Last updated: April 2026 · 3 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Publishing a research paper quickly is rarely a matter of luck. It is the outcome of disciplined preparation, accurate journal selection, and efficient interaction with the editorial process. The strategies outlined below are intended to compress the timeline without compromising scholarly standards or peer-review integrity.
Stage 1: Manuscript readiness
- Finalise the analysis and figures before drafting begins
- Use a structured outline aligned with the target journal's article type
- Complete language and grammar editing before submission
- Prepare ethics statements, funding disclosures, and author contributions in advance
- Format references using the required citation style from the outset
Stage 2: Choosing a fast but credible venue
Time-to-publication is determined more by the chosen journal than by author behaviour. Selecting a journal with a continuous online publication model and a documented review timeline is the single most effective decision a researcher can make.
| Factor | Impact on timeline |
|---|---|
| Continuous publication | Eliminates issue queue, days to weeks saved |
| Average review time published | Provides realistic expectation |
| Active editorial board | Faster reviewer assignment |
| Online-only format | No print scheduling delays |
Stage 3: Submission discipline
Stage 4: Responding to reviewers efficiently
- Acknowledge the decision letter within 48 hours
- Plan revisions immediately, even if execution takes longer
- Provide a point-by-point response with reviewer comments numbered
- Highlight changes in the revised manuscript for fast verification
- Return revisions well within the deadline rather than at the boundary
What does not accelerate publication
A realistic compressed timeline
| Stage | Best-case duration |
|---|---|
| Submission to desk decision | 3–7 days |
| Peer review (first round) | 2–4 weeks |
| Author revisions | 1–2 weeks |
| Final decision | 1 week |
| Online publication | 1–2 weeks |
Systems such as EP Journals operate on this compressed but complete model: structured peer review combined with continuous online publication, allowing accepted manuscripts to appear publicly without waiting for an issue cycle.
Key points
- Preparation determines speed more than any other factor.
- Continuous online publication models remove the largest delays.
- Disciplined revision turnaround can save weeks.
- Ethical shortcuts always cost more time than they save.
Researchers seeking a structured and time-efficient publication route may explore platforms such as EP Journals as one of several legitimate options within the academic publishing landscape.
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