How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

Editors as gatekeepers
The review process (How to deal with editors)
Publishing the paper

An important point to remember is that the editor is a mediator between you and the reviewers. If you deal with editors respectfully and can defend your work scientifically, you can facilitate your paper’s acceptance. The editor and the reviewers are usually on your side. Their primary function is to help you express yourself effectively and provide you with an assessment of the science involved. It is to your advantage to cooperate with them in all ways possible.

(“Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham. www.phdcomics.com)

The possible outcomes of the editorial process were neatly described by Morgan (1986, p. vii): “A modern metaphor for editing would be a car wash … through which all cars headed for a goal must pass,” he wrote. “Very dirty cars are turned away; dirty cars emerge much cleaner; clean cars are little changed.” Work with editors and reviewers to ensure that your vehicle passes expeditiously through the car wash and emerges as shiny as it can be.