How to Create a Special Issue

Special issues are a great way to publish a collection of research in a focused area. Special issues tend to be dedicated to a topic, which could be around an area of research, either existing or emerging, the outputs from a conference, or in reaction to local or global events or any other topics that are currently dominating the discourse.

Besides bringing together a focused collection of research on one area, creating a special issue can be exciting and rewarding for other reasons.

1. Increased Exposure

Special issues tend to receive more exposure because of their focused nature. Publishing a special issue of selected conference papers especially enhances exposure to delegates, making it attractive for new authors.

2. Increased Readership

This increase in exposure naturally invites an increase in readership, which in turn increases the overall visibility of your journal but also may positively impact the number of citations.

3. Impact Aim and Scope

Special issues can provide valuable insights into the quality and quantity of your research in a particular area. If there is a lot of interest in contributing to the special issue and it performs well, you might decide to make this area part of your journal’s regular aim and scope.

4. Improve Journal Positioning

Releasing a collection of research in new and emerging areas or related to global events has the potential to position your journal as at the forefront of developments. This boost in your journal’s positioning is likely to attract high-quality research from new authors in the future.

Since the process for creating special issues deviates slightly from producing a regular issue, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Idea Generation

Ideas for special issues can originate from various sources. As the editor, it is important that you stay open to these different sources for idea generation. Ideas can arise from your own reading or from conversations and discussions. For instance, you may identify a great theme or area for publication in your own research or through suggestions from the editorial board. You may even be approached directly by a potential guest editor or from colleagues at conferences.

Once you have an idea, keep brainstorming variations on that idea until you have clearly defined the theme for your next special issue.

2. Thorough Research

When you have settled on a rough or even defined idea for a special issue, it’s time to dive deep into the scholarship on this topic. Conduct research in the subject area and what has already been published on this specific topic. In particular, look at where this research is coming from and any key contributors in this area. Identifying established and emerging voices in this area might help you in developing your special issue.

3. Recruiting Guest Editors

Once you have confirmed the viability of your topic, it’s time to recruit a guest editor – unless you already have received a proposal from someone volunteering for this role.

When recruiting a guest editor, consider the following:

• Guest editors should be experts in the subject field and should be well-connected within the research community.
• As part of their role, the guest editor will be expected to commission and review articles, write the call for papers, define the aims and scope of the issue, and contribute to the editorial.

Important note: When working on special issues with guest editors, it is vital that you retain oversight of all submissions and all editorial decisions. As the journal’s editor, you maintain overall responsibility for the content published in the journal, so it is important that you oversee the special issue to ensure you are satisfied with the scope and quality of articles accepted and that you agree with all of the editorial decisions made by the guest editor.

4. Collaborating with Conference Organizers

If you’re working within the scope of a conference, you will need to collaborate with the conference organizers to decide on the papers to be published in the special issue.

You’ll need to ask yourself: Will all conference presenters be invited to submit, or will just a selected group be invited? The answer to this may depend on how many articles can be published in each issue and any pagination limitations.

Work closely with the conference organizers to make sure that the special issue is a success.

5. Detailed Timelines

Once you have confirmed the scope of the special issue, determine a timeline and set deadlines for important milestones. Work closely with the guest editor to ensure they have all of the following:

• Training on using the online submission system
• Information on the peer review process and using the reviewer pool.
• Understanding of editorial policies, practices, and expectations as well as guidance on diversity.

Check in regularly and offer any support where needed to make sure you can meet the timelines you have set for yourselves.

6. Get Support from Journal Management Team

Sometimes all you need to get started or keep going is a good sounding board. If you’re ever stuck, you can always reach out to your journal contact at De Gruyter Brill to discuss the scope, viability, timelines and deadlines for your special issue.