The first part of our peer review process is similar to a regular journal:

1. Papers are submitted to us via a simple online interface.
2. Authors provide a ranked list of four target journals for their paper (e.g. journals A, B, C and D).
3. The paper is passed to an editor. Inappropriate papers are returned without review. Editors suggest reviewers and the Editorial Office sends out review requests.
4. The reviewers are asked to assess the quality of the paper and also comment on its suitability for each of the four target journals.
5. Once two or three reviews have been returned, our editor makes a decision on where the paper can be referred. For example, “this paper could fit in journal B, C or D, but is not suitable for journal A”.

And then it gets interesting:

1. We send the editor’s decision to the authors for their approval; our fee ($250) is due at this point.
2. Journal B is then sent what is effectively a presubmission inquiry. We send them the reviews, the reviewer identities, and the editor’s recommendation. An example referral letter can be seen here.
3. If journal B agrees that the paper could fit in their journal, the authors revise accordingly and submit through the journal’s normal submission route.
4. If journal B does not want the paper, the presubmission inquiry is then sent to journal C. This process is repeated until the paper finds an outlet.
5. When a journal has seen external reviews and is interested in the paper, it is much less likely to be rejected on the grounds of novelty or scope. Once referred, 80% of papers reviewed by Axios are accepted for publication, and half of these do not go back out for external review

Want to find out why Axios Review is the best route to publication? Read more about us here.