Should I write to the editor, ask the publisher, or wait a few more weeks? With our knowledge of the workflow that editors and publishers operate under, we offer this background information and guidance on how to appropriately check your submission status.
After Submission: Why Can’t I Know Right Away?
Frankly, waiting is a part of being an author—whether you’re a scholarly researcher or a fiction writer. Most academic journal and book editors work for little or no pay and are continuously struggling to manage their time between professorship duties and editorial responsibilities; so, time is limited to say the least.
One of the most important factors about manuscript submissions is that, often, the editorial process is dependent upon the subject area. In order to adequately prepare yourself, ideally, you should identify your target journal’s development timelines before submission. Look up the average wait times for your area of research. For instance, mathematics-focused journals have notoriously long manuscript review times, while education-centered books are generally quick and efficient at assessing proposals.
Who Do I Contact?
Every publishing company sets forth different policies, workflows, and submission guidelines that editors are usually required to follow, so doing some research into the publisher’s standard submission practices should be your first reaction. While one publishing house may ask you to contact the editors directly, others may encourage communication with a staff person who acts as a development liaison. Also, across the board, it’s likely that lead editors have appointed managing editors, who may very well be your key point of contact.
One foolproof method of discovering the correct person to contact is to email the publisher’s customer service representative. Typically, they will respond within two days and will point you in the right direction for what you’re inquiring about.
How Long Should I Wait Before Following Up With the Book or Journal?
It can be quite nerve-wracking when you’ve submitted research that you’ve put tremendous effort into only to hear silence from the book or journal editors.
Let’s explore the average amounts of time that academic books and journals take before responding. For journals, the “initial assessment” period should take anywhere between 2 and 16 weeks. Yet, the completion of this step doesn’t necessary warrant a communication to you as the author; again, it depends on the publisher’s practices and submission system. For books, if you’re waiting on a response for a proposal, expect a fairly quick reply since editors are eager to accept quality proposals and thrust you into the process of writing a fully developed submission. For full book submissions, editors are now moving into the peer review phase, which takes time, time, and more time.
Most would agree, peer review is by far the most cumbersome stage of the entire book or journal development process. Here’s why. Editors have to recruit reliable reviewers who are qualified. Then, those reviewers need to accept the request from the editors, and then complete the full evaluation. In many cases, the pool of reviewers becomes thinner and thinner with each of the aforementioned steps, and it’s largely frowned upon to make a final editorial decision with only one or two reviews, which sometimes aren’t even completed to the extent that would allow the editor to make an informed decision.
In sum, don’t expect a speedy turnaround after your manuscript is initially accepted. Nevertheless, after not hearing anything for the 16-week maximum average wait time, it’s acceptable to reach out to the right point of contact.
How Should I Follow Up?
After about four months, it’s our recommendation to write a status inquiry. There should be no harm in doing so; showing continued interest in having your manuscript published demonstrates engagement and erases any worries of plagiarism or simultaneous submission. Most importantly, though, be sure to maintain a tone of patience and politeness throughout your email communication. No one responds well to aggression, and remember, you have no entitlement in this situation. Still, most journal or book editors have once been or are still in your shoes, and the most effective editors have sympathy for authors of content that they deem exceptionally suitable for their publication.
Keep it concise and to the point. Structure your email similar to this template:
Dear Dr./Prof. [journal/book editor(s) full name(s)]:
Greetings! I hope this message finds you well.
I’m writing in regards to my/our manuscript, “[Manuscript Title],” submitted on [Date of Submission] to your respected journal, the [Title of Book/Journal].
To date, we have not received a notification regarding the status of our manuscript. I understand that you must be extremely busy, but could you please let me/us know approximately when we can expect a decision from you or the editorial board?
Thank you for your time and attention.
I/we look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Sincerely,
Your Name(s) and Signature(s)
The Bottom Line
Editors receive hundreds to well over a thousand manuscripts every year. Despite policies in place and the efforts of many, the ball is bound to be dropped at times when it comes to processing submissions—even if the publisher’s submission system is state of the art.
All in all, patience is key, but after a reasonable amount of time, bad news is better than no news.
How eContent Pro Can Help
Before submitting your manuscript to a journal, consider using eContent Pro (eCPro)’s Journal Identifier Database (JiD).
About JiD
JiD is a journal matching tool that analyzes the coverage and metrics of close to 3,000 scholarly peer-reviewed journals in over 10 subject areas, including medicine, environmental science, government and law, library and information science, etc. In order to ensure the credibility of each journal in the database, JiD only recommends journals published by academic publishers that are recognized by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). One of our main goals in offering this free tool is to decrease the risk of authors falling prey to the many predatory journals currently in the market.
The tool itself is very user-friendly. All you do is identify your current research subject, provide a few keywords, and write a brief description of your manuscript. After you click “Find Journals,” JiD gives you up to five free journal suggestions based on the data you entered. You can also use the tool to generate suggestions for a different manuscript if you have more than one. There’s no limit!
About eCPro's Journal Recommendation Service
If JiD’s results do not provide you with exactly what you were looking for, then you have the option to take the process a step further by utilizing eCPro’s paid Journal Recommendation Service. If you follow through with this service, our expert journal selectors will read through your entire document and provide a minimum of five journal recommendations that directly suit your research. Even though the expert journal selectors cannot guarantee your manuscript will be accepted by the recommended journals they provide, this service will ensure that you are submitting your work to the most relevant publication possible.
if you want to increase your manuscript’s chances of acceptance, then you should consider getting it copy edited by one of our professional editors before you submit it to a journal. Journal editors receive hundreds of documents to review, and if your manuscript is not thoroughly edited before submission, it can be thrown aside in an instant. Having your work copy edited is a smart investment because it ensures the smoothest submission process possible.
Make the Correct Choice
At eCPro, we provide an array of editorial and publishing services. Whether you’re looking to improve your grammar or strengthen the quality of your research, our experts ensure that the services they provide to you are of the highest quality. We pride ourselves in our commitment to quality and competitive turnaround. In fact, at no extra cost, you can expect to receive your final materials within 1 to 2 business days!
Contact us to learn more or request a free quote today.
Upload Your Document NowAbout eContent Pro
Based in Hershey, PA, eContent Pro offers high-quality editorial services with the fastest turnaround (1-2 business days, sometimes the same day, at no extra cost) and exceptional customer service. Since our inception, we have provided copy editing services to scholars in 90+ countries to achieve successful publications, and we have supported publishers, university presses, and organizations by streamlining their publishing workflows.
