- Bernard DeVoto

The choices of where and how to submit the manuscript are important.

Some manuscripts are buried in inappropriate journals.

The first problem is where to submit the manuscript.

Obviously, your choice depends on the nature of your work; you must identify those journals that publish in your subject area.

A good way to get started or to refresh your memory is to scan a recent issue of Current Contents.

You can determine which journals are publishing papers in your field.

To identify which journals might publish your manuscript, you should do several things:

Read the masthead statement (a statement, usually on the “title page” at the front of the issue, giving the name of journal, the publisher, and a brief statement of purpose)in current issue of each journal you are considering;

read the “scope” paragraphs that are usually provided in the instructions to Authors; and look carefully at the table of contents of a current issue.

If you submit your manuscript to a wrong journal, one of three things can happen, all bad. 1. Your manuscript may simply be returned to you,

with the comment that your work “is not suitable for this journal”

2. If the journal is borderline in relation to your work, your manuscript may receive poor or unfair review, because the reviewers (and editors) of that journal may be only vaguely familiar with your specialty area.

3. Even if your paper is accepted and published, your glee will be short-lived if you later find that your work is virtually unknown because it is buried in a publication that your peers do not read.

A paper published in a “garbage” journal simply does not equal a paper published in a prestigious journal.

The wise old bird (and) there are quite a few around in science) may be more impressed by the candidate with one or two solid publications in prestigious journal than by the candidate with 10 or more publications in second-rate journals.

Journal A, B, C, you should probably limit your choices to those three journals.

Journal D, E, F, contain only the lightweight papers

So each could be eliminated as your first choice, even though the scope is right.

By publication in such a journal, your paper may have its best chance to make an impact on the community of scholars at whom you are aiming.

Be wary of new journals, especially those not sponsored by a society.

The circulation may be minuscule, and the journal might fail before it, and your paper, become known to the scientific world.

The U.S. Postal Service requires that each publisher granted second-class mailing privileges (and almost all scientific journals qualify) file and publish an annual statement.

This statement must include basic circulation data.

Journal citation ReportsAn annual volume supplementing the Science

citation index). - Journals are cited most frequently, both - Gross quantitative terms and - In term of average citations per article published

(“impact factor”)

The impact factor especially seems to be a reasonable basis for judging the quality of journals.

(http://admin-apps.isiknowledge.com/JCR/JCR?PointOfEntry=Home&SID=U2GAkCbcJkGL7mgKJ4h )

http://www.lib.tsinghua.edu.cn/service/SCIcenter/sciimpac.html

The publication lag of a monthly journal is almost always shorter than that of a quarterly journal.

If the journal publishes “ received for publication” dates, you can figure out for yourself what the average lag time is.

What audience are you trying to reach?

EX: you are reporting a fundamental study in biochemistry, you should of course try to get your paper published in a prestigious international journal.

After you have decided where to submit your manuscript , don’t neglect the nitty-gritty of sending it in.

Many manuscripts are lost , badly delayed, or damaged in the mail, often because of improper packaging.

Giant paperclips are preferable. (I have known of several dummies who mailed out the only existing copies of their manuscript, and there was an unforgettable forever lost.)

Use a special floppy disk mailer, or secure the disk between oversize pieces of cardboard.

Insert the manuscript and disks into a strong manila envelope or even a reinforced mailing bag.

The maximum size should be 8 ½ by 11 inches.

It’s worth noting that you should always send a cover letter with the manuscript.

Manuscripts without cover letters pose immediate problems:

1.If there are several authors, which one should be considered the submitting author, at which address?

2.A manuscript perhaps misdirected by a reviewer or an editor?

The contributing author should also include his or her telephone number, email, fax number in the cover letter or on the title page of the manuscript.

Most journals send out an “acknowledgment of receipt” form letter when the manuscript is received.

If you know that the journal doesn’t, attach a self-addressed postcard to the manuscript, so that the editor can acknowledge receipt.

Most journal editors, at least the good ones, try to reach a decision within 4 to 6 weeks or, if there is to be further delay for some reason, provide some explanation to the author.

The End