A Practical Guide for Successful Revisions and Engagements with Reviewers

Abstract

Revising a manuscript after receiving a revise-and-resubmit decision from a top-tier journal can be just as arduous as developing a new paper from scratch. In this editorial, based on our experiences revising papers over the years, we provide roadmaps and guidelines for completing successful revisions for top journals. In doing so, we offer practical tips for completing three major tasks— making sense of a review packet, revising a manuscript, and crafting responses to reviewer comments. We conclude by recommending that authors be active reviewers themselves because, by doing so, they can develop their own insights on how peer review works and become more skillful at revising their papers and responding to reviewers.