From Journal Selection to Acceptance: The Submission Process

1) Choosing a journal

Weigh three things at once: the journal’s scope (does it publish your topic at all?), its quartile and impact, and the review times some journals publish. A manuscript sent outside a journal’s scope is usually rejected without review (desk reject). For quartiles, see this guide.

2) Preparing the files

• The manuscript in that journal’s Author Guidelines format — template, word limit, reference style.
• Figures and tables at the required quality and numbering.
• A cover letter explaining why this manuscript suits this journal.
• Conflict-of-interest forms, ethics approval (for human or animal research), and full author details.

3) Peer review

The editor first decides whether the manuscript goes out for review. If it does, typically two or three reviewers comment. The outcome is one of: acceptance (rare in the first round), minor revision, major revision, or rejection.

4) Responding to reviewers

• Answer every point separately, even the ones you disagree with.
• Show exactly where you changed the text (page and line numbers).
• If you disagree with a reviewer, argue with evidence and references, not with tone.
• Stay courteous; the next reviewer may well be the same person.

5) Acceptance and after

After acceptance you receive proofs — the last chance to fix typographical errors. The paper then goes online and receives a DOI. If the journal charges an article processing charge (APC), this is usually when it comes up; confirm it before you submit.

How long does it take?

The honest range is wide: from a few weeks to well over a year, depending on journal and field. Some journals publish their median time to first decision; use that number as your baseline, not promises from elsewhere.