Publication Process

Well, to be frank, I spent about 2 hours writing this post that got lost by an accidental mouse swipe.

But in reflection (after the annoyance had passed/is still passing), it was super wordy, so here is hopefully a more concise version:

Who is involved?
The main people involved in the publication process include:

• You (and yous if you decide to write in a group) who submit the manuscript
• The editor + editorial board (which often consists of associate editors, assistant editors, etc. I'm not too sure of the difference between the two, but since I am luckily enough to be an associate editor for the Journal of Critical Scholarship in Higher Education and Student Affairs for 2018-2019, I'll report back what I learn).  Their job focuses on pushing the journal's volumes/issues, which means that they read through submissions to identify who to send it to for review, consolidating those reviews, and making decisions about the submission. 
• The reviewers who will be reviewing submissions and making recommendations of what the editorial board should do about it. 
• And of course, your community who walks alongside you in this process. They are the ones who give you feedback, read over drafts, believe in you, provide emotional support, and so much more~

What are the stages?
Instead of a very detailed long post (which was what I did earlier), I'm going to use slides I made earlier in the year when I got the chance to hear from several editors who came as guest speakers.

Things to remember in the process:
This process is lengthy. Each cycle of review can take upwards to 6 months, and that's not including the time it takes to secure reviewers, for editors to consolidate feedback, etc. Moreover, journals can be backlogged, which means while they accept your submission and will turn it into a publication, that date could be a full year or even two years from when you receive the publication notice. 

This process is not personal, but it definitely feels like it is. I've heard mentors, advisors, and even editors say over and over to not take this process personally— rejection is the most common response in academia. But I'll be frank, it burns and hurts, so while I try to keep this in mind and hope that you can too, also take time to celebrate small victories (like even getting something to be submission-ready) and do what you do to take care of yourself. (Example: me: eat Hot Cheetos, talk shit about the journal for two days with close friends, cry, take a bath, watch a movie, and then start cleaning my apt and get back on it.) And again, this is why that community is so important because the publication process is not and should not be an isolated journey.