An interview with our Psych-Talk Editor

C: What advice would you give writers who are considering writing for Psych-Talk?

SJC: Great first question! Firstly, check our deadline dates for each issue to ensure it doesn't overlap with any potential important university deadlines.  

Secondly, you can look through past publications to get an idea of where to start if you're unsure. As a psychology student with BPS membership you should be able to download these for free on the BPS shop.

Thirdly, the BPS has its own writing style guide which all submissions need to follow so I would recommend reading it before sending your article to us.

The style guide informs authors how to reference, use abbreviations etc in a manner that is used for all BPS publications (link provided below).

C: What articles or interviews are the Psych-Talk team looking for?

SJC: Simply, we are looking for all and any articles in most formats such as interviews, placement reflections, debates, BPS event articles. Pretty much anything related to psychology.

If you're unsure send us an email and we can help answer any questions or point you in the right direction. We are a friendly team and welcome your emails.

We select pieces based on certain criteria which may be important to keep in mind:

• Scientific/professional value: is the article based on research?
• Clarify: Is the article comprehensible structurally and grammatically?
• Critical and analytical stance: does the article provide new information or perspective?

C: What happens once an article is submitted to Psych-Talk?

SJC: Once the article is received one our editors will review the article based on the above criteria and offer suggested edits.

If the article is to be published we will email the author back with their article including the suggested edits along with a copyright form.

You can also send across your photo if you want this displayed next to your article.

We will then send you a PDF of your article once the issue has been published along with your Retained Rights. 

C: What do you read in your own time?

SJC: At the moment it's a busy time for me being a 3rd year student, so the majority of my reading currently is course material and emails.

I recently wrote a book review on 'How to make the most of your psychology degree' for The Psychologist which is a very informative book for those starting their degree.

C: What makes a great article and/or interview piece?

SJC: I would advise all writers and potential writers to write about a particular topic they're first of all interested in or feel more attention and discussion needs to be brought about to it.

Not only will this help keep you motivated but the passion behind the piece emits through the words, therefore, as readers we can feel this.

Also, don't just write to get the word count up as the word count is just for guidance.

We are quite flexible and prefer quality over quantity so we would prefer a shorter well written piece as opposed to an article that's 1500 words but has little substance.

C: How does writing for Psych-Talk benefit me as a student?

SJC: It's a great way to understand a collaborative article publishing process, especially if this is a field you wish to explore in the future.

It's also an opportunity to write about a topic you want to write about because within our studies our assignment questions aren't really chosen by us.

An article about a topic you're passionate about also provides a platform for discussion and for you to engage in such conversations.

Plus, it looks wonderful on any CV or application.

We hope to hear from you and here are a few words of encouragement from our Incoming Editor:

"Publishing in the Psych-Talk magazine is a celebration of your work. We want hear what you are passionate about in psychology and give your voice a platform.

Sharing your thoughts to the wider public can be intimidating but our editorial team are here to support and work with you.

As developing psychologists you have a uniquely fresh perspective on our fascinating science.

Issues in psychology evolve quickly and require diverse discussions on how to best research and explore the subject.

We want to offer the opportunity for students to inspire their peers in the BPS.

Further to this, becoming an author in Psych-Talk can be a stepping stone in your career to getting your future research and reviews published in academic journals."

- Jo Booth (Incoming Editor)