Hey there, fellow wordsmiths and dream weavers! Today, I come bearing the delightful news that's sweeter than a triple scoop of your favorite ice cream flavour: my manuscript got accepted and is available online now in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (IJBM)! 🎉 (Free access now via the link attached https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1iYqoWFfgwwJO)
Imagine this: you're laying in your bed, refreshing the journal website for manuscript update as your morning ritual for a month. And then, it happens. The status was "Accept". Followed by then, the glorious email from your SV pops up, subject line shining like a beacon of hope: "Congratulations! Your Manuscript Has Been Accepted!"
Cue the confetti cannons, the happy dances, and the slightly embarrassing squeals of joy. Because let's be real, getting your manuscript accepted is like winning the lottery... with words. But wait, let's backtrack a little. It wasn't all rainbows and unicorns to get to this point. Oh no, my friends. There was a major revision with long comments by the reviewers that stung like a mosquito bite on a hot day, moments of self-doubt that crept in like shadows in the night, and countless revisions that made me question whether I was a writer or just someone with a fancy keyboard on a cup of coffee (or tea, no judgment here lol).
But through it all, I persevered. I (mainly my SV, a BIG shoutout to him) polished those paragraphs until they sparkled like diamonds in the rough. I sent my manuscript out into the world, like a proud parent sending their child off to their first day of school (minus the tears... okay, maybe a few tears).
All these started in August 2022 when I was given a set of data. Starting with some basic data analysis and discussion with my SV, we found that no particular trend or significance was observed. After a few months of struggling and further analysis, we then adopted another data set which was the current rice starch sponge paper (Yeah, it was termed as 'sponge' instead of 'wafer' in the very beginning).
The data included physical characterisation ranging from physical strength, DSC, XRD, FTIR to in vitro drug release study. And honestly, I was in deep water. I mean, I had no clue what half these instruments even looked like, let alone how to run the experiments. Thank goodness for YouTube tutorials and some frantic Googling! It was like trying to solve a mystery with only a fuzzy picture and a bunch of scattered clues.
The data analysis and writing persisted until I started with my main and some side projects along the journey. My timeline was seriously packed with the ongoing projects (Setup experiment at 7 am and ran out for clinical trial subject visit in between the sampling point were insane) and the writing was literally on halt for months with my focus on the project.
It was around May 2023 when our SV was preparing us to participate in the MyCRS Young Scientists Symposium 2023 (MyCRS YSS 2023) and ambitiously, I decided to join both oral and poster categories. And as in the title, the word 'useless' came from one of the many discussions I had with my SV which we were discussing about the roles of plasticiser (sorbitol and Tween 80) in assisting the drug release of the rice starch sponge. The discussion point was Tween 80 may not assist in drug release of rice starch sponges at high drug loading. Sadly I couldn't see this trend from the graph at that moment. Thus, here came the entire discussion with the conversation below:
SV: So, what's the role of Tween 80 in the drug release profile?
Me: As a surfactant and wicking agent?
SV: But, is it helping? Look at the graph and analyse.
Me: Erm, maybe yes but little.
SV: You don't get me. Ok. Let put it this way, I buy you a beautiful dress and yet, you have no boyfriend. What's wrong here?
Me: Well, maybe no chemistry between me and the boy?
SV: Hello??! It's not about the boy here, it's the dress that matters.
Me: Sorry, I don't get you.
SV: Okay fine. In one word, what does the dress means here?
Me: Not important as Tween 80 doesn't help in drug release?
SV: I said, in one word and it starts with 'U'
Me: You?
SV: 'U' and ends with 'S', 7 alphabet with repeated one. think faster with your brain, I'm rushing back now
Me: Erm. Useless? (Weak tone)
SV: YES! USELESS GIRL (Trust me, he said this out loud at my face, I was shivering that time lol)
I personally declared a cold war by not talking to him for 2.5 days until he brought us (me & my labmates) some new coffee beans and cakes that he made haha
Ah, August 2023 – a time I will never forget. Picture me, standing there like a champ, presenting my work at the MyCRS YSS 2023. I was rocking both the oral and poster presentations, feeling pretty confident? But then, cue the technical issues. Suddenly, my Q&A session turned into a marathon. I'm talking longer than a movie without an ads! And to top it off, there I was, defenseless, with my supervisor cracking up in the background (Seriously, was he feeling secondhand embarrassment? Who knows!). But, every cloud has a silver lining, right? Those endless questions—some expected, some out of left field—actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. They forced me to really dig deep into my work, sparking some serious critical thinking. And let me tell you, I still remember some of those curveball questions like they were yesterday.
