Your Partner in Strategy, Consultations and Editorial Excellence

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Why “Publish for India”?

India is rich in research, creativity, and cultural knowledge—but too often, what gets published is not what most needs to be heard. Publish for India seeks to change that. We envision a future where publishing becomes a force for equity, evidence, and empowerment, across languages, disciplines, and platforms.

 Q. How “Publish for India” Fits into “Publishing Matters”

 “Publish for India” is the flagship initiative of Publishing Matters (www.pubstrategy.com), a strategic editorial consultancy founded to empower authors, institutions, and publishers across India and beyond. While Publishing Matters offers expert services in editorial strategy, manuscript development, capacity building, and publishing innovation, “Publish for India” is the movement -- building national capacity, networks, and vision for inclusive, impactful publishing.

Q. Who Can Benefit from Your Services?

Our clients include:

• Academic publishers, professional associations, and learned societies

• University presses and research institutions

• Independent authors looking to optimize their publishing processes and maximize impact

Q. What Services Do You Offer?

We provide strategic consultancy in areas such as:

• Editorial and peer review workflow optimization

• Open Access (OA) strategy and compliance

• Journal and book portfolio development

• Manuscript development and assessment

• Manuscript editing and formatting

• Reference style checking and fact-checking

• Editorial policy creation and review

• Indexing, discoverability, and impact measurement

• Publishing ethics and integrity training

• Organizing expert peer reviews

Journal Launch & Open Access Transition

Q. Do you assist with journal launches?
Yes, we help academic societies and institutions launch new journals, from defining scope and editorial policies to selecting editorial board members and developing growth strategies.

Q. Can you help with transitioning to Open Access?
Absolutely. We advise on funding models, Plan S compliance, transformative agreements, and sustainable OA business strategies.

Manuscript Development & Editing

Q. What is manuscript development?
Manuscript development involves refining a manuscript before submission or publication. It includes:

• Structural assessment

• Language improvement

• Content enhancement

• Ensuring alignment with publisher guidelines

Q. What does a manuscript assessment involve?
We evaluate manuscripts for:

• Clarity & Structure – Logical flow and readability

• Scholarly Rigor – Accuracy, depth, and originality

• Adherence to Guidelines – Compliance with journal or publisher requirements

• Impact & Relevance – Suitability for target audience and indexing criteria

Q. What’s the difference between manuscript development and copyediting?

• Manuscript development enhances structure, argument clarity, and overall content.

• Copyediting focuses on grammar, consistency, and formatting without altering the core argument.

Q. What are the different levels of copyediting?

• Light Copyediting (Level 1) – Basic grammar, punctuation, and minor style corrections

• Medium Copyediting (Level 2) – Improved sentence structure, adherence to style guides (e.g., APA, Chicago), and clarity enhancement

• Heavy (Substantive) Copyediting (Level 3)– Deep revisions for language flow, clarity, and logical structure

Q. How is copyediting different from proofreading?

• Copyediting improves language, style, and consistency.

• Proofreading is the final quality check for typos, formatting errors, and minor inconsistencies.

Editorial Policies & Publishing Ethics

Q. What is an editorial policy?
An editorial policy defines a journal’s principles, submission guidelines, peer review process, and ethical considerations to ensure transparency and integrity.

Q. Can you help draft or revise editorial policies?
Yes! We assist publishers, journal editors, and societies in developing and refining editorial policies to meet industry standards (e.g., COPE, ICMJE, DOAJ).

Q. What are best practices for handling publishing ethics issues?
We guide clients on ethical publishing, including:

• Plagiarism detection – Using tools like Turnitin or iThenticate

• Data integrity – Ensuring research transparency and reproducibility

• Conflict of interest disclosure – Maintaining unbiased publication decisions

• Retractions & Corrections – Managing post-publication updates responsibly

Peer Review Process

Q. What is peer review, and why is it important?
Peer review is a quality control process where experts evaluate a manuscript to ensure validity, originality, and adherence to academic standards before publication.

Q. What are the different types of peer review?

• Single-blind – Reviewers know the author’s identity, but authors don’t know the reviewers.

• Double-blind – Both authors and reviewers remain anonymous, reducing bias.

• Open peer review – Identities of both authors and reviewers are disclosed, promoting transparency.

• Post-publication peer review – Articles are published first, and reviews happen openly, allowing ongoing feedback.

Journal & Publisher Selection

Q. Can you assist with selecting the right journal or publisher?
Yes! We help authors identify suitable journals or publishers based on:

• Scope and subject relevance

• Impact factors and indexing

• Submission and peer review requirements

Pricing & Timelines

Q. How is pricing determined for your services?
Our pricing is based on project scope and complexity. We offer:

• Hourly consulting rates – For short-term advice and training

• Project-based pricing – For defined deliverables

• Retainer agreements – For ongoing strategic support

Q. Do you offer flexible payment options?
Yes, we work with clients to structure payments based on project milestones or phased deliverables.

Q. How long does a typical project take?
Timelines vary based on complexity:

• Manuscript Assessment and Development – 7-10 days

• Manuscript Editing and Formatting – 5-7 days

• Organizing Double-Blind Peer Review – 25-30 days

• Editorial Workflow Audits – 4-8 weeks

• Journal Launch Strategies – 3-6 months

• OA Transition Planning – 6-12 months

Working with Us

Q. How do I engage your consultancy services?
Start by contacting us via our website or email. We offer an initial consultation to assess your needs and tailor our services accordingly.

Q. Do you provide training and workshops?
Yes! We offer customized training for editorial teams, authors, and publishing professionals on topics such as:

• How to write and get published in academic journals

• Peer review management

• Abstracting & Indexing training

• Publication ethics

• Digital publishing trends

Q. Do you work with self-publishing authors?
While our primary focus is academic and professional publishing, we offer guidance to independent authors on manuscript development, indexing, and discoverability strategies.

For more details or to discuss your specific requirements, please visit www.pubstrategy.com or contact us directly.