How to assess a rejection and plan your next step
Not every rejection means the same thing. Reading the decision letter closely tells you whether to revise, retarget, appeal, or resubmit, and what to fix first.
Peer Review7 min read
A clearer view of your publishing options.
Sometimes what a manuscript needs first is not editing but a decision: where to submit, how to read an editor’s letter, whether an appeal makes sense, or what to fix before trying again.
A consultation is a focused conversation about your manuscript and your options, followed by written notes and an agreed plan you can act on.
At a glance
- Usually
- Any stage
- You receive
- Pre-consultation review; Consultation; Written notes; Action plan
- Scope & fee
- Agreed in writing before work begins
Who this is for
Researchers planning a first publication
You want to understand the process and its decision points before committing to a journal.
Authors after a desk rejection
The letter was short, and you are not sure whether the problem was fit, framing, or something else.
Supervisors and research leads
You are planning several papers from one thesis or project and want a sensible order and set of venues.
Authors weighing open access
Funder mandates, fees, waivers, and licensing all point in different directions.
What the work covers
01
Publication strategy
Where the manuscript fits, which audiences matter, and how this paper relates to others you plan.
02
Editorial decisions
What a desk rejection, a major revision, or a reject-and-resubmit usually signals, and what it does not.
03
Journal suitability
A first look at candidate journals, and whether full journal selection guidance would help.
04
Open access
Gold, hybrid, diamond, and green routes; fees and waivers; and funder or institutional requirements.
05
Publication requirements
Reporting guidelines, ethics declarations, data policies, and preprint rules that apply to your work.
06
Next-step planning
A sequenced plan with realistic time expectations, kept separate from journal timelines that no one can control.
What you receive
- 1
Pre-consultation review
We read the materials you send in advance, so the conversation starts from the specifics.
- 2
Consultation
A focused discussion of your questions and options, in the format agreed when scoping.
- 3
Written notes
What was discussed, the options considered, and the reasoning behind each.
- 4
Action plan
Agreed next steps in order, noting which you can take yourself and where further support might help.
Included
- Reviewing your manuscript, abstract, or decision letter before the consultation.
- Discussing journal strategy and suitability.
- Interpreting editorial decisions and reviewer reports.
- Explaining open-access options, fees, and licensing.
- Outlining the publication requirements for your article type.
- Planning next steps with realistic time expectations.
Outside the standard scope
- Editing, formatting, or rewriting the manuscript (available as separate services).
- Legal advice on contracts, copyright disputes, or funder compliance.
- Statistical or methodological review of the research.
- Promises about where the work will be accepted, or how quickly.
How an action plan reads
A sample of the format, so you know what to expect. It is not drawn from any client’s work.
Illustrative example
Illustrative excerpt of a consultation action plan. It does not describe a real project.
| Next step | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reframe the introduction around the applied contribution | Authors | The editor’s letter suggests the contribution was unclear, not that the topic was out of scope |
| Shortlist two alternative journals | Revise and Resubmit, if agreed | Criteria: applied focus, hybrid open access, compatible data policy |
| Language edit after reframing | Optional | Only once the structure is settled |
| Confirm the funder’s license requirement | Authors | Determines which open-access route is acceptable |
How the service works
- 01
Send your questions
Tell us what you need to decide and share the relevant documents.
- 02
We prepare
We review the materials and note the questions that matter most.
- 03
The consultation
We discuss your options and the reasoning behind each one.
- 04
Notes and plan
You receive written notes and an agreed action plan.
Information needed to begin
Start with a short description in the enquiry form. Please don’t send full manuscripts or sensitive data until the scope and confidentiality terms are agreed.
- The questions you want answered, a sentence or two each.
- Your manuscript or abstract, if one exists.
- Any decision letters or reviewer reports.
- Journals you are considering.
- Deadlines from your program, funder, or institution.
Related support and reading
Related services
Journal Selection Guidance
Usually: Before submission · After rejection
Find a journal that fits the research.
Reviewer Response & Resubmission
Usually: After peer review
Turn reviewer feedback into a clear plan.
Manuscript Editing
Usually: Before submission · During revision
Make your ideas easier to follow.
From the research library
Understanding article processing charges and publishing models
Who pays for publication, and when, depends on the journal’s publishing model. Here is how the main models compare and how to check fees, waivers, and licenses before you submit.
Journal Selection7 min read
What a revise-and-resubmit decision really means
A revise-and-resubmit is an invitation, not an acceptance. Learn how the common editorial decisions differ, what an R&R does and does not signal, and how to plan your next step.
Peer Review6 min read
Questions about publication consultation
Something else on your mind?
Ask about your manuscript. We answer before any work is agreed.
Is a consultation useful if I don’t have a full manuscript yet?
Often, yes. Early decisions about journal type, article structure, and requirements can save significant rework later.
Can you tell me why my paper was desk rejected?
We can help interpret the decision letter and assess fit, but only the editor knows the full reasoning. We will tell you what the letter suggests and what cannot be known from it.
Will you tell me if my manuscript isn’t ready?
Yes. An honest assessment is the point of a consultation. We explain what we see and why.
How is a consultation priced?
It depends on the materials to review and the scope agreed. Send your questions and we will confirm the scope and fee before any work begins.
Do I have to buy further services afterward?
No. Many consultations end with a plan the authors carry out themselves.
Tell us about the manuscript.
Share the stage, the discipline, and the deadline. We’ll come back with a proposed scope, the deliverables, and a fee before anything begins.