Once a medical article is posted to a journal, the author often feels much as a mother must after the birth of a child: exhausted, satisfied, and accomplished. There is a sense of completion, ie, an "I'm done with that!" sort of feeling. In effect, however, for both of them, the work has just begun. This editorial will attempt to cast some light on the editorial process, which provides the author with a guiding mechanism for perfecting his/her work.
THE INITIAL EDITORIAL EVALUATION
The editor who receives a manuscript usually analyzes it briefly for both form and content. Although errors in form alone will not preclude further editorial processing, correct form will facilitate it. Each journal has its criteria for the structure of the various types of articles. By adhering to these criteria, the author permits focus on content rather than the distraction caused by an unusual organization of the