How to Handle a Manuscript Rejection
A manuscript rejection is a normal, common part of academic publishing, not a verdict on the underlying research. What happens next matters more than the rejection itself: understanding what the decision letter is actually telling you, deciding whether resubmission to the same journal is realistically an option, and — if not — choosing where to send the manuscript next. This guide walks through how to read a rejection, the difference between a desk rejection and a rejection after peer review, and how to decide between resubmitting and transferring to a different journal.
After a manuscript rejection, first read the decision letter carefully to see whether the editor left the door open to resubmission or considers the matter closed. A desk rejection (before peer review) usually signals a journal-fit problem rather than a flaw in the research, so a different journal is often the better next step. A rejection after peer review is more often actionable: address the substantive concerns, and only resubmit to the same journal if the letter genuinely invites it — otherwise, revise and submit to a different journal whose scope, review comments, and evidence of fit (e.g. your own reference list) suggest a better match. Never submit the same manuscript to two journals at the same time.
Rejection Is a Normal Part of Academic Publishing
Rejection rates at many journals, especially higher-profile ones, are high — a rejection is common experience for published researchers, not a sign that a project has failed. Treating it as routine information to act on, rather than a final verdict, makes it easier to read the decision letter objectively and plan the next step.
Read the Decision Letter Carefully Before Deciding Anything
The editor's letter is the single most important input for what to do next: it usually states directly whether resubmission is invited, whether the door is closed, or whether the decision is final with no further consideration. Some letters explicitly say the journal is not interested in a revised version at all — that decision should be respected rather than treated as a starting point for negotiation.
Desk Rejection vs. Rejection After Peer Review
A desk rejection happens before the manuscript is sent to reviewers, usually because an editor judges it doesn't fit the journal's scope, aims, or current priorities — this is far more often a journal-fit problem than a flaw in the research itself, so resubmitting a revised version to the same journal rarely helps. A rejection that comes after peer review is generally more actionable: it comes with specific, substantive feedback about the study's methodology, evidence, or framing, which can usually be addressed directly, whether the manuscript then goes back to the same journal or to a new one.
What the Rejection Is Actually Telling You
Reviewer and editor comments accompanying a rejection typically point to one or more of a small number of underlying issues: the manuscript's scope or contribution doesn't match the journal (fit), the novelty or significance of the findings wasn't clearly established, the methodology or statistical analysis had a specific weakness, or the writing didn't communicate the work clearly enough for reviewers to evaluate it fairly. Identifying which of these applies — sometimes more than one — determines whether the fix is a revision, a different journal, or both.
Deciding Whether to Resubmit to the Same Journal
Resubmitting to the same journal is worth considering only when the decision letter leaves that route open, or the editor separately confirms it on request — never as a default. It tends to make more sense after a rejection following peer review, where the concerns raised are addressable with revisions, rather than after a desk rejection driven by scope or fit. Be aware that a second round may go back to the same reviewers, which means an unaddressed disagreement from the first round can resurface.
When to Transfer to a Different Journal Instead
A transfer to a different journal is usually the better path after a desk rejection (since the problem was fit, not the research), after a decision letter that closes the door on resubmission, or when review comments raise concerns unlikely to be resolved to that particular journal's satisfaction. Some publishers offer a formal manuscript-transfer service between their own journals, which can carry over the existing peer-review reports so the new journal doesn't always require a full restart of review — worth checking on the original journal's submission system before treating every transfer as a from-scratch submission.
Choosing a New Target Journal After a Rejection
Selecting a new journal after a rejection uses the same fit criteria as choosing a journal the first time — aims and scope, article-type fit, audience, and legitimacy — with one added source of evidence: your own reference list. A journal that appears repeatedly in your own recent citations, especially in the literature you drew on most heavily, is often a stronger signal of fit than journal prestige or impact factor alone.
What to Revise Before You Resubmit or Transfer
Before resubmitting anywhere, address every substantive concern the reviewers or editor raised, even if targeting a new journal — a fresh set of reviewers is likely to notice the same weaknesses the first set did. It's also worth re-reading the new target journal's own author guidelines closely, since formatting, word-count, data-availability, and disclosure requirements often differ from the original journal and can cause an easily avoidable delay if missed.
Reusing vs. Rewriting the Cover Letter
A cover letter written for the original journal should not be reused as-is for a new one — it needs to speak to the new journal's own scope and readership, not the one that rejected it. If a formal transfer service is being used and prior reviews are carried over, it's standard practice to briefly and honestly note that the manuscript was previously reviewed elsewhere and how the current version has changed since.
Never Submit to Two Journals at Once
Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time (concurrent submission) is considered a serious breach of publishing ethics, even after a rejection makes the next step feel urgent. Wait for a final decision — including any appeal — from the first journal before submitting elsewhere, unless a formal transfer process is explicitly in progress.
Common Mistakes After a Rejection
Frequent mistakes include: resubmitting to the same journal without checking whether the decision letter actually left that option open; treating a desk rejection as a research problem when it was really a fit problem; reusing the same cover letter and framing for a new journal without adapting it; skipping a close read of the new journal's author guidelines; and, most seriously, submitting to a second journal before the first has issued a final decision.
When to Get Support After a Rejection
Getting outside help reading a dense or ambiguous rejection letter, deciding realistically between resubmission and transfer, and building a prioritized revision plan before a resubmission deadline is often more efficient than working through it alone, especially when reviewer comments conflict with each other or the path forward isn't obvious from the letter alone.
Frequently asked questions
Only if the decision letter leaves that door open, or the editor confirms it separately. If the letter states the journal isn't interested in a revised version, that decision should be respected rather than treated as negotiable.
A desk rejection happens before peer review, usually over journal fit or scope rather than a flaw in the research. A rejection after peer review comes with specific reviewer feedback that's generally more directly actionable, whether you resubmit to the same journal or a new one.
Use the same fit criteria as any journal selection — aims and scope, article type, audience, legitimacy — plus one added signal: journals that appear often in your own reference list, especially in recently cited work, are often a stronger fit indicator than prestige alone.
No. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at once is considered a serious breach of publishing ethics. Wait for a final decision from the first journal, including any appeal, before submitting elsewhere.
Yes — helping authors read and prioritize rejection feedback, decide between resubmission and transfer, and prepare a revised manuscript for its next submission is part of our publication support services.
References
- Elsevier — Transfer a Rejected Manuscript
A publisher's own support documentation on formally transferring a rejected manuscript to another journal.
- Springer — Rejection of Your Paper / Manuscript
A publisher's own support documentation on what happens after a manuscript is rejected and the options available.
- Editage Insights — Should I Resubmit a Rejected Manuscript to the Same Journal or to Another Journal?
Guidance on weighing same-journal resubmission against transferring to a different journal after rejection.
- Editage Insights — Is It Possible to Resubmit a Manuscript Previously Rejected to the Same Journal After Making Significant Changes?
Discussion of when and how resubmitting a revised manuscript to the same journal after rejection can work.