Submitting to a Special Issue

Special issue submissions undergo the same rigorous peer review as regular articles. Align your manuscript with the issue theme and highlight relevance to the collection objectives.

Eligibility

Manuscripts must align with the published theme. Submissions outside scope may be redirected to regular issues to maintain focus.

Cover Letter Guidance

State the special issue title and explain how your work fits the theme. Highlight novelty, methodology, and relevance to the collection goals to help editors route your submission quickly.

Formatting and Reporting

Follow the standard author instructions and include required statements on ethics, conflicts, and data availability. Complete reporting checklists improve review efficiency.

Review Timeline

Special issue submissions follow the same peer review standards as regular articles. Provide complete files and respond promptly to revisions to stay aligned with issue schedules.

Special Issue Labeling

Ensure the manuscript and any supplemental files include the special issue label or code where available. This helps avoid processing delays and ensures correct grouping after acceptance.

Article Processing Charges

APCs apply after acceptance, as with regular submissions. If funding or waiver support is needed, contact the editorial office early to plan timelines.

Suggested Reviewers

Provide potential reviewer names and affiliations when possible. Suggested reviewers help editors match expertise to the special issue focus and speed up review.

Data and Ethics Compliance

Include ethics approvals, consent statements, and data availability details in your submission. Compliance checks are completed before peer review to prevent delays.

After Acceptance

Accepted articles move to production and are published within the special issue collection. Review proofs promptly to keep the issue on schedule.

Revision Support

When revisions are requested, provide a clear response letter and highlight changes. This helps guest editors and reviewers evaluate updates efficiently.

Communication Channels

Direct any special issue questions to the editorial office. We coordinate with guest editors to ensure consistent guidance and timely responses. Include your manuscript ID and special issue name in all correspondence so we can route requests quickly and reduce delays. If you have multiple submissions, summarize their status in one message for efficient support. We respond within standard business hours and prioritize issue deadlines to keep the collection on schedule for authors globally.