Reflections of a new academic

Purpose – The purpose of this poem is to describe the feelings of uncertainty and frustration that may be experienced by new academics as they seek to publish, or attempt to publish, in academic journals for the first time. Design/methodology/approach – The poem is a reflective piece that expresses some of the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty faced by the author. A poem was selected as the medium for this reflection because it is an indirect way of expressing the issues and may have resonance for other new (or even not so new) academics. Findings – The process of elucidating the difficulties associated with knowing where, how, and what to publish was very helpful on a personal level. Originality/value – A poem that reflects on the trials and tribulations surrounding publication efforts by new academics is an original contribution to the literature.