The publishing process

Before you submit

Make sure to:

1. Thoroughly proofread your article or use a proofreading service, such as proofreaders recommended by the UQ Union or by your postgraduate coordinator or supervisor
2. Check that you have met the instructions to authors
3. Publish with your ORCID iD
4. Use the correct format for your UQ affiliation. The Submit section of Strategic scholarly publishing has an example in the correct format.

To increase the visibility of your research consider depositing:

• your datasets into UQ eSpace — any research data underlying your publication can be uploaded and have its own DOI minted. Once you have deposited your datasets into UQ eSpace you can cite your own dataset in the publication, and you can have that DOI published with your article
• the post-print or author accepted version of your manuscript into UQ eSpace — the majority of publishers will allow you to make this version available open access in an institutional repository (such as UQ eSpace), after an embargo period. 

Online submission process

When you submit your manuscript online you will usually need:

1. To register with the online submission system
2. Your submission prepared based on the required format and style in the instructions to authors. The elements may include - cover letter, title page, abstract, manuscript, supplemental material, research data details, tables, graphs, charts, and other illustrations
3. The title within the character limit and subtitle (if any)
4. Author details, including middle initial and affiliation (often an email address and abbreviated qualifications for each author is required).
5. Details about any conflict of interest, prior publication and institutional review board approval.

Peer review

The process of peer review is undertaken by the majority of scholarly journals and is a means by which the journal can ensure that it publishes articles of a high academic standard. Learn more about the peer review process in the next section.

Editorial review

If accepted for editorial review, your manuscript will be read, edited and returned to you several times in order to ensure that it meets the submission requirements of the journal. It is most often a requirement that the work be original.

The Editorial process is about the management of journal content. Details about the editorial process, often available on a journal's website, are worth examining before submitting your article. Often included in the process are the:

1. Roles of the editor-in-chief and associate editors
2. Names of editorial board members
3. Details about the reviewing process
4. Timelines for screening manuscripts
5. Appeal options.

Rejection can be a very useful learning process, helping you to improve your work. 

• 5 options to consider after article rejection — from Wiley
• 8 reasons I rejected your article — from Elsevier

You are required to address all comments and suggestions made during the peer review and editorial process and provide justification for your decisions. The Copyeditor makes suggestions and revisions to ensure that the paper is written in the official journal style.