Converting conference papers to journal submissions

For many academics, conference presentations are the first public iteration of their research. In this way, they offer a fantastic opportunity to workshop early findings, gain feedback, and engage with peers. But what happens once the conference is over? If you’ve presented a paper you’re proud of, converting it into a journal submission is the natural next big step. This transition usually takes significant effort (making it an excellent time to bring an editor to share the work!) but the rewards are well worth it, allowing you to turn intriguing findings and promising ideas into much broader impact.

Here’s how to effectively turn your conference paper into a strong journal article.

1. Before You Start

Understand the Shift in Expectations

The biggest and most obvious difference between conference papers and journal articles is in their scope (and relatedly, length) and audience. Conference papers are like elevator pitches to fellow experts. They’re concise, often focused on a single idea, and written with the assumption that there will be a real-time presenter to fill in inevitable gaps. 

Journal articles, by contrast, must stand alone and address a far broader audience. Hence, expanding the scope in terms of theory, data, rigor, and contribution is typically what transforms a solid conference paper into a publishable journal article.

Questions to consider when expanding your conference paper’s scope to draft a journal submission include the following: 

• Have you expanded the literature review to encompass all relevant theories and debates that affect this discussion?

• Do you clearly state the problem/gap in the literature that your study addresses?

• Is the paper’s novel theoretical contribution explicitly framed (e.g., new mechanism, boundary condition, concept)?

• Why use this research design for this problem (e.g., case selection, sample size, context)? Do you clearly describe and justify its use?

• Are all variables or constructs clearly defined and measured?

• Have you conducted robustness checks, sensitivity analyses, or triangulation?

• Are the research’s limitations and potential biases clearly stated?

• Have you explained the implications of your findings for theory, practice, and future research?

I often tell researchers that you can certainly get away with speaking to (i.e., writing for) your fellow experts in a conference paper. But this limited approach is too risky for a top journal submission. Journal readers aren’t just your peers in the conference room; ideally, they include interdisciplinary scholars, specialists in related industries, and diverse practitioners. Clear and engaging writing is key here, as it’s going to turn your research into real, translatable impact for more than a few scholars.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t treat this transition as mere “expansion.” Think of it as reimagining your work for new, non-expert eyes. Rewrite your introduction and abstract from scratch to ensure they align with the journal’s audience and define all key terms upon first use.

Select the Right Journal

This is one of the most common stumbling blocks I see. Many authors think about which journal they’d most like to see on their CV as opposed to which one truly offers the best fit for the research in question. I’d never tell someone to aim lower (at CS Phares, we love to see and help our clients dream big!) but I do want us to be strategic: there’s nothing worse than waiting months only to find out your paper’s been rejected for a very preventable reason like misalignment in scope, methodology, or contributions.

I have a full post on choosing the right journal, but in essence, the best thing you can do is carefully review the “Instructions for Authors” on the journal’s website (particularly “Aims and Scope”). Following these instructions can save you so much time and heartache, ensuring your submission checks all the boxes that the journal editor wants to see as soon as they open the document.   

Editor’s Tip: Be strategic about your first submission. Journals with special issues that align closely with your topic can be a golden ticket, offering an immediate audience for your research.

2. The Rewriting Process

Deepen and Refine

Here’s where the real work happens. Journal articles demand greater length and depth. If your conference paper can be said to address the “what” (i.e., what you found), a journal article demands the "why," "how," and "what next." Most importantly, as touched on above, clarity is king. Terms, explanations, relationships, theoretical foundations, models—all of these need to be crystal clear for the average university student before you submit. 

In case no one’s ever told you, let me say this in the loudest voice that I can: whoever taught you to try and “sound smart” was dead wrong. The best writers write to inform, not impress. 

Here’s what clarity looks like:

1. An introduction that contains every key term readers need to know in order to understand this research.

2. A robust literature review: Don’t just name-drop academics in your field. Show how their work informed yours and establish clear gaps your paper fills. Bonus points if the cited works appeared in the target journal (this shows optimal alignment).

3. A detailed methodology: Provide step-by-step details of how your research was conducted. If someone was trying to replicate your study in every detail, what would they have to do? These instructions are the “Methods” section. Use plain words (not math) whenever possible.

