As a post-doc working in a research institute focused on synthesis, I mostly collaborate with working groups and data contributors. It's a unique and enriching experience to interact with a group of passionate, intelligent ecologists to discuss big ideas. The tricky part comes after the workshop; one must then translate these big ideas into a tangible product, usually a manuscript. Arriving to the point where one has a working draft of a manuscript also represents a significant amount of work and should involve regular interaction with key members of the working group. The last step of preparing a manuscript - integrating feedback from co-authors into a final draft - is often overlooked, yet fundamental because it requires reaching a consensus among co-authors. In this post, I will provide a step-by-step (yet probably incomplete) guide. While it is initially intimidating to share your ideas with a group of highly respected peers that will judge your work, it is important to remember 2 things: i) the working group has a vested interest in ensuring that the final product will make an important contribution to the literature and ii) it's better to receive critical feedback before submitting.
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