How do you handle rejection of your research journal submission?

2 Evaluate the feedback

The second step to handle rejection is to evaluate the feedback you received and decide whether to revise and resubmit your paper or submit it elsewhere. It's important to be objective and respectful of the opinions of the editors and reviewers, but also critical and confident in your own work. Ask yourself questions such as: is the feedback clear, consistent, and constructive? Does it address the main contributions and limitations of your paper? Does it suggest specific and feasible improvements or changes? Does it reflect the standards and preferences of the journal or field? If you opt to revise and resubmit your paper, follow the guidelines and deadlines of the journal, addressing all comments and suggestions in a detailed yet polite response letter. If you decide to submit your paper to another journal, check its scope and requirements first, adapting your paper accordingly.

3 Improve your paper

The third step to handle rejection is to improve your paper based on the feedback and your own assessment. You should not only address the errors and weaknesses, but also enhance the strengths and contributions of your paper. To do this, you should refine your research question, hypothesis, and objectives; review the literature and update your references; clarify your assumptions, models, and methods; strengthen your analysis, results, and discussion; simplify your language, structure, and style; and follow the formatting and citation rules of the journal. Furthermore, it is beneficial to seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or peers and revise your paper multiple times until you are satisfied with its quality and clarity.

4 Submit your paper

The fourth step to handle rejection is to submit your paper again, either to the same journal or to a different one. You should carefully follow the submission instructions and guidelines of the journal, and attach any relevant documents, such as a cover letter, a response letter, or a preprint. You should also be prepared to wait for a long time before receiving a decision, as the peer review process can take several months or even years.

5 Learn from the experience

The fifth step to handle rejection is to learn from the experience and use it to improve your research and writing skills. You should not take rejection personally or let it discourage you from pursuing your research goals. Instead, you should view rejection as a normal and valuable part of academic publishing, and as a chance to receive feedback, to refine your ideas, and to discover new opportunities. You should also celebrate your achievements, such as completing a paper, submitting it to a journal, or receiving positive comments, and acknowledge your efforts and progress.

6 Keep trying

The sixth and final step to handle rejection is to keep trying and never give up. Rejection is not the end of your research journey, but a part of it. You should always have a backup plan and a list of alternative journals to submit your paper to. You should also keep up with the latest developments and trends in your field, and look for new research questions, problems, or applications. You should also network with other researchers, join professional associations, and attend conferences and workshops. By doing so, you will increase your visibility, credibility, and impact in the field of operations research, and eventually achieve your publication goals.