Last updated: May 2026 · 10 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Key points
- Start by reading published articles in your target journal — you are aiming to produce work of similar scope and quality.
- Choose your journal before you finalise your manuscript so you can format to their exact requirements from the start.
- Rejection is normal and expected — most papers are rejected at least once before finding the right journal.
- Respond to reviewer comments systematically: point by point, politely, with specific changes referenced to line numbers.
- Register an ORCID iD before your first submission — it is free and will be required increasingly often.
Before you write: planning your first submission
Before writing a word of your manuscript, decide where you want to publish. Read the Aims and Scope of three or four candidate journals. Browse their most recent issues. Ask yourself: does my paper belong here? Would their readers care about this topic?
Preparing your manuscript
- Structure: Most research articles follow IMRaD — Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
- Abstract: Write it last. 150–300 words. Include your objective, methods, key results (with numbers), and conclusion.
- Keywords: 4–8 terms. Use controlled vocabulary where your field has it.
- References: Use the journal required format consistently. Use reference management software to avoid formatting errors.
- Anonymisation: Remove all identifying information from the manuscript body for double-blind journals.
Your first rejection: what it means and what to do
Most first submissions are rejected. A rejection from one journal is not a verdict on the quality of your science — it is information about fit, scope, or priority. Read the rejection letter and reviewer comments carefully.
How to respond to reviewer comments
- Quote each reviewer comment verbatim.
- Respond to each comment individually, explaining what change you made and why.
- Reference specific changes by section and line number in the revised manuscript.
- Politely explain, with evidence, if you disagree with a comment — do not simply say we disagree.
- Thank reviewers for their time at the start of each response section.
Publication ethics: what first-time authors must know
- Authorship: Only include people who made substantial intellectual contributions to the work.
- Plagiarism: All text must be your own or properly quoted and attributed.
- Simultaneous submission: Never submit the same manuscript to two journals at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
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Related reading and next steps
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