After extensive searching on the Internet, I failed to find a venue for Hispanists to share with colleagues their myriad of experiences with publishing, particularly the handling of the review and publication processes by refereed journals. My motive is not to encourage irrational venting sessions for rejected authors, but to prompt an intelligent and useful exchange that might assist scholars with choosing prospective journals that exemplify professionalim and integrity; journals that conduct the entire review process expeditiously and provide authors with useful feedback for improving their manuscripts. Many true horror stories have been shared at academic conferences and within language and literature departments across the country, and these should indeed be shared here to help each other avoid potential pitfalls. Besides assisting our fellow scholars, if this blog also succeeds at ultimately improving the management of certain refereed journals, then many in the profession will benefit.
An exceptionally managed e-journal with very prompt turnaround time on articles and good reader feedback provided with decisions rendered. Generally a 3-6 month period between initial submission and publication, assuming the article is published.
The first time I submitted an article to Letras hispanas, I never received an email back to say that it had been accepted or rejected. When I saw that the issue I had hoped to be in had been published, I contacted the editors who then told me (of course) that my article had not been accepted. It then took them several months (and various emails) to get reader comments back.
However, my second (accepted) submission went swimmingly well. Quick feedback, excellent turn around, and great readership. So I don't know what is normal for this journal, but I had a great experience second time around.
I just had a very interesting experience with them. I submitted my paper in October, and never heard anything.So I happened to look online today and there my article was. It looked like they had done some minor re-editing, but I found it surprising not to receive an email saying that it had been accepted or asking me to make the corrections myself.I have not had that happen before, but since it has gotten good reviews here, and the statistics in the MLA database say they are selective, I will not second-guess my sending the article there.
Update: I did receive an email last night informing me that the article had been accepted and apologizing for the delay, citing technical difficulties. That is understandable, and we all know how crazy the beginning of the semester can be.
So in reality I received an email notification within 24 hours of discovering the article online.
I had the same experience with them as Christine. They published my article but forgot to tell me about it. :-) I'd rather have that than have an article rejected and not know. :-)
Their vol. 1 of 2010 is out, so I'm assuming that they are still operational. You can find that issue here: http://letrashispanas.unlv.edu/Index_files/Page413.html
Letras Hispanas is moving to Texas State University, under new management. The journal has been on hold for a few months because of this transition, but the new editors have started contacting authors about their submission. The new website will be operational starting in January.
Had a great experience with the new editors of Letras Hispanas. Quick feedback and excellent turnaround time. By the way, this is their new website: http://www.modlang.txstate.edu/letrashispanas/
Excellent experience as well. I submitted my article in Sept 2012 and heard back in February 2013. The feedback from readers was very helpful and the editor was easy to work with. The article was published in May 2013. Good turnaround and professional treatment.
My experience with Letras Hispanas was fantastic. The whole process was handled with the utmost professionalism. I received an almost immediate acknowledgment of receipt of my manuscript submission. Within a couple of months I received very detailed and somewhat helpful feedback from the blind peer reviewers. There was a lot of attention to formatting and minute editing process. The publication appeared only a few months after submission and sending a revised version. I would highly recommend this journal not only because of the overall professionalism of its staff, but also because of the visibility that the journal is getting.
An exceptionally managed e-journal with very prompt turnaround time on articles and good reader feedback provided with decisions rendered. Generally a 3-6 month period between initial submission and publication, assuming the article is published.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I submitted an article to Letras hispanas, I never received an email back to say that it had been accepted or rejected. When I saw that the issue I had hoped to be in had been published, I contacted the editors who then told me (of course) that my article had not been accepted. It then took them several months (and various emails) to get reader comments back.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my second (accepted) submission went swimmingly well. Quick feedback, excellent turn around, and great readership. So I don't know what is normal for this journal, but I had a great experience second time around.
I just had a very interesting experience with them. I submitted my paper in October, and never heard anything.So I happened to look online today and there my article was. It looked like they had done some minor re-editing, but I found it surprising not to receive an email saying that it had been accepted or asking me to make the corrections myself.I have not had that happen before, but since it has gotten good reviews here, and the statistics in the MLA database say they are selective, I will not second-guess my sending the article there.
ReplyDeleteUpdate: I did receive an email last night informing me that the article had been accepted and apologizing for the delay, citing technical difficulties. That is understandable, and we all know how crazy the beginning of the semester can be.
ReplyDeleteSo in reality I received an email notification within 24 hours of discovering the article online.
I had the same experience with them as Christine. They published my article but forgot to tell me about it. :-) I'd rather have that than have an article rejected and not know. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am noticing that the last issue posted was from fall 2009. Does anyone know if they are still operational?
ReplyDeleteTheir vol. 1 of 2010 is out, so I'm assuming that they are still operational. You can find that issue here: http://letrashispanas.unlv.edu/Index_files/Page413.html
ReplyDeleteLetras Hispanas is moving to Texas State University, under new management. The journal has been on hold for a few months because of this transition, but the new editors have started contacting authors about their submission. The new website will be operational starting in January.
ReplyDeleteHad a great experience with the new editors of Letras Hispanas. Quick feedback and excellent turnaround time. By the way, this is their new website: http://www.modlang.txstate.edu/letrashispanas/
ReplyDeleteExcellent experience. Quick turnaround, good feedback, and an easy editorial process. A good benchmark for how an online journal should be run.
ReplyDeleteExcellent experience as well. I submitted my article in Sept 2012 and heard back in February 2013. The feedback from readers was very helpful and the editor was easy to work with. The article was published in May 2013. Good turnaround and professional treatment.
ReplyDeleteI see their website says submissions should have author's name, affiliation and email on the first page. Does anyone know how blind their review is?
ReplyDeleteMy experience with Letras Hispanas was fantastic. The whole process was handled with the utmost professionalism. I received an almost immediate acknowledgment of receipt of my manuscript submission. Within a couple of months I received very detailed and somewhat helpful feedback from the blind peer reviewers. There was a lot of attention to formatting and minute editing process. The publication appeared only a few months after submission and sending a revised version. I would highly recommend this journal not only because of the overall professionalism of its staff, but also because of the visibility that the journal is getting.
ReplyDelete