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Research paper plan: 10 steps from outline to submission

A paper from outline to submission: the key message first, figures before text, co-authors in good time. Use it as a checklist, or let Clarity Board put every step in your Google Calendar.

10 steps to start fromEdit them to fitYour own datesNotes page: outcome, figures and tables, co-authors, reviewer comments
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clarity board
Free template · Work and research

Research paper plan

  1. 1Choose the journal, read its guidelinesMon, Nov 2
  2. 2Write the key message in three sentencesmm/dd/yyyy
  3. 3Outline the sections and figuresFri, Nov 6
  4. 4Make the final figures and tablesmm/dd/yyyy
  5. 5Draft the methods and resultsmm/dd/yyyy
  6. 6A step of your ownmm/dd/yyyy
+ Add a step
Your notes page
Outcome · Figures and tables · Co-authors · Reviewer comments
clarity board

Research paper plan

  1. 1Choose the journal, read its guidelinesMon, Nov 2
  2. 2Write the key message in three sentencesmm/dd/yyyy
  3. 3Outline the sections and figuresmm/dd/yyyy
Copy the checklistPrint
Research paper plan [ ] Choose the journal, read its guidelines (~1 h) [ ] Write the key message in three sentences (~1 h) [ ] Outline the sections and figures (~2 h) …
Copied.
Mon 26Tue 27Wed 28Thu 29Fri 30
Team meetingPaper revision
AdminThesis chapter 3
Work blockWork block
RunSeminar
Paper revision
Clarity Board
PROJECTS +
DO TODAY
Paper revision (3)＋ ✎ ▤
SCHEDULE
Thesis chapter 3 (5)＋ ✎ ▤
Mon 26Tue 27Wed 28Thu 29Fri 30
← New project
Start from a template
A ready-made project with its tasks, due dates and notes Doc. Or fill in your own below.
Project name 
UrgencyNot rated
ImportanceNot rated
Mon 26Tue 27Wed 28Thu 29Fri 30
← Start from a template
WORK AND RESEARCH
Grant application12 tasks
Research paper10 tasks
Thesis chapter9 tasks
BUSINESS
Product launch10 tasks
Client project8 tasks
Event or workshop11 tasks
PERSONAL
Moving home10 tasks
Mon 26Tue 27Wed 28Thu 29Fri 30
← Research paper
Project nameSoil carbon paper
Deadline (optional)Mar 1, 2027
Task due dates
Spread them for me
No dates: I'll set my own
TASKS
Choose the journal, read its guidelines
Write the key message in three sentences
Outline the sections and figures
… 7 more, all ticked
Create project
Mon 26Tue 27Wed 28Thu 29Fri 30
Team meetingPaper revision
AdminThesis chapter 3
Work blockWork block
RunSeminar
Paper revision
Clarity Board
PROJECTS +
DO TODAY
Paper revision (3)＋ ✎ ▤
SCHEDULE
Soil carbon paper (9)＋ ✎ ▤
Choose the journal, read its guidelines~1 h
Write the key message in three sentences~1 h
Make the final figures and tables~1 day
Created Soil carbon paper: 9 tasks and its notes Doc.
Google Docs · Clarity Board — Project Notes

Soil carbon paper

Outcome
Target journal
Key message
Submission date
Figures and tables
FigureWhat it showsStatus
Co-authors
NameContributionApproved the draft
Mon 26Tue 27Wed 28Thu 29Fri 30
Choose the journal, read its
← Edit tasks
TaskChoose the journal, read its guidelines
Due date (optional)Mon, Nov 2
TaskWrite the key message in three sentences
Due date (optional)none
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The steps

Message first, figures before text, co-authors in good time. Make it yours: click a step to reword it, remove one with ✕, add your own, and give any step a date. This page remembers your changes on this device.

    The notes page

    Everything bigger than a task, in one place. In Clarity Board this becomes a Google Doc linked to the project; here's what's in it.

    Outcome

    Target journal
    Key message
    Submission date

    Figures and tables

    FigureWhat it showsStatus

    Co-authors

    NameContributionApproved the draft

    Reviewer comments

    For after submission.

    CommentResponseDone

    Decisions

    Newest first.

    DateDecision

    Notes

    Free text, for anything else.

    Why it's laid out this way

    The journal comes first

    Its word limit, structure and reference style shape everything you write. Reading the guidelines first saves rewriting later.

    Three sentences before three thousand words

    If you can state the key message in three sentences, every section has something to serve. If you can't, no amount of drafting will fix it.

    Figures before text

    The results section is a walk through the figures. Finish them first and the writing follows their order.

    Put this plan in your calendar

    Clarity Board is a free panel beside Google Calendar for anyone juggling several projects at once. It creates this project with the steps you choose and its notes page, and helps you give it the time it needs, week by week.

    Get the free beta