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Scientific Journal Rejection

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While it is true that getting your work published may not be financially profitable for you, the exposure and prestige you do get once you get your work published in a high-profile journal tops any amount of paycheck equivalent!

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Aside from this, getting your work published will help you establish a more solid career foundation. It will also help you gain an audience if your career profile includes being featured in an academic journal.

Aside from this, getting your work published will help you establish a more solid career foundation. It will also help you gain an audience if your career profile includes being featured in an academic journal.

But all success stories have an accompanying story of extreme hard work. Since academic journals receive a great number of submissions, scientific journal rejection rates could be as high as 90% as they can be selective in choosing their content. The submission process is extremely competitive so here are a few tips you may want to consider to increase your chances of getting that sweet confirmation note you’re dreaming of saying your submission was accepted:

1. Read

I typed this in full capitalization because reading is one of the most important things a good writer should do, especially he’s in the field of writing. To become a good writer, it also follows that you’re a good reader as well. Reading helps writers learn more about their particular fields of study. This also helps readers distinguish which writing techniques actually work and which ones do not. The wider a reader you are, the more you’ll likely excel at your craft.

2. Research

Academic journals differ from one another, in the sense that they all have their own set of guidelines when it comes to submission process. They may also require certain type of formatting that differ from another journal’s format requirements.

Therefore, it is important to research and know the guidelines of the particular journal you’re planning to submit your article to. Take note of its specifications regarding formatting, style, simultaneous submissions, online submissions, print submissions, etc. Simply neglecting an editor’s formatting requirements may cause a rejection slip for you.

Some journals accept submissions based on fields of specialization and times of the year. There are journals that release publications just annually, semi-annually and quarterly. Some may only accept submissions based on a particular theme. It will also be helpful if you’d visit the journal’s website and look at their list of “aims and scope” as these will give you a hint regarding what types of articles they do and do not publish. This will give you an idea where your work is appropriate for the said journal or not.

By researching, you get a more vivid picture of what the journal’s expectations are. You may then use these as your guidelines while writing your journal article submission and lower the chances of getting your submission rejected.

3. Be Professional

Most journals may require a cover letter which indicates the journal article submission’s title, the list of its author/s, and its main principles and concluding statements of your article. Alternately, the journal may instead require an author’s biography along with the work you are to submit.

In writing a cover letter, it is best to keep it short and honest. Avoid exaggerating as this gives readers false impressions and even unmet expectations.

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Getting That Rejection Slip

You’ve done all the previously mentioned tips and instructions but still received that dreadful scientific journal rejection slip. What do you do?

  • Learn from Rejection

    While getting rejected sure is a great ego let down, do not let this crush all your dreams of getting your work out there published in an academic journal! Every writer does get rejected at certain points in their writing careers but this doesn’t mean it will always be the case.

    The first thing you should do is to read the reviewer’s note and find out why your journal article submission was rejected. Rejection can be a tool for success if you’re willing to learn from it. Criticisms are necessary for any individual who wants to improve in his chosen field/s.

    So accept it like a consolation prize, and use it to improve in your craft.

  • Be Persistent!

    Upon getting that scientific journal rejection slip and reading the reviewer’s note, you still have options to choose from. You may fix all the stated problems or reformat according to the journal’s instructions and resubmit. You may also check and research for other journals where you feel your journal article submission is appropriate and submit it again!

    The key to success is persistence. If in the first time you don’t get accepted, try again and this time, do better by taking and learning from all their criticisms. By being persistent, you eventually learn and become more familiar to the journal’s submission process. Meaning, the greater chances of getting your article finally accepted! Even today’s best and most highly-distinguished writers have gotten their submissions rejected at least once in their writing career, so don’t let any rejection slip hold you back!

Full reference: 

Explorable.com (Aug 10, 2009). Scientific Journal Rejection. Retrieved Nov 03, 2024 from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/scientific-journal-rejection

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