You have spent many hours in your research, carefully designed your experiments, analyzed the information, and, lastly, wrote your manuscript. The finish line can be seen – submission to a leading journal. However, one moment! Hit that submit button. The fact of the matter is that most of the promising manuscripts are turned down even before they go to peer review and this is the so-called desk rejection.
This can lead to frustration and lack of appreciation at Mars Publications. That is why we have listed five critical checks that you need to check to ensure that you stand a high chance of succeeding after the desk rejection and getting your precious research into the hands of reviewers. These are not simple adjustments, but basic issues that the finest journals are concerned with.
Do You Have a Research That is New and Really Matter? (The “So What?” Factor)
This is arguably the most important obstacle. The best journals are not seeking minor improvements. They want research that is innovative and brings about new knowledge or makes a big leap on the research methodology.
Actionable Check: What is so what? Can you explain it in a single sentence in an eloquent way? of your research? What is the new knowledge it gives you in your area? In what ways does it challenge the existing paradigms or open new possibilities to be studied in the future? In case you have trouble with it, your paper may not have the impact required to make it to a high level journal. Examine your introduction and discussion sections to make sure that you have put the novelty and importance into the limelight. Be explicit. You cannot expect the editor to do the hand shaking. Make the job of editors easy.
Is Your Manuscript in the Area and Within the Readership of the Journal?
This may have been seen as a given, but it is a common trap. All high-ranking journals have their niche, audience, and editorial focus. Submission of a brilliant work of art to the wrong journal is a sure desk rejection.
Actionable Check: Complete analysis of the Aims and Scope part of the journal site. Look at a few recent copies of the journal. Are other papers of the same nature published there? Look at what kinds of methodologies, theoretical frames and research questions they usually contain. When your piece of work is not within their well-defined boundaries, at the very least, reconsider your target journal. Take into account whether your language and the way you present yourself appeal to the readership they already have. A mismatch is at once noticed by an editor.
Have You Strictly followed the Author Guidelines of the Journal? (The Devil is in the Details)
High-ranking journals have very strict guidelines for authors. These are not recommendations but obligatory needs. Any non-compliance, including regarding some minor points, indicates the absence of the professional attitude to details and the concentrated approach to the editor. It implies that you have not even bothered to learn how they go about it.
Action Check: Use your fine-tooth comb to read through the author guidelines and print them out. Verify each of the points: number of words, reference style, figure formatting, table presentation, ethical statements, abstract format and types of submission files. Do you have your headings in place? Is your abstract in range of the word limit? Have you provided all the supporting materials required? Any variation will result in a swift dismissal. Hundreds of submissions pass through the hands of editors and mistakes that can be corrected easily are an instant warning.
Is your Manuscript Perfect as far as Language, Clarity and Structure are concerned?
An elite journal demands the highest quality of English writing, clear and succinct arguments, and logical style. Bad grammar, clumsiness in phrasing or even lack of organization will be a great setback to your manuscript. Editors must be able to pay attention to your points and results.
Actionable Check: Check your manuscript a number of times. Do not just use spell-checkers; they do not understand the context. Request that colleagues or professional editors read through your language to clarify, to see if it has a proper grammar and flow. Read out the manuscript aloud to identify clumsy sentences. Make sure your introduction identifies your research question and hypotheses, methods are reproducible, results are presented objectively and your discussion places your findings in the larger context of the literature. An excellent research is confused in a winding story.
Is Your Abstract and Cover Letter Selling Your Work Powerfully?
The first thing that your manuscript will be judged on is your abstract and cover letter. These two components are commonly used by the editors when making first decisions. They have to be persuasive and not too lengthy and capture the essence of your research.
Actionable Check:Write an abstract that simply summarizes your research question, methods, important findings, and most importantly the importance and novelty of your work. All sentences have to merit their way. To your cover letter, you should address the editor by name. Make it very clear what your manuscript is and why it is appropriate in their particular journal. Stress the originality and importance of your results and their relevance to the objectives and purposes of the journal. Concisely state that the work has never been published before and is not in consideration in other places. This is your opportunity to defend yourself to the editor.
Submit with Confidence
You enormously increase your odds of escaping a desk rejection and proceeding to the much-needed peer-review step by scrupulously running these five important checks. Mars Publications enables researchers to negotiate the tricky nature of academic publishing. We can assist you to make sure your innovative research receives the necessary attention.
Are you willing to polish your paper? Call Mars Publications and get professional help at all the steps of the publishing process. Your work is worthy of viewing.