In software engineering, it is commonly expected to publish a significant portion of your work before submitting your doctoral dissertation. However, writing strong papers and getting them accepted for publication can be quite challenging. In this keynote presentation, I will share the lessons I’ve learned about what constitutes good writing and what factors to consider when publishing your research. This will include tips for structuring papers, creating a compelling narrative, and understanding the perspective of your readers. I will particularly focus on the reviewing processes at different venues. I will conclude with some thoughts on selecting the right venues for publication and the importance of open science practices.

Stefan Wagner is a full professor of software engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he earned his PhD in computer science. With a background in computer science and psychology, he has published over 130 peer-reviewed scientific articles and authored the book “Software Product Quality Control.” His research interests span several areas of software engineering, including software quality, human factors, AI-based software engineering, automotive software, AI-based systems, and empirical studies. Dr. Wagner serves as a Section Editor of PeerJ Computer Science and on the editorial boards of IEEE Software, Empirical Software Engineering, and the Journal of Systems and Software. He has received numerous best paper awards and was recognized as a 2022 Class of IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Contributor. Dr. Wagner is a member of the German GI and a senior member of ACM and IEEE. You can reach him at stefan.wagner@tum.de