Fast-Track vs Standard Journal Submission: What’s Better?
Blog Highlights
- Fast-track submission prioritizes peer review for authors wanting to publish papers in a short time, i.e., a few weeks rather than months.
- Authors who wish to publish time-sensitive findings, especially in the medical field, often choose fast-track submission. Even authors wanting to submit within deadlines for completing their PhDs can choose fast-track journal submissions.
- Fast-track submission process varies from journal to journal, with some journals demanding additional fee for expediting the process.
What is Fast-Track Journal Submission?
How Fast-Track Peer Review Works
When Should Authors Choose Fast-Track Submission
Publishing a research paper takes more time than you can imagine. Typically, submission to publication can be anywhere between 4 and 12 months [1]. But authors do not always have the luxury of waiting that long.
“I need to publish a paper before the end of this semester! What if my submitted paper doesn’t get accepted by then?”
“These clinical findings need to be disseminated faster than usual. I can’t afford to wait for journal editors to follow the usual process. The findings must be peer reviewed and published now!”
Such scenarios are quite common, and that’s why several journals offer fast-track submission.
What is Fast-Track Journal Submission?
In fast-track submission, the time to publication can range from 4 to 12 weeks as opposed to the timeline followed for standard submissions, which is around 4 to 12 months, sometimes even more. Fast-track submission is best suited for publishing time-sensitive findings, like those that impact vaccination protocols during pandemics, policy changes during social emergencies, or cases that are impacted by high competition in the field.
How Fast-Track Peer Review Works
Unlike that in a standard submission process, the peer review is expedited in the fast-track submission process. Fast-track is sometimes referred to as fast review. In a standard submission, journal editors take weeks to identify the right peer reviewers to evaluate the submitted manuscript. But in a fast-track submission, this is done within days of submission.
However, the fast-track process is not fixed and can vary for different journals. Here are a few examples.
1. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) publications
JMIR offers an expedited process of peer review for an additional fee. In what they call “expedited review processing,” they will give you a decision on the first round of review within 20 days of submission and payment of the fast-track fee [2]. If accepted, your paper could likely be published within 4 weeks.
Here are two important pointers for authors:
- Respond to any inquiries from the journal promptly. If you need the process expedited, support the journal editors in every way possible to achieve that.
- Suggest reviewers of your choice from the get-go. Maybe 5 to 10 reviewers. This will give them a large pool to choose from.
2. International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope (IRJMS)
The fast-track submission rules for IRJMS are slightly different. Only if your work is precise and reports novel discoveries of exceptional significance will the journal accept your request for fast-tracking the submission [3]. So, what should you do as an author?
Clearly and explicitly describe in your cover letter why your paper deserves to be fast-tracked.
- What are you promising to the editors in your research?
- Why does it meet the journal’s fast-track requirements?
- Is it fully submission ready and would require only minor revisions?
After the initial submission, the editor-in-chief responds to you with a decision on whether the paper can enter the fast-track process within 14 to 21 days. The review (and decision) will then occur in the next 6 to 8 weeks. If, after evaluation, your paper is accepted, it will be published in the subsequent issue.
Important note to authors: In case your fast-track application is denied, the journal gives you an option to enter your manuscript in the standard review process. Failing to respond within a week will result in rejection.
3. Experimental Hematology under Elsevier
Some journals under Elsevier also offer fast-track submission process. For example, Experimental Hematology can fast-track your submission on request but on one condition: your article must have been previously considered by other top journals but was not accepted [4]. Here’s how their process works:
- Along with your submission, share the previous peer review report and your responses.
- The editorial board will convene to take a decision about the review process.
- Depending on the outcome, your paper will be reviewed faster than regular submissions, typically within 7 to 10 days.
As you can see, the decision to go for fast-track submission is not only author-dependent but also journal-dependent. So which should you choose? Standard submission or fast-track submission?
When Should Authors Choose Fast-Track Submission
First, know that not all journals offer this option. If quick publishing is a must for you, then keep that as a criterion when shortlisting your target journals. Here are a few scenarios where authors can choose fast-track submission:
- For swift dissemination. If you need the article not just accepted in a journal but published before the end of your semester, then opt for fast-track submission.
- To publish time-sensitive results. This is especially key in the field of healthcare. Any clinical findings that could impact decision-making in situations of viral outbreaks or pandemics should be peer reviewed quickly and published.
- Studies in competitive field. Fast-track is also suitable for research papers in highly competitive research fields, wherein authors have the pressure of publishing before their peers publish.
A few other factors to consider would be the cost, peer review quality, and quality of the paper.
- If the added fee is not too much of a concern and you need your paper to be reviewed quickly, choose fast track.
- Some authors worry that the quality of peer review may be flawed because of the short timelines. But there is no evidence to show this.
- Most fast-track submissions require only minimal revisions. So, if you are confident that your paper will not be undergoing any significant content changes, you may choose fast-track submission.
The overall journal submission process can feel overwhelming at times. Whether it is standard or fast-track submission, Editage’s Journal Article Submission Service can greatly simplify the process for you!
References
1. Time from submission to publication varied widely for biomedical journals: A systematic review https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03007995.2021.1905622
2. How to fast-track (expedite) a paper and what are the benefits? https://support.jmir.org/hc/en-us/articles/115001310127-How-to-fast-track-expedite-a-paper-and-what-are-the-benefits
3. Fast track review process https://www.irjms.com/fast-track-review-and-publication/
4. Get a fast track submission https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/experimental-hematology/about/news/get-a-fast-track-submission
