The journal editor accepted my paper and told me to ask his assistant about the next steps in the publication process. Four months ago I corrected some minor points and sent an updated manuscript to the assistant. Since then the editor's assistant remained silent. About two weeks ago I asked him about the status of the manuscript and next steps, but he hasn't replied yet. What should I do? Could the editor reject my manuscript after acceptance?
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1It is unclear whether your lack of response concerns the editor or the editor's assistant. The main questions indicates one thing but the text the other. So, who has not responded, the editor or assistant?– Peter JanssonCommented Feb 8, 2015 at 18:44
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I haven't received any response from both of them. The editor hasn't contacted me after accepting the manuscript and his assistant hasn't responded to my latest letter.– MicheleCommented Feb 8, 2015 at 19:42
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When you say 'corrected some minor points' do you mean you reviewed the proof and corrected typos? Or did you somehow re-submit an edited version of your already-accepted paper?– Cape CodeCommented Feb 8, 2015 at 19:50
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No, I just changed acknowledgement and clearly informed the editor's assistant that it was the only change. Everything else remained the same.– MicheleCommented Feb 8, 2015 at 19:59
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2 Answers
You should write to the editor and tell him what you have told us. Really your concrete problem is that your correspondence has not been returned so you don't know what's going on. Maybe everything is proceeding as it should, maybe it isn't, but you need a reply.
Could editor reject my manuscript after acceptance?
Why do you even ask? Are you worried that the editor thought, "No, hang on, I don't want to publish this paper after all. Let's not publish it, never contact the author again, and hope for the best"?!? That's just totally loopy, unprofessional behavior. In this big, bad world of ours, anything could happen, but the chance of this happening to you -- provided only that you are dealing with a partway reputable, professional journal (essentially: not a journal that you learned about via a spammy, semi-literate email) -- is negligibly small.
Just get back in contact with the editor ASAP and take it from there. Be polite, but be persistent. Give the editor a week or two to reply. I honestly expect that he will. If not, write to the editor-in-chief / managing editor / some other members of the editorial board. You'll hear back from someone. Again, don't assume that something has gone terribly wrong, and certainly don't worry that your polite, professional behavior will jeopardize the future of your paper.
answered Feb 7, 2015 at 22:33
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Thank you very much for your reply and suggestions!! So it is ok to mention that I couldn't get a response from his assistant, right? Yes, this is exactly a reputable journal in my field! Perhaps I'm a bit anxious because previously the editor and his assistant responded to the letters very quickly, but then the assistant didn't respond to the latest letter. And it seemed slightly strange for me.– MicheleCommented Feb 8, 2015 at 10:35
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1"So it is ok to mention that I couldn't get a response from his assistant, right?" Yes, it is okay and you should say it. Commented Feb 8, 2015 at 17:37
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@Michele if not anything else, your emails to the assistant could just be being sent to spam, so he never got them.– DavidmhCommented Feb 8, 2015 at 19:16
You should write to the editor explaining that you have not received any further communication about the status of your manuscript for the last four months and that the assistant has not replied to your e-mail. I'm sure you will receive a reply from the editor. If you do not receive a reply from the editor within a couple of weeks, try to get hold of his number and call him. If that doesn't work, write to the editor-in-chief or managing editor of the journal.
Regarding your second question, once a manuscript has been accepted, the decision cannot be reversed, unless a major ethical breach, such as duplicate publication, salami slicing, or undisclosed conflict of interest, has been detected. However, if your manuscript free from these problems, you need not worry: it will not be rejected.
answered Feb 8, 2015 at 12:21
