diff --git a/.github/workflows/draft-pdf.yml b/.github/workflows/draft-pdf.yml
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/draft-pdf.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: Draft PDF
+on: [push]
+
+jobs:
+  paper:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    name: Paper Draft
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Build draft PDF
+        uses: openjournals/openjournals-draft-action@master
+        with:
+          journal: joss
+          # This should be the path to the paper within your repo.
+          paper-path: docs/joss/paper.md
+      - name: Upload
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: paper
+          # This is the output path where Pandoc will write the compiled
+          # PDF. Note, this should be the same directory as the input
+          # paper.md
+          path: paper.pdf
diff --git a/docs/joss/paper.bib b/docs/joss/paper.bib
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index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/docs/joss/paper.md b/docs/joss/paper.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5fa32de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/joss/paper.md
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+---
+title: 'rook: server-side grid operations for climate datasets'
+tags:
+ - Python
+ - Earth System Grid Federation
+authors:
+ - name: Carsten Ehbrecht 
+   orcid: 
+   affiliation: 1
+ - name: Ag Stevens
+   orcid: 
+   affiliation: 2
+affiliations:
+ - name: DKRZ
+   index: 1
+   ror: "03ztgj037"
+ - name: CEDA
+   index: 2
+   ror: "01y3mxb71" 
+date: 2026
+bibliography: paper.bib
+---
+
+# Summary
+
+# Statement of need
+
+# State of the field
+
+# Software design
+
+# Research impact statement
+
+# AI usage disclosure
+
+# Acknowledgments
+
+# References
+
+
+
+