All authors and volume editors will be asked to write a letter of response to each round of peer review. This letter should outline the changes you plan to implement in your manuscript based on suggestions from the reviewers and provide a picture of your manuscript’s development. The letter is part of the larger conversation between you and your editor about your project’s development.
When your project has received sufficiently positive peer reviews, your editor will present it to our faculty editorial board for final publication approval. The board does not read full manuscripts, but they receive copies of the peer reviews and letter(s) of response for their approval. The board is tasked with assessing the peer review process, and the letter of response is your opportunity to demonstrate to the board that you have carefully considered the reviewers’ suggestions and to explain your revisions. Because the board will read this letter, it is important to write in a collegial tone and to demonstrate that you have engaged fully with the reviewers’ suggestions.
Instructions for Writing a Letter of Response
- The letter of response should be submitted as a Word document, addressed to your acquisitions editor and/or the editorial board.
- Focus on the “big picture” comments from the reviewers. For example, rather than respond to specific copyediting or grammatical errors, you could acknowledge these issues broadly in your letter and note plans to proofread the manuscript ahead of resubmission.
- Because the board and your editor will have access to the reviews themselves, do not copy and paste comments from the reviews into the letter of response. Instead, summarize the suggestions to show that you have fully understood them.
- Explain how you plan to address each “big picture” suggestion from the peer reviews. Keep in mind that transparency will help build trust with your editor and the board.
- If your project is an edited volume and the peer reviewers commented on individual chapters, share this feedback with each chapter author and summarize the changes that will be made to each chapter.
- If the reviewers requested more information about your consultation or collaboration with descendent communities, consider including this information in your letter.
- If the reviewers made suggestions that you do not plan to implement, note what these suggestions are and explain your decision not to implement them. Identify the concern that prompted the suggestion and consider other revisions that might better resolve the concern.
- Include a proposed date for when the revised manuscript will be ready for resubmission. If you have questions about this, discuss the timeline with your editor.
Other Resources
Responding to Peer Reviewers — Manuscript Works
How do I write a response to peer reviews? – Ask UP