Become a guest editor with Elsevier
Introduction
A special issue focuses on a specific area of research that has a broad appeal and falls within the aims and scope of the journal. A special issue also provides an excellent opportunity to review a particular theme, examine previously unaddressed aspects, propose and develop new approaches, exchange perspectives and encourage new lines of research. Special issues might also be commissioned or proposed to recognize a particular individual's or group's contribution to the field or to commemorate a specific date or occasion.
These special issues are intended to attract high quality articles in the field of the journal and are often organized by guest editors. Guest editors are experts in their field who play a vital role in curating high-quality contributions on a particular topic and driving the editorial review process for special issue publications.
This page provides general information about the benefits and requirements for guest editing special issue with Elsevier's journals, and how to prepare special issue proposal. If you are a current guest editor, please follow the link here for guest editor and special issue guidelines, policies, and resources.
Benefits
There are many benefits to commissioning, guest editing and authoring in a special issue:
Publish with peers: Harness your network and benefit from multiple expert perspectives on the same issues, leading to synergies and powerful cross-examination of the theme(s) under consideration.
Positive citation impact: Articles published in special issues are often cited more frequently than articles published in regular issues. Special content articles attract 20% more citations in the first 24 months than articles published in regular issues (1).
Topic-specific research: You can publish more in-depth research on a given topic than is typically possible in a regular journal issue.
Faster publication times: Special issue articles are often published more quickly than regular articles.
Longer-term impact for your work: Special issues offer longer-term impact as your article collection means readers will easily find your work.
Career opportunities: Working on a special issue as a guest editor is a great opportunity to connect further with a journal’s network and is often a pathway to becoming a member of the journal Editorial Advisory Board or team.
There are also further benefits to consider being a guest editor with Elsevier:
Unparalleled visibility via ScienceDirect: All articles from the special issue will be published on ScienceDirect – the world's leading research platform, with 2.6 million unique visitors a day and 38 article downloads per second. Special content articles are downloaded on ScienceDirect twice as often within the first 24 months than articles published in regular issues (1).
Editorial office support: Elsevier offers guest editors support via our dedicated support teams. A dedicated Content Acquisition Specialist will support you during the editorial process on the vast majority of our titles
Targeted promotion: Articles in special issues are often promoted through Elsevier's social media channels for the relevant subject areas to increase the issue's visibility and readership.
Wide readership: Elsevier journals employ sophisticated technology to optimize published content for Search Engine Optimization (SEO), ensuring your issue and its content is easily found via search engines like Google.
Publish open access: Whatever your discipline, there’s an open access home for your research at Elsevier. With over 2,800 journals that offer gold open access publishing options, we’ve got you covered. Special content articles published in gold open access journals register 74% more downloads on ScienceDirect within the first 24 months than regular articles published in the same journal. What's more, special content articles published in gold open access journals attract twice as many citations within the first 24 months than regular articles published in the same journal (1).
Rigorous peer review: Elsevier and its journals are fully committed to rigorous, independent peer review. Special issue articles should be reviewed by no fewer than two independent experts to ensure the quality, originality and novelty of the work published.
World-class editorial teams: Your special issue will benefit from the expertise of its regular editors who will support you to make sure you’re publishing your best work possible.
Requirements
At Elsevier, we pride ourselves on collaborating with leading experts in various fields to serve as guest editors. This ensures the credibility and quality of the papers invited and the initial recommendations made for submissions to special issues.
Criteria for becoming an Elsevier guest editor
Proven publication record: A history of publications in the research area relevant to your proposed special issue.
Professional qualifications: Credentials that align with your research area and the proposed topic.
Institutional affiliation: A verifiable position within an academic or research institution.
Clear vision: Well-developed ideas and objectives for the special issue.
If you are an early career researcher, we recommend collaborating with a more experienced colleague as a co-guest editor. Some journals also offer alternative roles for less-experienced researchers to contribute to special issues. While we primarily collaborate with university-affiliated researchers, we may consider proposals from independent researchers on a case-by-case basis. For more information and to submit your proposal, please visit the relevant journal homepage and contact the editorial team (NB many journals have detailed information on how to submit a special issue proposal). We look forward to your contributions to advancing research and knowledge in your field.
How to become a guest editor
You can become a guest editor in two ways:
Invited contribution
The journal may invite you as an expert in your specific field of research. If you are an acknowledged expert on a particular theme with a wide network of potential authors and reviewers, don't be surprised if an editor approaches you to suggest your leading a new special issue on their journal.
