You are through with your manuscript. The information is solid, the conclusions are obvious and the references are fastidious. And here is the greatest choice of your career: To whom do you submit it?
The selection of journals is a matter that many researchers take lightly or a prestige game. But the main reason behind desk rejection is giving a paper to the wrong journal i.e. getting rejected by the editor before even a reviewer can see it. You must have an expert Journal Selecting Plan to prevent this.
Knowing the Impact Factor (IF) Trap
The Impact Factor is a metric of the average number of references to the recent articles published in a particular journal. Although high IF is a common indicator of prestige, it does not necessarily make a successful person.
Having too high expectations is an easy error to make without evaluating the fit. Should you submit a niche clinical case study with Nature (an IF, general, science journal), you can expect to be rejected within 48 hours. On the other hand, setting too low is a waste of a good study which otherwise may have impacted a wider discipline.
Strategic Step: Tiered List
- Tier 1 (Reach): High-IF journals which are your dream publication.
- Tier 2 (Realistic): Publications in which your work is perfect and has a high probability of being accepted.
- Tier 3 (Safety): Reputable and solid journals with quicker turnaround.
Decoding “Aims and Scope”
It is the journal manifesto which is called the Aims and Scope. It explains what the editors are interested in purchasing. We cannot afford to have your paper venture out of these lines, and even the most brilliant data will not help it.
In reading the scope, search out particular keywords:
- Theoretical/Applied: Does the journal lean more towards basic findings or practice?
- Regional vs. Global: Will the journal only be publishing studies that have international implications?
- Interdisciplinary vs. Specialized: Does the journal aim to be broad based appeal or abide in the depths of a sub-field?
In case of doubts consult professional Journal Selection Advice. Consultants are also able to find slight changes in the editorial direction of a journal that the journal is not reflecting on their site.
The Power of “Reverse Search”
The second best method of locating a home to your paper is by checking your reference list. What were your most preferred sources of publication?
When you have five papers in the Journal of Applied Physics, it is obvious that that editorial board places high premiums on the discussion you are participating in. Editors are delighted by seeing that your work contains a continuation of the already existing scholarly conversation on their pages.
Comparison of the Open Access vs. Subscription Models
The contemporary publication industry presents two distinct avenues, namely Open Access (OA) and conventional subscription.
- With Open Access, anyone can read your work, and it can therefore receive more citations and spread much faster. Nevertheless, it normally has an Article Processing Charge (APC).
- Subscription Journals are usually free to the author but restricted to those who have access to institutions.
Your plan should consider your budget and your aspiration to have visibility. Open Access also can increase the number of eyeballs to high-impact research.
Assessing Predatory Indicators
Be on guard when looking the best IF, as there are scavenger journals. These sources are fast to publish and have high Impact Factor but they are not strictly peer reviewed. They are there merely to get fees.
A journal should always be checked against trusted databases such as Scopus, Web of science or directory of open access journals (DOAJ). When a journal contacting you directly does so in the unsolicited and excessive flatter mode, be very wary.
How to write the Perfect Cover Letter
After you have chosen the target journal, your sales pitch will be the cover letter. Here, use this space to state clearly how your research is connected to the aims and scope of the journal.
Do not give a summary of your abstract. Explain to the editor why his or her particular readers will be interested in your discoveries. It is like saying that you have done your homework, by mentioning that your paper covers a gap that was covered in their journal recently.
Dismissal: Strategy Over Luck
It is 50 per cent great science and 50 per cent strategic placement to get published successfully. Aligning your manuscript to the appropriate Impact Factor and a suitable compatible Aims and Scope will save you considerably on turnaround time to publication.
The right Journal Selection Advice would save you years of frustration and numerous rejections. This is what Fast Publications does. We read through your information, assess the existing market and refer you to the journal that will give you the best academic presence.
