Dr Sony Jalarajan speaks about the challenges in publishing good journal papers. Publishing in high-quality humanities journals presents several significant challenges. Standards for originality and theoretical contribution are often high, and expectations may be implicit rather than clearly stated, making it difficult for authors—especially early-career scholars—to judge whether a submission is suitable. Review processes are frequently slow, with extended peer review timelines and multiple rounds of revision, which can delay career progression. In addition, evaluation criteria may be influenced by intellectual traditions, methodological preferences, or linguistic style, potentially disadvantaging scholars from different academic cultures or those writing in a second language. Limited journal space, combined with increasing competition, further reduces acceptance rates, making publication in leading humanities journals a demanding and uncertain process.