Proposal to the journal
You can submit a proposal for a special issue to a journal following the instructions below – the senior editor will approve or reject it after consulting with the Editorial Advisory Board. If accepted, you (and any co-guest editors) will be responsible for developing the issue and leading the editorial review process.
Making a proposal
Though a journal's editorial team will extend an invitation directly to a guest editor (group) in some cases, we also welcome proposals made directly to a journal for a special issue on a particular topic. It is usually the case that each journal has its own procedures and guidelines for prospective guest editors. You are therefore advised to research the journal in question before finalizing your proposal and take note of the advice and suggestions below. Any proposal will be reviewed by the editorial team of the journal, potentially with the Editorial Advisory Board and the decision as to whether to accept the proposal (and any of the articles ultimately submitted) rests solely with the journal's chief editor(s).
You should prepare a proposal that observes our general special issue policies and any guidelines which are imposed by the journal's guide for authors, and:
Sets out the importance of the area on which the special issue will focus;
Explains how the anticipated contribution of the special issue will advance understanding in this area;
Identifies papers and authors for possible inclusion in the special issue, with a brief description of each paper. (These papers do not need to have been written at this time, although it might be the case that work is already in progress.);
Indicates the timeframe in which the special issue could be produced (to include paper writing, reviewing and submission of final copy to the journal) assuming the proposal is accepted;
Includes a short biography of all authors and guest editors;
Indicates any special timing, associated events, funding support, partnerships or other links or relationships which could influence the development of the issue;
Provides any further information which you feel is relevant.
A special issue normally contains between five and 20 full-length articles, in addition to an editorial written by the special issue organizers. Because it is highly unlikely that all articles submitted for potential inclusion in a special issue will successfully pass the peer review process, it is wise to consider more papers than you anticipate as the upper limit. If fewer than three articles are accepted for publication, the articles might be published as stand-alone articles in the journal.
If you are interested in submitting a special issue proposal, please contact journal’s editorial team by consulting the journal homepage for the relevant details.
Selecting a topic for your special issue
Choosing the right topic for a special issue is crucial to its success. As a guest editor, you should aim to identify topics that are timely, relevant, and have the potential to make a significant impact in your field. Here are some guidelines to help you select an appropriate topic:
Rapid technological and methodological advances: Fields experiencing significant progress in new technologies or techniques.
Highly cited research areas: Domains with a substantial volume of influential and frequently cited studies.
Emerging research frontiers: New and innovative areas of research introducing groundbreaking concepts.
Publicly engaging topics: Subjects that capture significant public interest and attention.
Innovative perspectives on established practices: Fresh viewpoints and novel approaches to well-established methodologies.
Interdisciplinary research: Topics that bridge multiple disciplines, encouraging collaborative and comprehensive research.
Recent academic conference highlights: Themes that have been prominently discussed at major academic conferences.
Future directions: Aim for forward-thinking themes that can shape the future direction of research in your field
Once you're ready, use the link below to find your chosen journal and submit your proposal.
Computer science and mathematics special issue proposals
If you are interested in proposing a special issue within the computer science and mathematics portfolio, please see the list of participating journals and review the specific guidelines via the dedicated proposal portal Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet.
Support for guest editors
Elsevier has prepared a number of resources which are designed to make your experience of guest editing as smooth and positive as possible. These include:
Guidance and FAQs on the Elsevier account Wird in neuem Tab/Fenster geöffnet
An introduction to the editorial submission and review system
Further to these materials, Elsevier is pleased to provide guest editors with a comprehensive range of support throughout the special issue journey. Your main contacts will be:
The Content Acquisition Specialist (CAS), responsible for managing the configuration and paper soliciting process for the special issue, who will work with you closely in setting up the editorial system, acquiring content and reminding you of timelines.
The Journal Manager (JM), your contact for all production-related matters and EM queries, supports you during the peer review and publication process, and is responsible for ensuring articles are typeset, corrected, and published in a timely fashion.
You can read more about the team which will be looking after your interactions with the journal.
Guest editor guide
In addition to training on the editorial submission system and the resources mentioned above, there is also a comprehensive guide to the role and responsibilities of a guest editor.
(1) Data sourced from Scopus and ScienceDirect comparing the performance (citations and downloads) of special content compared with that of regular articles.