Screening Submissions as a Journal Editor
What does it take to be a successful journal editor? Learn how one editor screens submissions, from the cover letter to the abstract, and the importance of the title in this 30-word description.
onisillos
Clearly an impostor
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It might be useful for new researchers to know how a journal editor screens submissions (obviously this is my approach and so it might differ for others) 🧵
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
1/8 -
I tend to start with a cold read of the abstract. By this I mean I try to do little more than glance at the title, as titles sometimes oversell or, at least, don't help my understanding of what the paper is about
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
2/8 -
This is also why I read the cover letter second, so I have an outline of the paper before I'm subjected to the "pitch"
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
3/8 -
It's always helpful when an abstract is self-contained. For example, explicitly states the aim of the study, includes an outline of the stats that allows the findings in the abstract to be interpreted, and (for a gold star 🤩) outlines what can be done with the findings
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
4/8 -
When reading the cover letter I'm looking for something that puts the research into context because, without some guidance, I might miss the subtle nuances of your research. But, as well as subtleties, I also want to know why your study was worth doing
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
5/8 -
Despite describing the cover letter as a "pitch", I'm not keen on this characterisation as it in encourages an overenthusiastic tone. Think of the cover letter as a simple summary:
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
🗒️ What you have found
🗒️ What it adds to current understanding
🗒️ Why that matters
6/8 -
Beyond your research, offer other supportive background points. Such as why you feel the journal is best suited to your research and if it relates to upcoming events or government or regulator decisions
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
7/8 -
It's only at this point that I'll read the manuscript. I now know the gaps I'm seeking to fill but I'm also prepared to digest the research more fully
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023
I hope this was helpful
8/8 -
I can’t guarantee that I have all the answers, but let me know if there are any other aspects of the journal process that I can try to demystify
— onisillos (@onisillos) June 14, 2023