Keep calm and wait: A guide to understanding journal statuses

For every author, the time from a manuscript’s submission to final decision is perhaps the most nerve-wracking experience. But worry not, there’s help at hand now! This specially curated handbook is designed to help you understand a manuscript’s end-to-end journey from submission to publication.

Learn the meanings of statuses and the average time taken at each stage, along with detailed descriptions of the many statuses from submission to first decision and final decision. It also helps you understand the difference between being patient and waiting too long, identify situations when you should raise a query, and tells you how often you should follow up on email. Toward the end, you will be well equipped to track the progress of your manuscript and join all the dots about its status as it moves through the journal’s submission system, which will go a long way in easing your anxiety.