Learn about the manuscript submission process, what different responses from the editorial office mean, and what to consider when revising and resubmitting your manuscript.
Understanding the Editorial Process
Submitting Your Manuscript
Understanding the general submission process and what happens “behind the scenes” at a journal will help you to be prepared for your own manuscript submission. In advance of your submission, identify the standard practices for writing a cover letter and selecting reviewers.
Key Qualities of Accepted Papers
Key Qualities of Accepted Papers
- Topic of Sufficiently Broad Interest
- Well-Designed and Executed Study
- Staistically Sound
- Data Not Over-Interpreted
- Well-Written
- May Have a Lasting Impact on the Field
Submission Process: Cover Letters
Submission Process: The Editorial Office
How to Select Reviewers
The Five Components of a Cover Letter
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Essence of Study
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Briefly Highlight Importance and Relevance
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Authorship Statement
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Not Published Elsewhere
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Suggested Reviewers and "Please Avoid" List
Responses from the Editorial Office
When you receive a response from the editorial office, it is not always clear what your next steps should be. Learn how to decode and respond to the letters that you receive.
Decoding Responses from the Editorial Office
Reasons for Rejection
Reflection Questions
Reflect on the questions below before you submit your manuscript. Spend time thinking about and researching your own answers, and review this question list with your mentors and colleagues.
- What should be included in the cover letter that you submit along with your manuscript?
- What are the typical next steps if your manuscript is accepted by a journal?
- If your manuscript is not accepted, when and how should you revise and resubmit your manuscript?
- How should you handle rejections from a journal?