Submitting your manuscript on disk: a steep learning curve for authors and editors

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Scholarly Publishing
• Manuscript Submission Systems

Background:

• Many nursing journals are adopting advanced manuscript production systems.
• These systems often incorporate computerized typesetting, leading to requests for electronic manuscript submission via computer disk.
• Transitioning to these new systems presents a significant learning curve for both authors and editors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe collaborative strategies for authors and editors to optimize the disk submission process for nursing publications.
• To address the challenges encountered during the implementation of electronic manuscript submission systems in scholarly nursing journals.

Main Methods:

• The article outlines a collaborative approach between authors and editors.
• It details the process of adapting author-submitted disks to publisher production systems.
• Focuses on practical steps for a smoother workflow.

Main Results:

• Successful collaboration can mitigate the learning curve associated with new submission systems.
• Streamlined disk submission enhances the efficiency of the manuscript production process.
• Improved author-editor communication is key to overcoming technical hurdles.

Conclusions:

• Effective collaboration between authors and editors is crucial for successful electronic manuscript submission in nursing journals.
• Implementing standardized and user-friendly disk submission protocols can improve the overall publishing workflow.
• Addressing the technical challenges proactively benefits both authors and journal production teams.