8 - Handle the Review Process

Summary

Author Kiewra has submitted many manuscripts, served on several editorial boards, and was a journal editor. He finds the review process flawed. Ask three academics to review a manuscript and expect an arms race of criticisms and recommendations. Also expect editors to behave like managers instead of scholars. Many line up reviewers, parrot their comments, and make no judgment of their own. Regardless, authors must know how to handle submissions that were rejected or given a second chance. If rejected, join the club. Top-tier journals reject about 90 percent of submissions, so don’t get discouraged. One productive scholar said, “You have to learn how to take criticism and rejection because we’re pretty critical of each other, and reviewers can sometimes be brutal.” Consider resubmitting your work elsewhere. Another scholar said, “You can always find a home for a paper in a second-tier journal.” Do a happy dance if you receive a revise and resubmit decision. The reviews provide a roadmap for acceptance. Follow that revision map. When you resubmit, include a response letter that specifies how and where you addressed each reviewer point. Also, accept the blame and be polite, respectful, thankful, and positive.