Resource of the Week #45: An Editor’s Advice on Writing Articles about Innovations

Hello again. This week I’m pleased to share a resource on writing articles about innovations.

Most journal articles report research. Some journal articles, however, have other subject matter. For example, some describe and discuss innovations (in other words, new ways to do things).

Most of the available advice on writing journal articles focuses on reporting research. Recently, though, I saw an article on writing journal articles about innovations.

The article is by the editor of the journal Academic Medicine. However, the advice also applies to writing articles about innovations for journals in other fields.

The author notes that an article describing an innovation should do more than describe the innovation and show whether it works. In addition, it should present the innovation in broader context.

Items that the author says to consider doing in an article about an innovation include the following:

• Describe the problem that the innovation is intended to solve.
• Say how common the problem is.
• Note other possible solutions.
• Say why the reported solution was chosen.
• Describe how the innovation was implemented.
• Evaluate the innovation.
• Indicate potential broader impact.
• Discuss sustainability.

Helpful advice!

Until the next post— Barbara