How to publish

think of a good problem
work on it
recognize a worthwhile result
make a decision as to when to stop and write up the result
write adequately
profit constructively from criticism
submit the paper to journal (determination from outset)
improve paper persistently during the editing period

The productivity of a researcher is the product of the researchers ability in each subtask: P = F1 * F2 * F3 ... If one exceeds someone else in each factor by 50% than the resulting productivity is 25 fold. According to that model and the overall productivity of researchers is log-normal if the various subtasks have normal distribution. (from Shockley: On the Statistics of Productivity in Research; Procedings of the IRE, March 1957)