Dr. Martaria Rizky Rinaldi, M.Psi., a psychologist and lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY), served as a resource person for a workshop on "Strategies for Publication in Reputable International Journals." The event was organized by the Psychology Study Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sriwijaya (Unsri), on Friday, October 30, 2026.

Held online via Zoom from 08:30 to 14:30 WIB, the workshop was attended by approximately 20 faculty members from the Unsri Psychology department. The six-hour session was designed to provide a practical understanding of the international publication process—covering everything from developing the right mindset for writing to selecting appropriate target journals.

The workshop was opened by the Head of the Psychology Department at Unsri, Sayang Ajeng Mardhiyah, S.Psi., M.Si. In her remarks, Ajeng noted that while publication is an essential requirement for academic staff, there is still a need to further strengthen the capacity to publish in reputable international journals.

"Psychology faculty members at Unsri still require support in publishing within reputable international journals. Therefore, this workshop is intended to offer a practical perspective on the processes of writing, selecting journals, and preparing articles for publication," she stated.

During the workshop, Martaria shared the experiences and strategies she has employed to build her own track record of international publications. To date, she has published eight Scopus-indexed articles in Q1–Q3 journals, released by major international publishers such as Elsevier, Wiley, SAGE, and Taylor & Francis. Additionally, four other articles have already been accepted for publication.

According to Martaria, successful publication is determined not only by technical writing skills but also by the author's mindset. She emphasized that the approach to structuring a journal article must differ from the approach used when writing an undergraduate thesis, a master’s thesis, or a doctoral dissertation. “When writing an article, one must be prepared to start with an imperfect draft, accept revisions, and refine the manuscript multiple times. If you wait for a piece of writing to be perfect before submitting it, the process will never move forward,” says Martaria, who is familiarly known as Kiky.

She also emphasizes that articles intended for international journals must demonstrate clear novelty. Authors need to understand their research contribution from the outset, then construct arguments and discussions that clearly position their work within the existing body of literature.

Beyond writing strategies, Kiky also discusses the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the publication process. AI can assist with tasks such as organizing citations and references, evaluating the structure of a manuscript, and identifying journals relevant to a specific research topic. Nevertheless, she stresses that scientific decision-making, analysis, and ultimate responsibility for the content of an article remain with the author.

A common concern raised by participants during the discussion was the perception that international publication is always costly and time-consuming. Addressing this, Kiky shares her own experience of publishing several articles at no cost, with processes ranging from two to eight months, depending on the specific journal and its review procedures.

“International publication is not always expensive. Many reputable journals do not charge publication fees. The key is to identify the right journal, understand its policies, and prepare your article to meet that journal’s specific standards,” she explains.

The session was highly interactive. The participating lecturers engaged in active discussions about the articles they are currently drafting or planning to write—covering everything from defining topics and identifying novelty to selecting journals and interpreting author guidelines. The discussion also addressed the common anxieties participants feel when navigating the international publication process for the first time.

One participant, Rosada Dwi Iswari, noted that the workshop provided a more structured approach to writing articles. “This workshop has given me a clear understanding of what needs to be done. The steps involved have become much more defined,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rachmawati, S.Psi., M.A., noted that the activity offered a fresh perspective on publication strategy. According to her, there have often been shortcomings in strategic planning right from the initial stages of the writing process.

“This workshop was truly eye-opening. I now have a better understanding of the importance of novelty, selecting a target journal, and adhering to journal guidelines. There are several aspects that need to be addressed from the very beginning to ensure a more focused publication process,” she said.

The workshop also emphasized that the writing process and the selection of a journal must be approached strategically. Authors should have a clear idea of ​​their target journal, understand the nature of the articles it publishes, and tailor their work to the journal’s scope and guidelines—all while maintaining a primary focus on the quality of the research question and the contribution of the study.