Dealing with requests to revise and resubmit from your journal can be time-consuming and frustrating, but it’s important not to see this as a setback. View it as an important part of the academic process that gives you a chance to improve your work with higher chances of publication. In this article, we discuss some strategies for dealing with the revise and resubmit process, so that you can approach it with a positive attitude and increase your chances of success.
Getting a revise and resubmit request from a journal may be unnerving, but it is the most common recommendation by peer reviewers across disciplines. Remember that receiving a revise and resubmit decision is better than a rejection. In a way, it is good news, as it is an indication that your paper has potential and that the reviewers believe it can be improved. Look at it as an opportunity to learn and make your research paper stronger so that it has greater impact.
However, know that revise and resubmit does not guarantee publication. The reviewer is simply highlighting that your manuscript is worthy of a second look if the recommended changes are implemented. In fact, some researchers go through multiple revise-and-resubmit cycles before they receive the final verdict.
Simple steps to tackle revise and resubmit requests effectively
Journal editors and/or reviewers may request a long list of revisions that may seem overwhelming. Being patient and objective in your response to a revise and resubmit request is key to success in a competitive academic publishing environment. This is where having a clear plan comes in handy.
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Take time to read through and evaluate each comment
When you receive feedback from the editor and peer reviewers, take some time to read through it carefully and evaluate each point. Check all the comments both shared as revision notes or even in track changes within the document. This will give you a sense of the kind of revisions required, which you can then organize into broader groups. By categorizing the comments into the types of revisions required, you will often realize that there are only a few major issues to be addressed.
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Create a checklist of comments and revisions required
Once you have these categorized, create a detailed checklist of the feedback received and the revisions required. Be specific and list these as action items instead of being vague so you know exactly what is needed. While creating this list you may also come across some contradictory or unclear advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarifications if you have doubts as it will help you better understand the feedback and make more informed revisions. If a reviewer raises a concern that you think is not valid, you will need to determine and list how you plan to address this in your response letter.
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Work through the revisions suggested, one at a time
Keep in mind that the research paper or PhD revise and resubmit process can take time as you need to consider the feedback you receive in the context of your research. While you don’t have to accept all of the reviewers’ comments, consider how they might impact the overall quality and relevance of your work before rejecting anything. Be mindful of the revise and resubmit deadline and work backwards so you complete your revisions in time. Take a look at some simple revision plans.
- From start to end: Some researchers prefer to work on revisions from start to finish; making changes section by section starting with the introduction all the way to the conclusion. This is a great way to ensure all the changes in a particular section of your paper are addressed.
- From issue to issue: Revise and resubmit comments can often be clubbed into larger related issues. Some researchers prefer tackling a single issue, say formatting, across the paper so that they’re focused on one task at a time. This is a good option if you have clear categories of revise and resubmit comments, as it helps you ensure maintain consistency in changes.
- From big to small: When it comes to managing a host of different comments that vary in order of importance, it may be a good idea to start every day with a big task and then smaller ones. This ensures critical items are tackled first, which motivates you to keep going and quickly address smaller items on the checklist.
The most important thing is to ensure you make progress and complete everything on your daily checklist. Keep track of the changes you make; using the ‘track changes’ feature on Word can help the editor and reviewers see the changes you have made and why. Don’t rush through the revisions or try to make too many changes at once. Take the time to ensure that your revisions are thorough and accurate. This will not only improve the chances of your paper being accepted but also increase the quality of your research.
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Check and double-check your revisions before you submit
Once you have completed your revise and resubmit checklist, go through and double-check the editor’s letter and reviewer comments again to ensure all suggestions are fully addressed. If you are new to academia and are struggling with revisions or have questions about the process, reach out to your PhD supervisors, peers, or experts in your subject area. They can provide valuable insight and guidance that can help you understand and map your current and even future work.
Once you are confident about your paper, take a break and do a final proofreading check to weed out typos, grammar errors, minor formatting issues and maintain logic and flow. Forget all the changes and comments and read the article as if you’re reading it for the first time; thinking from a reader’s standpoint will help you see any gaps that could impact the overall quality of your work.
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Write a response letter to the editor, resubmit, and relax
Using your revise and resubmit checklist as reference, carefully draft a letter to the editor explaining how you’ve tackled the comments. Keep in mind that while the comments may have come from peer reviewers, you are writing to the journal editor so be clear, concise, and courteous. Clearly identify the major issues requiring rework and explain how you have improved this; you do not need to list every minor change.
If you found contradictions in reviewer comments or do not agree with a specific request, then this is where you can ask them for clarification or reject their comments by explaining your rationale and why you think the feedback may not be relevant to your particular work. Remember that these are experts who have put in hours of time and expertise to help you improve your work, so always keep your tone professional and polite to allow for constructive conversation.
Once you are sure that you have tackled or addressed all the revise and resubmit requests effectively, send in the revised article and response letter back to the journal editor. Your work is done, take some time to enjoy this milestone and keep your fingers crossed for a positive result.
