We invite psychiatric trainees to write new chapters about the psychotherapy experiences in their training. We encourage people to collaborate; it is entirely possible to join in the work of other people and improve already written chapters; we can keep track of versions of our work here. Here we will try to concisely tell how to best approach the technical bit of your writing, leaving all the creative part to you.
Your publication structure in style
We probably all know how to write in Microsoft Word - or LibreOffice Writer. That is a very good place to start. Some people might know about Markdown, HTML, latex and other formats used in academia - you can use them too. The common thing about them - they all allow creating structured documents. Structure means simply using styles for headings and text. Heading styles will be like Style: Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. to show how you have divided your chapter into easier to read bits. Styles for text will usually be formatted with Style: Body Text or Default. If your chapter is written in such a way - it is structured enough and you can easily import it when creating a new pub.
What is a Pub
Oh yes, chapters here on this open publishing system are called PUBs - but do not let that confuse you. Pub is simply your chapter that you can write collaboratively. We will be able to assign DOI to it, other people will be able to use it in citations properly and do other cool things a publication entails.
Alternatively - if you do not want to make a separate structured document first, you can just type your text into your newly created PUB. You can set pieces of text to be at Header 1 to 3 (for headings) or Paragraph (for all other text) levels - that is the same structure we talked about just above. Copy and paste will work too and may be a good place to start with if your document is not structured.
Not structured - usually means if you create your own structure just visually - e.g. if you create space between paragraphs just by pressing Enter multiple times and create headings by using bold and changing font size. In that case just copy-paste bits from your document into the new Pub you have created. In the pub though - do not forget to assign text to paragraph, heading levels, bulleted lists, etc. Just use the tools you see on top of the editing box.
Collaboration: Several people at once can work on the same chapter, they can put in new text, amend, create comments related to the text that others have written; if there are too many comments you can archive them.
Beach
Images (and more) are easy to add - just click on Media button.
You will notice that the editing tools change a little when you select a piece of your text or an image. System authors have done a splendid piece of work so that you can focus on what is relevant - for example when you select an image you will be able to adjust size and put in a caption, or set to align to left or right.
Tables are easy to create - just press the “three dots” button to reveal more document tools - at the bottom of the list there is Table. If you are inside your table on top right of the editor menu you will see item Table - this will allow you to add/remove rows and columns, or to remove the table altogether.
To summarize:
Headings should levels 1 to 3 as to the hierarchy you want within the document. All the rest of the text will be Paragraph level.
Use bulleted lists and numbered lists.
Images convey your message better if they have captions.
Use tables, try not to make them terribly complex.
If you do your initial work on Microsoft Word or Libreoffice Writer try not to create document structure just by pressing Enter or Tab many times and by formatting headings through assigning font size to a selected piece of text. Do it via Styles - the stylish way!
You may discover a few other useful details, like citations, however the above already is sufficient for you to make a great publication. If you have not had the habit of using headings, perhaps have a quick read of this:
We would be very interested to welcome chapters about other kinds of psychotherapies, written by trainees and for trainees and according the following template. It will be revised by a trainee or psychiatry or an Early-Career-Psychiatrist. We welcome also translations that will be soon available on this platform.
It is possible to ask for a bursary from EFPT to print this guidebook, contact [email protected]
