Peer Review Policy

Editorial and Peer Review Process

Creative Saplings (CS) is a monthly, peer-reviewed, open-access journal committed to maintaining high academic and ethical standards. The journal follows a double-blind peer review process, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other.

Initial Screening

  1. Editorial Review: All manuscripts undergo a preliminary assessment by the editorial team to check for:
    • Relevance to the journal’s scope
    • Originality and plagiarism (checked using plagiarism detection software)
    • Adherence to submission guidelines
  2. Manuscripts that pass this initial screening are sent for double-blind peer review by at least two independent experts in the relevant field.

Peer Review Process and Timeline

Since Creative Saplings publishes monthly issues, the journal follows an expedited yet rigorous peer review process:

  • Manuscript Assignment: Within 7 days of submission, suitable manuscripts are assigned to expert reviewers.
  • Review Duration: Reviewers provide feedback within 2–3 weeks of receiving the manuscript.
  • Decision and Revisions: Authors receive reviewer comments and are required to submit revisions within 1–2 weeks if applicable.
  • Final Decision: The editorial team evaluates the revised manuscript before making the final acceptance decision.

Review Criteria

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on the following:

  • Originality and significance of research
  • Relevance to the field of English language and literature
  • Clarity and coherence in argument and writing style
  • Research methodology and analysis (if requied)
  • Overall contribution to the discipline

Possible Review Outcomes

After evaluation, reviewers recommend one of the following:

  • Accept without revisions
  • Accept with minor revisions
  • Accept with major revisions (requires re-evaluation)
  • Reject

Ethical Standards and Transparency

Creative Saplings adheres to the highest ethical publishing standards and follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines to ensure:

  • Fair and unbiased peer review
  • Prevention of plagiarism and duplicate submissions
  • Confidentiality and conflict of interest disclosure

Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and ensure an objective evaluation of submissions.

Appeals and Author Reconsideration

Authors can appeal editorial decisions by providing a written justification. Appeals are reviewed independently by the editorial board, and a final decision is communicated within 10 days.

Open Access and Licensing

Creative Saplings is a fully open-access journal operating under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). This means:

  • Articles are freely available to read, download, copy, distribute, and print.
  • Content can be shared and adapted with proper attribution but cannot be used for commercial purposes.

Commitment to Timely and Quality Publication

Being a monthly journal, Creative Saplings ensures a swift yet thorough peer review and publication process, balancing quality with efficiency. The journal continuously strives to enhance its peer review mechanisms and welcomes feedback from authors and reviewers.