Some editors keep a paper for long time, more than 6 months or a year, without a decision and when send them a reminder message they do not reply or sometimes reply for the first time saying that the paper still under the review process, then do not reply again for long time. So I ask how a paper takes long time like that for the review process and usually the editors when they invite a reviewer, they ask him to finish the review process within 3 weeks. What the best way to resolve a problem like that, withdraw the paper or just submit to another journal?. The editors in meetings always talk about unethical behavior of authors and never talk about their unethical behavior on authors and during the publication process.
Hi, Ahmed,
How long one should wait on an editor's decision depends on a variety of factors - your stature within your profession, the quality of the journal to which you submitted the manuscript, and the exigencies of your impending application for promotion and/or tenure.
As a doctoral student, I waited 10 months one time for review notes on a manuscript. The required revisions were extensive and took me four months to respond. By that time another editor was in charge of the journal who sent it out for a statistical review. From first submission to publication was nearly 3 full years, but it did not affect my career adversely. The tenure clock had not started and the quality of the journal helped me get my current position.
That same journal has recently taken 19 and 24 months from first submission to publication on two other manuscripts. I've learned to be patient when hoping for acceptance and publication in a well-respected journal.
The trick is to keep writing. Hit submit, take a day to relax, then begin the next manuscript. (You should always be contemporaneously planning one project, collecting data on a second, and writing up the results on a third). Keep feeding submissions and let the publications take care of themselves. Fretting over long wait periods is just part of the job - or so it seems to me.
Hi, Ahmed,
How long one should wait on an editor's decision depends on a variety of factors - your stature within your profession, the quality of the journal to which you submitted the manuscript, and the exigencies of your impending application for promotion and/or tenure.
As a doctoral student, I waited 10 months one time for review notes on a manuscript. The required revisions were extensive and took me four months to respond. By that time another editor was in charge of the journal who sent it out for a statistical review. From first submission to publication was nearly 3 full years, but it did not affect my career adversely. The tenure clock had not started and the quality of the journal helped me get my current position.
That same journal has recently taken 19 and 24 months from first submission to publication on two other manuscripts. I've learned to be patient when hoping for acceptance and publication in a well-respected journal.
The trick is to keep writing. Hit submit, take a day to relax, then begin the next manuscript. (You should always be contemporaneously planning one project, collecting data on a second, and writing up the results on a third). Keep feeding submissions and let the publications take care of themselves. Fretting over long wait periods is just part of the job - or so it seems to me.
Dear Ahmed S. M. Saleh,
I have also faced such types of problems. I have submitted a manuscript in a reputed journal and up to five month the system showed "with editor". After first remind the journal management did not replied. Then i decide to second reminder. After few days of second reminder -- the editorial board reject my manuscript mentioning "Your manuscript does not match with the scope of our Journal". I am just thundered!!!!!! The manuscript does not match with the Journal, it comes after nearly six month with two reminder????
I just shocked. Does not have any systems or solutions or is not it violence of editorial ethical behavior????
Thanks Mr Ahmed to discuss such types of problems in this platform so that numerous researcher can learn more insight from this chapter.
Don't wait too long. Your script could be better than the image of the journal.
I think it is variable according to different journals policies. Most respectable journals have a definite map designed since submission, first editoroial decision, review time, last editorial decision, Editing and publication. and if it is not clarified on the journal home page you have to ask about after submission. Instead, you can have a look on previously published articles in that journal and notice the date of submission and date of acceptance or publication.
In my view, you could withdraw the paper and send it to another journal. Best
Hi Ahmed,
About three-four months to check for an update on the paper. Just gently asking when could you expect the review?
All the best, Usha
I like Peter Kindle's suggestion. I see the editorial process like a pipeline. I keep putting texts in one end and they eventually come out the other as publications. Some pieces go through fast, others slow, but there is usually a steady stream of publications. This reduces stress and lets me avoid overly fixating on this aspect of academic work.
Once I tracked down all the papers that had gotten stuck in the pipeline, inquired about their status, and sent most of them elsewhere; this resulted in a brief flood of new publications.
