Last updated: January 2026 · 3 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Introduction
Publishing a research paper is one of the defining steps of an academic career. For first-time authors, the process can appear opaque: a long list of requirements, unfamiliar terminology, and uncertainty about where to send the work. This guide explains the publication process in plain language, with the steps an author typically follows from the first draft to a permanent record in the scholarly literature.
The guidance below is general and applies broadly to journals across disciplines. Specific requirements differ by publisher and by journal; authors should always consult the instructions of the target journal before final preparation.
Step 1 — Prepare a complete manuscript
Before identifying a target journal, the manuscript should be substantively complete. A complete manuscript ordinarily includes a title, an abstract, an introduction situating the work in the existing literature, a methods section that another researcher could follow, results presented with clarity, a discussion of what the results mean, and a reference list in a recognised citation style.
At this stage, authors should run a self-review focused on three questions: is the research question stated clearly; are the methods adequate to answer it; and do the results actually support the conclusions drawn? Most desk rejections trace back to weakness in one of these three areas rather than to formatting.
Step 2 — Identify a suitable journal
A suitable journal is one whose scope matches the manuscript, whose readership is the audience the work is intended to reach, and whose editorial standards are credible. Authors should examine the journal's aims and scope statement, browse recent issues for thematic fit, and verify the journal's review model and publication policies.
Affordable, well-governed open-access journals — such as those in the EP Journals Group portfolio — combine a structured double-blind peer review with low article processing charges, providing a route to publication that avoids both the high fees of large commercial publishers and the unreliability of predatory venues. The decision should be based on fit, governance, and indexing claims, not on speed alone.
Step 3 — Format to the journal's instructions
Once a target journal is selected, the manuscript should be formatted to that journal's instructions for authors. Typical requirements include a blinded version of the manuscript for peer review, a separate title page with author details, an abstract within a stated word range, keywords, figure and table formats, and a reference style. Submission systems often check these elements automatically and will return the file for correction if requirements are not met.
Step 4 — Submit through the official portal
Submissions are made through a journal's official submission portal. Authors are asked to enter metadata, upload manuscript and supplementary files, declare any conflicts of interest, and confirm that the work is original and not under consideration elsewhere. A submission identifier is issued, which should be retained for all subsequent correspondence.
Step 5 — Editorial screening and peer review
A submitted manuscript first passes through editorial screening, which checks scope, completeness, and basic integrity. Manuscripts that pass screening are sent to independent reviewers. Most reputable journals use double-blind peer review, in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other. Reviewers assess originality, methodological soundness, clarity, and contribution.
Step 6 — Decision, revision, and acceptance
Editorial decisions typically fall into one of four outcomes: accept (rare on first round), minor revisions, major revisions, or reject. Revision requests should be addressed comprehensively in a point-by- point response, with changes clearly indicated in the revised manuscript. Once the editor is satisfied, the paper is accepted, and the article moves into copy-editing, proofs, and final publication.
Key points
- Complete the manuscript before choosing a journal — fit is judged on a finished paper.
- Verify journal scope, governance, indexing claims, and review model before submission.
- Follow the instructions for authors precisely; small formatting issues cause avoidable delays.
- Treat reviewer feedback as a structured opportunity to improve the work, not as personal criticism.
- Keep the submission identifier and all correspondence for your records.
Frequently asked questions
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Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org