In an interview with Dr. Jing Zhu, Associate Editor of the Biotechnology Journal, we’ve uncovered what authors in Asia Pacific can do to submit better manuscripts. Learn more about her answers and remedies on the following points: • Tips on choosing the right journal • What to include in a cover letter • Resources in Authors Guidelines • Writing an “attractive” title • Importance of double-checking

1. Pre-Submission
Guide for
Manuscripts

2. What are some of the
common errors
editors see in
manuscripts?

3. 5 important points
authors in Asia Pacific
need to take note of before
submitting their
manuscript
Here are
An interview with
Dr. Jing Zhu,
Deputy Editor,
Biotechnology Journal

4. Point 1:
Because choosing an
unsuitable journal may
lead to a “fast track"
rejection
Choosing the
right journal

5. Point 1:
Because choosing an
unsuitable journal may
lead to a “fast track"
rejection
Choosing the
right journal
So what can authors do to make a
better decision?

6. Read the aim, scope &
author guidelines of the
journal
Tip #1

7. Read the aim, scope &
author guidelines of the
journal
Sounds simple, doesn’t it?
Tip #1

8. Tip on finding useful information about a journal

9. A journal
home page
consists of
information
that is useful
for authors
Tip on finding useful information about a journal

10. Tip on finding useful information about a journal
A journal
home page
consists of
information
that is useful
for authorsYou can
find from
the journal
overview
page

11. If your research
doesn’t fall within
the aim & scope of a
journal,
you should consider
submitting your
paper to a more
suitable
one
Note

12. More resources available at the journal home page
There are
guidelines on
what editors
from the
respective
journal look
out for too

13. And
instructions
to help
authors
navigate their
way through
submission
More resources available at the journal home page
There are
guidelines on
what editors
from the
respective
journal look
out for too

14. More resources available at the journal home page
Don’t miss
out on
great
templates
as well
There are
guidelines on
what editors
from the
respective
journal look
out for too
And
instructions
to help
authors
navigate their
way through
submission

15. Follow the
journal guidelines &
instructions
to ensure fast
publication!

16. It sets a good impression with
the editors when you do that.
Follow the
journal guidelines &
instructions
to ensure fast
publication!

17. Consider these questions
when selecting a journal for
submission
Tip #2

18. Consider these questions
when selecting a journal for
submission
Tip #2
• What is the publication speed like?
• Do you have any questions that the
editorial office can answer?

19. Point 2:
It helps editors
understand your work
better
Sell your work
in a nice cover
letter

20. Point 2:
It helps editors
understand your work
better
Sell your work
in a nice cover
letter
Here are some quick tips from Dr. Zhu

21. “Do”s in a cover letter
 The importance and novelty of your
work
 How it fits into the scope of the
journal
 The practical application of your
study
Include the following points:

22. “Don’t”s in a cover letter
Repeating the Title
Listing down author names
Writing it like an abstract
Editors can read all of these in
the manuscript




23. Instead, convince the editor in
the cover letter that your
manuscript is
ORIGINAL
UNDERSTANDABLE
RELIABLE
SUITABLE

24. Point 3:
To ensure that your
manuscript can be
submitted and processed
smoothly
Follow
Guidelines
Author’s

25. Pay close attention to the format of the
main text, figures, tables, etc.
Point 3:
To ensure that your
manuscript can be
submitted and processed
smoothly
Follow
Guidelines
Author’s

26. Do you recall the earlier Author Guidelines Page?

27. The next slides include
information that can be found in
Authors
Instructions
file
Examples from
the Biotechnology
Journal

28. Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Get information about the Journal on its:
• Aims & Scope
• Readership
• Publication Ethics
Authors
Instructions
Get
insights
and tips
Learn
about the
journal
Original
V.S.
revised
submission

29. Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Authors
Instructions
Learn
about the
journal
Get
insights
and tips
Original
V.S.
revised
submission
Get insights on
Manuscript Preparation And
many
more
Format &
Style of
manuscript
Cover
Letter
Guidelines
for figure
preparation
Types of
contributions

30. Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Learn about the differences in manuscript submission
Original
Manuscripts
Revised
Manuscripts
Authors
Instructions
Learn
about the
journal
Original
V.S.
revised
submission
Get
insights
and tips

31. Peer-Review Policy of
Biotechnology Journal
General
peer-review
structure
Initial
assessment
Peer-review Decision
Authors
Instructions
Preparing
for
publishing
Learn
about
Peer-
review
process
Check out
the appendix
Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Understand what goes on in the Peer-review process

32. Get your paper ready for publishing with
information on:
Authors
Instructions
Learn
about
Peer-
review
process
Preparing
for
publishing
Check out
the
appendix
Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Wiley Author Services
Proofs & Reprints
Wiley Author Licensing Services (WAL)
Funding Agencies Supporting OnlineOpen

33. Make sure your manuscript doesn’t miss out on
important points listed in the appendix:
Authors
Instructions
Learn
about
Peer-
review
process
Check out
the
appendix
Preparing
for
publishing
Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Keywords
used in the
journal
Checklist
for authors
before
submission

34. Point 4:
Write an
“attractive”
title for your
manuscript
It is the first thing that
catches the eye of editors

35. Here are some quick tips on what a title
should have
Point 4:
Write an
“attractive”
title for your
manuscript
It is the first thing that
catches the eye of editors

36. It should be
interesting &
accurateTip #
1

37. Titles for research articles:
It should provide the main
message of the paper in a
statement form
Tip #
2

38. It should consist of
Tip #
3
Key words,
Key words,
Key words!

39. Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Here’s an example of a good and a poor title
Poor
Title
Good Title

40. Example from the Biotechnology Journal
Here’s an example of a good and a poor title
Poor
Title
Good Title
High cell density culture of
gene-modified Escherichia
coli
Red text: Keyword
Green text: Active Verb
XYZ gene insertion into
Escherichia coli increases
therapeutic protein
production in high cell
density cultures

41. Check, check
and check!
Set a good impression
with a submission that is
free from careless errors
Point 5:

42. Minimize errors in your manuscript
before submission
Check, check
and check!
Set a good impression
with a submission that is
free from careless errors
Point 5:

43. Check your work against a checklist if any
Look for one in the Author Guidelines page
Tip #1
Example from the Biotechnology Journal

44. Tip #2
Make sure
everything
is included when
you submit files

45. If you can’t find the information
you need, write in to the editorial
office for advise.

46. More about Dr. Jing Zhu
Jing Zhu, Deputy Editor for Biotechnology Journal (Impact Factor:
3.490) at Wiley, takes care of commissioning content, oversees peer-
review and editing of accepted manuscripts. She received her
bachelor’s degree in Veterinarian Medicine in 2005, and completed
her PhD in Microbiology from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2011.
She has also conducted workshops on scientific writing and the peer-
review process to students and young researchers.

47. Looking for more great tips?
Here are two blog posts on manuscript pre-submission tips:
7 ways for your article to stand out in the editorial
office
Click here to read more >>
4 things you need to know about keywords in a
paper
Click here to read more >>