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Q: Why does my paper get multiple rejections?

Detailed Question -

This is third time my paper got outright rejection. There is no comment from the journal editor. Why is it so difficult to get a paper published?

2 Answers to this question
Answer:

Rejection is a natural part of the publication process. Most authors face rejection several times before their work ultimately gets accepted. Even Einstein had one of his papers rejected by a renowned journal before it got published elsewhere. 

I can understand how frustrating it must be to face multiple rejections. Perhaps you can politely write to the editor requesting to be enlightened about the reason why your paper was rejected. You can explain that the editor’s comments would help you identify where you have gone wrong and help you improve your study.

There are various common reasons for rejection. So just check your paper for a few things before you submit it to another journal:

If possible, take feedback from a senior colleague or a professor. They might be able to point out some drawbacks of your paper that you might have overlooked. 

Do not lose heart. Think about the reasons for rejection at the heart of each referee’s comments and try make your manuscript more appealing for a journal.

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Answer:

Being a writer, I get your words entirely! Unfortunately, my papers also receive multiple rejections. I think rejections are part and parcel of the publishing industry. 

I can give you few suggestions on how to improve your manuscript to avoid multiple rejections.

Most rejections happen because of common research writing mistakes. We tend to focus more on the high-intense technical content and forget about the fundamentals. 

Below is the list of fundamentals that we have to focus more on, and your research paper should reflect them;

  • Make sure the manuscript falls within the aim and scope of the Journal (the primary reason for rejections)

  • Emphasize the “why” factor in your article  

  • Present well-structured content (cut down superfluous content and focus on quality content)

  • Accurate citations: Make sure to add relevant references to prove the work

  • Enrich your paper with research metrics (figures, tables, graphs, etc.).

These fundamentals work in favour of your research paper and reduce the chances of getting rejections. 

Pro-Tip: You can submit your paper to any other journals this time. That might help you!

 

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