Publishing in research journals can seem like a challenging, intimidating, and opaque process for graduate students and young professionals. It does not need to be that way, however. Researchers should be excited about the possibility of contributing to the body of knowledge in their profession, and new doctoral students should be eager to share the work they have spent so much time and effort pursuing. This session is designed to leave participants feeling more confident about preparing their manuscripts for publication and navigating research journal submission, by illuminating the publication process and providing helpful “insider” insights, tips and advice.The presenter—an experienced research journal editor, author, reviewer, and dissertation supervisor—will engage participants in considering strategies for undertaking and disseminating research, including preparing the manuscript and deciding where to submit for publication. The mysteries and ethics of the anonymous peer review process will be revealed, as well as what authors should expect when submitting, how to interact with editors, and how to handle reviewer comments and revisions. Manuscript submission ethics will be introduced via scenarios for participants to discuss and evaluate.In addition to the presenter’s experiences, this session will incorporate related literature to the extent available, although relatively few music-education-specific studies address the research publication process. Included are findings related to publishing preparation, experiences, and expectations of music education faculty (Koner & Gee, 2024); effective ways to title an article (Orman & Frega, 2022; Silvey et al., 2024); the roles of both training in writing literature reviews (Cicso, 2019) and research mentorship on assuaging Impostor Phenomenon feelings that have been found for early-career music education professors (Sims & Cassidy, 2018); use of AI as a music education research tool (Rohwer, 2023); editor-identified errors in music education research journal submissions (Conway, 2024); and characteristics of music education journals, which can help with decisions about where to submit (Sánchez-Marroquí, & Vicente-Nicolás, 2024). By integrating practical advice, findings from related scholarship, and the presenter’s editorial and mentoring expertise, this session seeks to make the research publication process clearer and more approachable. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of professional standards and expectations in music education research publishing, as well as specific strategies for preparing, submitting, revising, and successfully advancing their manuscripts through the publication process. Hopefully this will inspire greater confidence in their ability to share their work and contribute to the growth and future of music education research.