Here are the resources I consistently recommend because they really work:

“Writing Science” by Joshua Schimel

Schimel, J. (2012). Writing science : how to write papers that get cited and proposals that get funded. Oxford University Press.

Yes, it’s a book, not an article—but it’s worth its weight in gold. Schimel breaks down how to tell a compelling scientific story: how to structure your argument like a narrative, write an abstract that grabs attention, and organize your paper so readers (and reviewers!) stay with you from start to finish. Even though it was written with life scientists in mind, the core ideas—like the “hourglass” structure for introductions—apply beautifully to math and technical fields too.

Hyland, K. (2004). Disciplinary Discourses: Social Interactions in Academic Writing. University Of Michigan Press.

This is a real research book you can read online: Hyland analyzed hundreds of published papers to show how expert writers build strong arguments, use language to show confidence (or caution), and guide readers through complex ideas. It’s eye-opening if you want to level up your academic voice.

For math-specific writing:

Steenrod, N. E., Halmos, P. R., Schiffer, M. M., & Dieudonné, J. A. (1973). How to Write Mathematics (pp. 1–64). American Mathematical Soc.

A short, timeless classic. Halmos—a legendary mathematician—emphasizes clarity, logical flow, and elegance. It’s less about journal submission logistics and more about thinking clearly, which is half the battle in math writing.

Practical publishing tips:

Use Journal Finder tools (like those from Elsevier, Springer, or IEEE) to match your paper to the right venue.

Read the “Instructions for Authors” carefully—many rejections happen just because of formatting or scope mismatches.

Check COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) for ethical best practices: publicationethics.org

Bottom line: Great research writing isn’t about fancy words—it’s about making your logic easy to follow, your contribution obvious, and your message memorable. Start with Schimel for storytelling, Hyland for academic phrasing, and Halmos for mathematical clarity. Then, revise, get feedback, and revise again.