4. A discussion that clarifies the significance of your findings, rather than repeating what you found. Fill this section by talking about what your findings lack (their limitations), what they mean for scholars and practitioners, and what they mean for the future.

Editor’s Tip: We can’t unknow what we already know—and that means every author benefits hugely from editing for clarity. Many clients have told me that my greatest value to them is the very thing I used to be so self-conscious about: I’m not a business scholar myself! So I need every term and theory clearly explained or I can’t follow their thinking. The result is accessible, readable writing that resonates with a far bigger audience than most business papers do. If you don’t have the budget for a professional editor, you can ask a non-academic friend or family member to help spot confusing spots in your submission.

3. Incorporate Feedback Thoughtfully

During conferences, you’ll likely receive mixed reactions to your presentation—and if you receive little engagement at all, that’s a clear sign that we need to work on highlighting the significance and impact of this research. Rather than viewing critique as discouragement, consider it a treasure trove of valuable insights (cliched, I know, but this mindset shift really does work!). Fill your mind with phrases like “Thank you,” “Great to know,” and “I love this, this is so helpful” when thoughts to the contrary threaten to creep in (e.g., “They hate this,” “I feel stupid,” and “I knew this was a waste of time”). 

Many of the best papers and most innovative ideas are forged this way at conferences. Personally, I’m always impressed when papers openly incorporate questions or critiques raised by conference participants. For example, turning a “Have you considered X?” into a small dedicated section shows humility and intellectual adaptability. Plus, it can preemptively answer a potential reviewer’s question.

Editor’s Tip: Review your notes from conference Q&A sessions and jot down recurring themes or doubts. These areas should absolutely be addressed in your revisions.

4. Beware of Overwriting

One common pitfall I see is authors overcompensating for brevity in their conference papers by cramming excessive detail into their journal submissions. Keep in mind that a well-structured journal article typically still focuses on just one core problem or question.

The two sections that seem to suffer the most from this compulsion to overshare are the theory/lit review section (the fix: focus on why the cited work matters to this research, not just what it says) and the methods section (the fix: provide only those details necessary to replicating or understanding the study, and move everything else to an appendix or cut it entirely). 

From a reader's perspective, there’s a huge difference between "comprehensive" and "cluttered," so it pays to be selective about what you include. Ask yourself, “Could someone still understand this paper without this sentence/paragraph?” If the answer is “Yes, but…” consider whether including the info as a footnote or appendix would be acceptable instead. But if the answer is a straight and simple “Yes,” then cut that text entirely. 

Editor’s Tip: When in doubt, leave it out. Extra details can always go into appendices or supplementary materials.

5. Submission Insights

Master the Submission Process

A shocking number of promising papers get desk rejected, not because the research is poor, but because guidelines were ignored. Pay attention to word limits, reference styles, and even the file type your chosen journal accepts. I also want to reiterate here the importance of meticulously following each journal’s specific formatting and submission requirements (or ask your editor to do this step for you). 

Anecdotally (you didn’t hear this from me BUT…), some academics and editors suggest submitting to the best journals during mid-semester periods (i.e., late October/early November or late February/early March) to potentially expedite the review process based on better editor and reviewer availability. In my opinion, this certainly isn’t a guarantee that your paper will be well received or a good reason to delay a finished submission, but if you’re choosing between, say, December 20th and February 25th, I do think the latter can offer a modest edge in speed or reviewer engagement.

My Take as an Editor

Having worked with countless authors, I’ve noticed a recurring truth about publishing conversions: researchers who view the process with flexibility and curiosity consistently achieve the best outcomes. The transition from conference to journal format isn’t just administrative, it’s a creative endeavor in its own right. It forces you to ask deeper questions, refine your arguments, and ultimately create work that has a lasting impact—both on the world, and on your own career.

That said, for many scholars, conference season is extremely draining. Trying to turn these events into quality fodder for the (also intense) process of publishing is more than some people can manage. If this is you, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help! Your editor can take boring, finicky, and difficult work off your plate to ensure that you stay focused on what matters most. A successful academic career demands marathon energy, not sprints—and sometimes all it takes is one well-polished submission to set things on the right course.