Handling Desk Rejections: What are the Next Steps?
“Dear author, thank you for your interest in submitting to our journal. However, we are sorry to inform that…”
No researcher wants to read a letter that begins this way! Receiving a rejection after spending months working on a research paper submission can be frustrating for authors. However, the exponential increase in the publishing of academic papers has simultaneously increased the rate of desk rejection in scientific publishing.
We have previously discussed the most common reasons for desk rejection and how to avoid it and also provided you with editors’ perspectives on desk rejection. In this blog, we will guide you on handling desk rejections and the next steps.
Understanding the Types of Rejections
Final Thoughts: Tips for Authors and Next Steps
Understanding the Types of Rejections
First, let us understand the types of rejections.
Desk rejection
When you submit your manuscript to a journal, it is screened by the editor before being sent for a review. If the paper gets rejected at this stage, it is termed as a “desk reject.” The most common reasons for desk rejection are a mismatch between the research and the journal’s subject scope, inadequate contribution to existing literature, and manuscript formatting issues1. Know that a desk reject indicates that your manuscript has not undergone peer review, and the letter from the journal editor will clearly highlight the reason for not accepting the submission.
Rejection after review
At times, your paper may be passed on to the review stage, meaning that you dodged a desk rejection! Once multiple reviewers assess the paper, the journal editor considers their recommendations and decides on its acceptance or rejection. If it is rejected, you will receive a decision letter from the editor summarizing the reasons for rejection along with the reviewers’ comments. Typically, the reason for rejection at this stage is a flaw in the research methodology or the quality of research not being up to the journal’s expected standards. Regardless, a decision letter provides you with constructive feedback and offers helpful advice on how the paper can be improved.
How to Handle Rejections
Despite you taking measures to avoid a desk rejection, there could be something you have overlooked which has resulted in a negative decision from the journal. Or the journal editor may have misinterpreted your submission. Nevertheless, you are now reading a rejection letter. What next?
1. Be disappointed
It’s okay to hurt! Truly, it is. You are only human, and let that emotion of disappointment run its course. Do you feel like crying? Shed those tears shamelessly. Want to rant? Find a supportive friend or a family member ready to listen to you lament. Feel like taking a walk? Step out and breathe some fresh air to help clear your head.
Each of us have our own way of dealing with rejection. Do what suits you best!
2. Move on
While it is alright to “be” disappointed, do not “stay” disappointed! Accept that the journal has given its decision and move forward from it. Do not see it as a sign of failure. It is only a part of your submission journey, which can continue despite this small setback.
3. Do not react in haste
It is natural to want to express anger when someone points fingers at your precious research! But that does not give you the right to lash out at the journal editor. Know that it is the editor’s job to be objective when choosing the research papers most suited for publication in their journal. Just because they thought yours would be a misfit, do not paint them as the villain and write an angry email. Choose to “respond” rather than “react.”
4. Let the feedback settle
Treat the decision letter as the foundation for your next steps. The reasons for rejection are often clearly outlined by the journal editor.
- “The research does not match the journal scope.”–> “Okay, I thought the subject area was covered by the journal scope. Maybe I was wrong. Let me look for alternate journals which would better match my research area.”
- “There are major formatting issues.”–> “Oh, this could have been avoided had I been more cautious. Let me fix them before my next submission.”
Yes, decision letters often include recommendations on improving your manuscript. Read the detailed feedback and digest the reasons provided before acting on the suggestions.
5. Stay respectful
At times, you might want to appeal the journal’s decision of rejecting your submission2. You may have to check the journal’s appeal policy before proceeding with this step. This may or may not give you a positive result. But it is important that you remain civil when writing to the journal editor.
Be polite in your language, tone, and style of writing. Include evidence to support your argument as to why your research would be a good fit to the journal. Highlight any misunderstandings or strengths that were perhaps overlooked during the editor’s assessment. Avoid emotional pleas!
Final Thoughts: Tips for Authors and Next Steps
Here are some key tips to keep in mind when handling desk rejections:
- Carefully read and understand the journal’s submission guidelines. Make a list of everything you will need to submit: the main manuscript, figure and table files, graphical abstract, ethical declarations, AI disclosure statements, and any other requirement. Use accurate language, grammar, and technical terminologies to present your research in an academically acceptable manner. Ensure your submission package is completed as per journal’s guidelines. Basically, try your best to avoid desk rejections!
- If the submission is rejected despite your best efforts, analyze the reasons for rejection before revising the paper. If it is a mismatch in scope, submitting to the same journal may not be a viable option. However, if there are formatting issues that can be easily dealt with, go ahead and make the necessary changes before resubmitting.
- Take the feedback sincerely and rework your manuscript before submitting it to a different journal. When you choose your next journal, check thoroughly for alignment between your research goals and those of the target journal. Write a strong cover letter and explicitly highlight why your research paper is suited for that journal. Justify why the journal’s audience would benefit from your paper. Highlight the novelty of your work and explain how your study contributes to advancing the existing knowledge.
- Use professional services if required. At times, having external reviewers assess your manuscript for submission readiness can help maximize your chances of acceptance. Editage’s Desk Rejection Shield Service offers expert-driven pre-submission check and comprehensive formatting to help you clear that first hurdle in journal publishing!
References
1. How to develop a quality research article and avoid a journal desk rejection https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268401221001195
2. How, when, and why you should appeal an editor’s decision https://crosstalk.cell.com/blog/how-when-and-why-you-should-appeal-an-editors-decision
