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.
What bothered me when they rejected my article was that they didn't send any comments about why. The article was accepted by other journal later without changes.
You were lucky, about a year after submitting the manuscript I was asked to rewrite it and to include references to the journal's articles where applicable. No explanation was given as to why this was necessary. The same manuscript was later published by a well-known journal without any hassel. It seems to me that Variaciones is in the hands of totally inept (and prejudiced) editorial assistants. Very sad.
I have heard similar negative comments about this journal. No cohesive and objective rationale is given to colleagues for either acceptance or denial. After some investigation it is clearly evident that Variaciones Borges is a journal where the same few people publish the same recycled research. Notice that most of the authors that are published appear once and again. It seems you have to be an insider. This is not good practice for a journal. Look elsewhere.
This is truly disturbing but aparently true. I heard similarly doubtful comments about the review process of Variaciones Borges. It is also evident by looking at the volumes over the last few years that the same group of professors publish once and again.
These are one the most irresponsible people I have ever encountered. First they lost the manuscript, which was sent with the recommendation of someone who has published with them in the past; then it took them nearly two months for them to acknowledge that they had received it the second time; and finally "they" rejected it without any comments or explanations. I think what the name of the journals means is that a variety of inept people run it. And yes, as one person here said, I think it's the same group of people publishing in the journal. The article as in the other cases, was ultimately accepted with comments and suggestions, and published by a reputable and responsible journal. I repeat what one of the commentators has said: Look elsewhere.
What bothered me when they rejected my article was that they didn't send any comments about why. The article was accepted by other journal later without changes.
ReplyDeleteI had exactly the same experience.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky, about a year after submitting the manuscript I was asked to rewrite it and to include references to the journal's articles where applicable. No explanation was given as to why this was necessary. The same manuscript was later published by a well-known journal without any hassel. It seems to me that Variaciones is in the hands of totally inept (and prejudiced) editorial assistants. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteI have heard similar negative comments about this journal. No cohesive and objective rationale is given to colleagues for either acceptance or denial. After some investigation it is clearly evident that Variaciones Borges is a journal where the same few people publish the same recycled research. Notice that most of the authors that are published appear once and again. It seems you have to be an insider. This is not good practice for a journal. Look elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThis is truly disturbing but aparently true. I heard similarly doubtful comments about the review process of Variaciones Borges. It is also evident by looking at the volumes over the last few years that the same group of professors publish once and again.
ReplyDeleteThese are one the most irresponsible people I have ever encountered. First they lost the manuscript, which was sent with the recommendation of someone who has published with them in the past; then it took them nearly two months for them to acknowledge that they had received it the second time; and finally "they" rejected it without any comments or explanations. I think what the name of the journals means is that a variety of inept people run it. And yes, as one person here said, I think it's the same group of people publishing in the journal. The article as in the other cases, was ultimately accepted with comments and suggestions, and published by a reputable and responsible journal. I repeat what one of the commentators has said: Look elsewhere.
ReplyDelete