The review process
Waiting to hear whether your manuscript has been accepted can be a nerve racking part of the entire process. Keep in mind that standard waiting times can range from one to six months or even longer on occasions. This is because when you send a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal they will send your work out to three or more different professionals. These professionals will complete a blind review, meaning they won’t know your name or any other information about you, and then return the article to the editor. This is why the length of time you wait to hear a response will vary depending on how long it takes the reviewers take to complete the work.
Tip
Consider rejection as peer review of manuscript. Even the most successful writers have work rejected - so don't give up!
Once your manuscript is accepted for publication, you’ll need to wait several months to see it in print as most journals have 3 to 6 months of material already in line to be published. Just try to remain patient and before you know it you’ll see your work in print.
Rejection
If your manuscript is rejected don’t give up. Continue to rewrite, edit, add a different angle, or ask others for their advice on how you can strength your writing. Although your work may have been rejected, feedback from the reviewers is generally detailed and it provides invaluable advice on how to improve it or even where you might consider submitting it next time. Consider the feedback from rejection as a learning mechanism and a way of having free feedback from a professional. Getting published can be a difficult and lengthy process but it’s also a great way to share your knowledge, advance your career, and contribute to the field of nursing.
There are potentially a number of outcomes from the review process:
- The manuscript is rejected and the reason for that decision should be provided
- The manuscript is accepted with some revisions
- The manuscript is accepted straight away (although this is rare)