Q: How should I urge the editor when it takes very long to process my manuscript?

You have three questions. Let’s take them one by one.

Should you write to the editor urging them to process the manuscript faster?

It is possibly 2.5-3 months since you submitted your manuscript. Since then, it has been with the associate editor (AE) and then gone for a peer review. So, it is progressing along in the system. As it is an Elsevier journal, it is bound to take a while, given the number of manuscripts they receive. Still, as we just mentioned, it is moving along, and you are also receiving regular updates. So, we think you should wait a while. If still needed, you could write to them requesting a current update. But maybe, wait for a week or so more.

How should you properly urge the editor to process your manuscript faster?

There is obviously some academic or professional dependency for your manuscript. So, it would be best to share this with them. You may not provide details, but you could generally let them know that it would help to know the outcome or status as early as possible, so that you could plan your next actions. For templates to do this, you may refer to Lectures 6 and 7 in this handbook: A practical handbook of templates for communicating with the journal

To whom do you write to find out which editor is handling your manuscript?

Yes, we seem to have heard too that Elsevier’s submission system has recently changed. This may also be one reason for the time taken, though big publishers such as Elsevier have processes in place to handle such transitions. It may also be that the editor has changed. Anyway, you may use the contact form provided on their Journal Article Support Publishing Center page here.

Hope that helps. All the best for the next steps!