Easy Journal Submission

Last updated: April 2026 · 8 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory

Introduction

First-time authors and returning authors switching journals often find submission unexpectedly time-consuming. Each system has its own quirks, each journal has its own formatting, and what was straightforward at one venue can require hours of fiddling at another. The goal is not to find a journal that imposes no requirements — those rarely have credible peer review — but to reduce avoidable friction.

This page is about the procedural mechanics: file formats, cover letters, declaration forms, the submission portal itself, and the back-and-forth that follows submission.

Why this problem exists

Submission systems are built by individual publishers and have not converged on a common standard. Some require separate uploads for main text, figures, and tables; others accept a single file. Some require structured authorship statements; others accept free-form. Authors who submit infrequently re-learn each system from scratch, and the overhead can feel disproportionate to the actual work of writing.

A second factor is author guidelines. Reading them in full takes 20–40 minutes per journal, and many authors skip this step. Submissions that violate guidelines on word count, reference style, or figure format are commonly desk-rejected for technical reasons before any editor looks at the substance.

Available solutions

Three categories of submission infrastructure exist.

Hosted publisher portals are the most common at established journals. Custom portals tend to be simpler but vary widely. Email-based submission is becoming rare and is acceptable only at small specialty journals; lack of automated acknowledgement should be a concern.

Best options based on situation

If speed is the primary driver

Custom portals at well-run open-access journals tend to be the fastest to navigate, often completing submission in 30–45 minutes for a prepared manuscript. Hosted portals take longer (60–90 minutes) but are more reliable and provide better tracking after submission.

If cost is the primary constraint

Submission system quality is independent of cost. Free-to-author journals can have excellent submission systems; high-APC journals can have poor ones. The portal experience is a separate evaluation from the cost evaluation.

If acceptance probability matters most

A well-prepared submission has a higher acceptance probability regardless of the system. Time spent following author guidelines literally — word counts, reference style, figure resolution, ethical declarations — matters more than the choice of system. Editors notice attention to format, and it correlates with attention to content.

Practical recommendations

• Read the author guidelines in full before opening the submission system; do not skim.
• Prepare all files in the journal's preferred formats before starting submission.
• Write the cover letter and abstract before the system asks for them; both will be needed early.
• Have ORCID, affiliation, and corresponding-author details ready in a single document.
• Save progress at each stage; submission systems sometimes time out.
• Submit during business hours in the journal's home time zone, where possible, so the editorial office can respond if questions arise.

What to avoid

Other patterns to avoid: submitting before the manuscript meets all guideline requirements (technical desk rejections waste a submission window); skipping the cover letter (editors read them when deciding to send out for review); selecting suggested reviewers who are conflicted with the work (this gets caught and slows the process).

Decision guidance

If two journals look comparable on scope and credibility, the better-designed submission system is usually a small but real advantage, particularly for first-time authors. Time saved at submission is time available for revision response. The system itself does not affect editorial decisions, but it shapes the author experience meaningfully.

Example scenarios

Scenario: an author with a deadline and an unfamiliar journal

Block 90 minutes for the first submission to a new journal. Read author guidelines fully, prepare files in advance, draft the cover letter before opening the portal, and complete submission in one sitting. Splitting submission across days commonly leads to lost progress and re-entered details.

Scenario: a student submitting for the first time

First-time authors should pick journals with hosted portals (Editorial Manager, ScholarOne, or similar) over email-based submission. The structure of the form ensures nothing is forgotten, the acknowledgement confirms successful submission, and the tracking interface reduces anxiety during the wait for a decision.

Scenario: a budget-limited researcher with limited time

Budget-limited authors often try to submit to multiple journals serially. Each new system takes time to learn; reducing the number of distinct systems used over a year saves cumulative effort. Sticking with two or three publishers whose portals are familiar reduces the per-submission cost in time.

What to do next

Before submitting, run through a final checklist: title page, abstract within word limit, declarations completed, files in required formats, cover letter drafted, references in the correct style. Authors targeting EP Journals Group venues can use the central submission form, which handles file routing to the correct journal and confirms receipt by automated email.