Thread by @MasterAcademia_

Behind the scenes: What I learned from being a journal editor about the publishing process. A🧵

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1. Manuscript mostly receive a "desk reject" because they do not fit thematically to the journal.

👉 Be strategic when selecting a journal. Check your manuscript's references: If none of your references was published in the journal that you target, it is probably a bad fit.

2. Editors do actually read the cover letter, if one is required.

👉 Don't just copy-paste your abstract into the letter to the editor. Keep it brief and to the point, but take the time to write a few new sentences: master-academia.com/post/letter-to…

3. It is off-putting when authors do not follow the journal's guidelines.

👉 While it is tedious and annoying to adjust your manuscript to journal-specific requirements (layout, references etc), it is an absolute must for a serious submission.

4. Manuscript which do not present a clear argument in the very first paragraphs of the introduction tend to be rated lower.

👉 Indicate your argument and key findings clearly in the introduction ("I argue that...", "This paper argues..."), and highlight your paper's relevance.

5. Editors manage many manuscripts at the same time, and have a hard time following the improvements made on your manuscript.

👉Make it easy for editors to follow your manuscript revisions, for instance with the use of a table:
master-academia.com/post/manuscrip…

6. Editors don't expect you to implement all suggestions made by reviewers.

👉 Know that you do not blindly have to follow all requests made by reviewers. Instead, showcase your critical reflection on each point, and know that you can also disagree: master-academia.com/post/disagree-…