要撕去這個標籤。APA不只是規範，它是進入學術語境的第一道儀式，讓我們重新理解「格式」背後的隱性規則，你將會從服從中找到自由。



　　第6章｜你的名字？投稿時的那個檔名，其實不只是一個名字

　　從 file name 到 document version，每一個細節都反映你對工作的態度。至於你的「學術專案管理小宇宙」該如何建立？該怎麼運行？──歡迎先來我們的小宇宙一探究竟。



　　第7章｜回應信不能只有「YES，我改了。」

　　這章帶你練個進階大法：如何逐點回應 reviewer，又不失禮貌、展現誠意？甚至有時候還需要一點點優雅又有憑有據的反駁？回應信是語言與態度的平衡藝術，也是我們與審查者間的以武會友。



　　第8章｜審查回來後，不是只有接受與拒絕

　　即使是 reject，也能帶來下一篇的養分。這章裡 Ted 的內心戲十分吃重，面對 reject，他來回反思什麼叫做「成長型學者」你可以在這裡看見他最真實的糾結與蛻變。



　　第9章｜從被看懂的那一刻開始，才算真正發表

　　研究不是寫來關在 PDF 裡塵封的古代文物。如何讓研究真的「有人聽、有人懂、有人用」？你真的值得來看看本章分享的知識轉譯（knowledge translation）的痛與美。



　　第10章｜當有人因你的一篇文章選擇出發……

　　雖然是全書的收尾，但並不意味著結束。當 Ted發現，他的研究成了意外啟發一位老師申請研究所的契機，他才幡然醒悟──研究的影響力不僅僅是被引用，它能夠觸動人心、點亮旅程，餘韻無窮。



　　三、這本書的意義：學術，不只是為了升等



　　我們想寫這本書，除了想讓你少跌幾次跤外，更想讓你在跌倒時，知道有人陪著你一起拍拍灰、笑一笑，再爬起來。



　　學術出版的路上沒有人天生就懂得怎麼投稿。那些讓你覺得自己很笨、很蠢的瞬間，其實是每個學者都會經歷的轉角。這本書不是捷徑，而是一份由生命刻劃出來、滿懷情感的地圖，它不是說教，而是讓那時的我能跨越時空，成為你的同伴。你的不確定、你的想放棄，其實都是成為學者的一部分。



　　如果這本書能讓你在下一次收到審查意見時不再那麼想翻桌，讓你在投稿前多一點從容和微笑——那麼，它就有它存在的價值了。