Manuscript rejection by a journal is a common and integral part of the scholarly publishing process.
It occurs when submitted manuscripts do not meet the stringent criteria set by the journal for quality, originality, significance, or alignment with the journal’s scope.
Rejections can be disheartening for authors who invest significant time and effort into their work, but they also play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of academic discourse.
Journals typically provide authors with constructive feedback from peer reviewers, helping them refine their research and enhance their chances of acceptance elsewhere.
Ultimately, manuscript rejection is not a reflection of an author’s worth, but rather a step towards ensuring that only the most rigorous and impactful research contributes to the scientific community.
I’m sharing here the chronology of my Phd student (Buglie Lawrence) whose first paper got rejected more than three times.
First, submitted to Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering. Rejected.
Second, submitted to Biomicrofluidics. Rejected.
Third, submitted to International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow. Rejected.
Fourth, submitted to European Journal of Mechanics – B/Fluids. Rejected.
Fifth, submitted to Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science. Rejected.
Sixth, submitted to Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering. Rejected.
Seventh, submitted to Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering. Rejected.
Eighth, submitted to Chemical Engineering & Technology.
- The editor would reconsider for publication provided the reviewers’ comments are satisfactorily addressed.
- Our response letter and the revised manuscript.
- Finally, got accepted. Alhamdulillah 🙂
In short, stubbornness paid off.
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ ٱلْعَلِيِّ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
There is no power nor strength except by Allah.
