Dear Ediomo-Ubong Nelson what you stated is a fact, however there are always two sides of a coin, when there is one thing happening the second is getting ready to follow, as day follows when night ends, good follows when evil is at its peak. I think hold your horses tight with patience and soon something good shall happen. I think till your paper gets published start writing another one.

Dear Ediomo-Ubong Nelson thanks for starting this interesting discussion. Although the peer review process in many journals has been sluggish, it is becoming slower than it used to, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some reviewers who will not return their reviews early on a normal day now have a reasonable excuse (COVID-19) to offer.

I will encourage you to send reminder emails to these journals' Editors to chase up the reviewers.

Use your discretions to determine how many invitations you will accept. I often accept invitations from journals that have published my work (although I review for some that have not ). Some people say that you have to accept based on the number of papers you've submitted.

Thank you, Dr Dumbili

Ediomo-Ubong although I sympathise with the situation you have found yourself in, it is not an uncommon one based on the accounts of a range of scholars‘ experiences. Sometimes certain journals even take more than a year to respond to an initial submission. You have the choice of withdrawing the paper and submitting to a different journal if you are pressed for time. If not you may wish to exercise more patience. Good luck.

Thank you, John

The whole peer reviewed publishing system is under criticism, but still important for the practice of science and for career advancement. It is based on the generosity of colleagues and only works in the long run if everyone does their bit.

My advice would be to contribute to this system at least to the same extent as that you gain from it. Mathematically, if an article you write is reviewed by three peers, then be prepared to review three articles of other authors so that the system is fair. You write that you have at least 4 - 5 articles out for review at present which means that there are between 8 - 15 colleagues out there putting in their own time to look at your work. If the system is to remain in fair equilibrium, you should be doing 8-15 reviews too!

That you are asked to review can be seen as academic recognition and you could/should appreciate that and take the opportunity to build up a reputation as a trustworthy and prompt reviewer with the editors. I hope this puts a different frame on your frustrating situation.

Thank you, Lilian

At the same time my mathematics give an indication for setting a limit to your teview work. For example, and I don’t know your workload, not more than one a month.

AND don’t forget to put your work as a peer reviewer in your CV!

I understand the reciprocity norms that governs peer review. I have been reviewing, and will continue to do so. As a matter of fact, I have done some reviews during this period. I am just wondering why I should continue reviewing other people's papers (and do so within a month) when peers are declining to review mine and those who accept are so slow with the review (that is the response I'm getting from the editors).

Life is not fair! If it takes too long, then send reminding emails to the editors as other colleagues have advised. To live with the frustration, are there alternative strategies to get your work seen by the public? What do colleagues say about their experiences as to delays and time lags? What is normal? Unfortunately publication is important for academics and in this intransparent process you are powerless. That can make you angry or depressed. Anger is healthier, it can give you energy. Wishing you much patience, fortitude and success!

Thanks you so much, Lilian. I deeply appreciate your contributions

Hi Ediomo-Ubong. I can understand your emotions. I would like to state a point here that - the time you have spent in writing the paper, reviewing will take double of that time and perhaps it is fair. The reason behind saying is you must be writing a paper or at most two papers at a time with clear cut objectives where as when it comes for review, the review applies two mind and thought processes. One of author's and his/ her own to do the justification of the work.

So don't worry. Your works must be a tough one hence taking time. At the same time when you are doing the review work don't forget the pain and disappointment you felt while waiting. I firmly believe that I shall behave with others as I want them to behave with me.

Be happy and be positive.

Thank you, Sanjay

Dear Ediomo-Ubong Nelson

Just keep on trying and make a resolution that the dynamics of the whole peer-review and publication process will not deter you from achieving what you want. Don’t let bureaucracy get you down. Years ago when I started my doctorate I was confronted by a bureaucracy I could not understand, like demanding formal translations of documents in Dutch that were perfectly legible in Afrikaans. I realized that was how the system needed to work and I made a resolve not to let myself be discourages or disheartened by bureaucracy.

In the years in between a lot changed at my university and I was unpleasantly surprised by administrative changes and demands that took a lot of energy. I kept coming back to my resolve, that if I wanted to finish a PhD during my lifetime, I must not let the bureacracy get the better of me. That has helped me enormously and I got through each hurdle better than I thought.

My advice, make a strong resolution and fall back on that when times are tough. The turtle won the race from the hare in the end, as the story says.

Dear Ediomo-Ubong Nelson what you stated is a fact, however there are always two sides of a coin, when there is one thing happening the second is getting ready to follow, as day follows when night ends, good follows when evil is at its peak. I think hold your horses tight with patience and soon something good shall happen. I think till your paper gets published start writing another one.