Q: My manuscript submitted to Nat. Commun. is still under consideration
23 days ago, I transferred my manuscript from Nature Physics to Nature Communications and an editor was assigned soon. But, after that, the status still displays "Manuscript under consideration" for 23 days. I wonder if this is a usual case. I heard that a first editorial decision is likely to be made within a few days after submission. Should I contact the editor?
Thank you for your question. Yes, this is normal. Considering the current pandemic situation, journals are finding it difficult to meet their desired timelines. Also, if it had to be negative outcome, it wouldn’t take so long for a publisher like Nature to come up with the decision, so you can relax and hope for a positive outcome. At the same time, do write a polite follow-up email to the journal requesting the current status of the manuscript.
You will also find this handbook useful: Handbook: Keep Calm And Wait: A Guide To Understanding Journal Statuses
We wish you all the best!
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage