To help you write effective cover letters—and to write them quickly and easily—in this article we offer some tips on layout and appropriate wording. Also, you can download our template cover letter (Word file) to help you save time writing and help you remember to include standard author statements and other information commonly required by journals.

During Q&A, do you worry about being able to answer all of the audience's questions about your research with confidence and professionalism? If so, you're definitely not alone. Even experienced presenters can feel nervous about handling the Q&A session well—it's not always possible to anticipate the questions that will be asked or the direction that Q&A will take.

When we want to submit a research paper for publication, the top-tier journals in our specialist field are usually the first that come to mind. However, these journals don't always fit our publication goals or the content of the paper. We all know that submitting a manuscript to an unsuitable journal can mean our manuscript is rejected before peer review. So, how can we make a final suitable choice for our particular paper as quickly and easily as possible?