Following is the timeline.
Conceptualization of the manuscript and research: June 2019
Writing the first version: June-July 2019
Edit: Early Aug 2019
First submission: Aug 9, 2019
(Editors decided not to reject it outright, and sent it to expert reviewers. Usual turnaround time for review is 2-3 weeks.)
First decision/response: Oct 8, 2019 (major revision)
(Revising the manuscript, responding to comments. Needed additional research.)
Second submission: Nov 11, 2019
(Editors sent it to expert reviewers, requesting their opinions on the revised manuscript.)
Second decision/response: Dec 9, 2019 (Minor revision)
(Re-revising the manuscript, responding to comments. Additional research. Seeking editorial aid for fixing grammatical errors.)
Third submission: Dec 16, 2019
Third decision/response: Dec 25, 2019 (Accepted for publication)
"Dear Dr. Yamada:
I am very pleased to inform you that following review your manuscript has now been accepted for publication in (the journal). If the editors or reviewers of your paper had additional comments, they have been included at the foot of this letter.
...Thank you for your fine contribution. On behalf of the Editors of (the journal), we look forward to your continued contributions to the Journal.
Sincerely, (signed) Co-Editor in Chief, (the journal)"
(Then the manuscript was sent to production department)
Proofread request: Jan 14, 2020 (Today!)
(They usually give us 24(-48) hours to complete proofreading and respond to queries)
I usually do proofreading in 12-24 hours and send it back. So I did.
After sending it back, I got following response:
"Thanks for your email.
Please note that [we] will be closed on 15th Jan 2020 on account of Pongal, a local harvest festival.
We will resume business on 16th Jan 2020, as usual.
Best regards
Author Corrections Team "
The journal's managing editor is in London, UK. Editors-in-chief are in USA and in Germany. Editorial board members are from worldwide, although USA and European countries take the majority.
Now I know that the journal's production department is located in South India (likely, Hyderabad).
This is how globalization works.
Either way, I am very happy about the manuscript and the concept.
Yet, we keep on moving. Since this new year I have been working on rewriting an original research manuscript, hoping to sending it out soon.
Like driving, we watch where we are going.