(The slowest editors, in my experience, tend to be the ones responsible for proceedings volumes; some colleagues have opted for not handing their papers over to the organizers so they can submit them to journals of their own choice.)
The time a manuscript takes after it is submitted to a journal to the decision depends upon various factors. First is the reputation of the journal. If its a very good journal (SCI/E) then the paper is quickly assigned to the editor. Now the fate of the manuscript starts. If the editor is active then it won't take much time for your paper to be desk rejected or to be send to the reviewers. If it is send to the reviewers then comes the factor how many minimum reviews the journal requires for decision to be made. Generally, it is 2 or 3. Whatever be the number if the editor have requested say 5 or 6 reviewers then there is a possibility of getting the minimum reviews in time. Some journals request only the minimum reviewers and wait for all them to submit the reviews. This causes a delay in the manuscript decision. Other factor is how much time the journal gives to the reviewers. In Elsevier it is generally 21 or 28 days. So, before sending a paper to any journal look at its website. They generally mention the average time for the first decision. Also, see some of the latest accepted manuscript in that journal and look their publication timeline. This will help you to choose a journal.
It depend largely on reviewers and editor. Some time editor delay the process due to his business in some other works and some time reviewers do not submit their reports on time.
First, you should follow the status of your submitted manuscript. Based on the Journal/publisher and reviewer's comment and Editor's presence, it is decided how much time it will take for review. At least wait for 3 months, then you can send a reminder mail to the editor-in-chief in a polite.
Dear Ahmed,
It is suggested to submit the paper to good journals which usually provide the first decision within couple of months. It is easy to check the journal behavior and how long it takes for the review processes.
Regards
After receiving reviewers' comments, I usually do the decision within 2 days. Reminder letters from authors should be replied within a week. These are my experiences and practice. But, as an author, I have to wait much longer in many cases.
I`m in this situation right now , I think you should wait if you think that your paper matches the journal` scope
I have submitted my paper to one of the reputed journal that shows 20days for first decision..But its a 12th day..and still it is showing status..editor assigned..What to do in that case??
You have to wait. depending on the quality of the journal and the promptness of the editor, it might take a while before your work may move from the editors desk.
Write a paper and forget about it for 6 months. After 6 months, follow-up your paper. This is the golden rule of publication. But sometimes it happens back-log irks you, so you must use your experience with those journals with whom you have been dealing with for a long time.
From my point of view, one month is enough for the first decision, 2-3 months are OK for the review process, then one month for the final decision after revision. More than that you may email him gently.
I think you have mentioned the final conclusion ... The unethical behavior of editors during the publication process .... That's it!
This discussion should reach to the editor of the journals. Some times a year passes and there is no reply from journal even after reminder.
In general, when we communicate the manuscript for publication, Editorial board forwarded to reviewers ( mostly 3 ) , Review the manuscript is a big task and take enough time. For reviewers this work is free of cast. Any how editorial board receive the manuscript with minor or major comments. Editorial board communicate to author and giving fix time period. After modifying again above process is repeated, In the lost if paper is accepted than printing time depend on a Que ( pipe line ) for printing.
Increase your faith in the almighty your prayers will get answered in finite time ....
Well on a serious note: Open Access Journals (so called paid) may be an answer.
This is important to understand what causes a delay in decision process for submitted articles. The delay is usually due to the delayed and non convincing comments of the reviewers forcing the editors to invite more reviewers to finish the process. This eventually takes more time .
Editor usually don't respond to the letters asking for expedited reviews of a submission. A review takes its own time and every editor wishes to finish with a submission within a reasonable time. Some time failing to identify a genuine reviewer for a highly specialized submission is also a problem.
Sanjeev Rastogi
After 3 months ask for postion. After 6 month tell good bye and send in another journal.
However, if you do not receive any response for six months, choose a different journal and send your article there.
Best
It is a serious matter many Journal not response for long times. I am facing this problem and when i continuously asking the status after one year, simple answer work is not related to the Journal so your paper is rejected. Choose good Journals they accept or reject your paper within three months
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