Letters to the Editor
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Manuscript Assignment.
- Initial Evaluation.
- Finding & Assigning Reviewers.
- Decisions.
- Letters to the Editor.
- Appeals.
When an author submits a comment letter to the journal, the manuscript is assigned to the editor of the original article.
If you decide to accept the letter, take the following steps:
-
Open a consultation session with the editor in chief and ask for approval.
-
Upon EIC approval, the editor should add ASM staff to the consult and ask them to commission a reply. Do not accept the letter yet.
-
ASM Staff will commission the reply from the corresponding author of the original publication.
-
The reply will be assigned to the editor by ASM Staff (separate manuscript number from that of the Comment Letter but linked to the Comment Letter).
-
If the decision is to accept, request EIC approval of the reply by opening a consultation session.
-
Upon EIC approval, accept both the letter and the reply.
-
ASM Staff process both the comment letter and the reply for publication.