Here are a few gems:
What type of rice was used?
Why propranolol is chosen as the model drug?
Will the rice type affect the physiochemical properties?
How to mask the drug taste?
With rice flour as the main ingredient, will it affect the blood glucose of diabetes patient?
How to ensure patient compliance?
Honestly, I felt a bit disappointed with how my presentation went down at the symposium. I knew deep down I had more to offer, but being up there, under the spotlight with all those eyes on me, it felt like a flock of butterflies had taken up residence in my stomach. Those aggressive questions didn't help either; they just seemed to highlight any cracks in my preparation. But hey, we all have those moments, right? It's just part of the journey. And who knows, maybe next time I'll knock it out of the park!
November 2023 – a month of almost completing the manuscript with just revision of introduction needing some final touches. But then, cue the dramatic twist! At the stroke of midnight, well, almost, my supervisor sent a text. And get this, he was leaving for a work trip to China and wanted that graphical abstract pronto! Talk about a tight deadline! I mean, he literally gave me a mere two hours to whip something up. Madness, right? But fear not, for my PowerPoint skills are unmatched! I dove right in, channeled my inner Picasso, and voila! Graphic abstract, done and dusted, with time to spare. And just like that, we hit that submission button right on 2nd December 2023. Crisis averted, thanks to a little bit of creativity and a whole lot of caffeine!
If manuscript writing is like pulling teeth, then waiting for updates on its status is like watching paint to dry. To make the process a tad less agonising, I took matters into my own hands. I mean, I literally made checking the status a part of my morning routine! Forget breakfast or brushing teeth—no, the first thing I did after rolling out of bed, even before putting on my glasses, was to tap that shortcut to the IJBM website on my phone's home screen. It became a ritual, a little daily dose of suspense to kickstart the day. Who needs caffeine when you've got manuscript updates to keep you on edge?
The morning ritual lasted for a month until an email on major revision was received.
From the comments, one of the reviewers marked 'the combined result and discussion will make reader disgusted to read'. Well, I couldn't help but feeling a bit miffed. I mean, come on, combining results and discussion is like the bread and butter of scientific writing, right? It's a tried-and-true method, a way to keep the story flowing smoothly and keep readers engaged. But, everyone's entitled to their opinion, even if it stings a little. So, time to take a deep breath and tackle this comment head-on. After all, a major revision means there's still hope, right?
5th Jan 2024 – after addressing all the comments and corrections needed for the manuscript, we hit the submission button again. On 31st January, the manuscript status was updated to 'Required review complete' and I had a strong feeling that the decision was coming. With the morning ritual in the next morning, the word “Accept’ was shown. Followed by then, the glorious email from your SV pops up, subject line shining like a beacon of hope: "Congratulations! Your Manuscript Has Been Accepted!"
Ahhhhhhh!!!
It was definitely a super good news of the day. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!
As an academia rookie, I have no idea what's next after the manuscript acceptance. Well, little did I know, the next step is a crash course in proofreading. There I was, sitting with my trusty supervisor, poring over the pre-proof copy with a fine-tooth comb, hunting down every last pesky grammatical error.
My supervisor and I, the dynamic duo. Even after a long day of proofreading, scouring through that pre-proof copy like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson on a mission, we still manage to spot a bunch of those sneaky errors and get them ironed out in the evening. Thanks to his homemade CNY cookies (Kuih Loyang aka Honeycomb cookies), the little drops of sweetness in an otherwise dull session.
But just when I think it's time to kick back and relax, reality comes knocking. Turns out, my flight is tomorrow morning! Talk about perfect timing, right? Except, there's a little hiccup: my graphical abstract might have a copyright issue. Cue the panic mode! Rushing to the lab in the dead of night, I set up a makeshift studio faster than you can say "copyright infringement," snapping photos like my life depends on it.
Finally, I made it back home in the wee hours of the morning, bleary-eyed but determined. One last check of the manuscript, a few tweaks here and there, and whew! Mission accomplished. Now, if only I can remember where I left my suitcase...
And now, here I am, basking in the warm glow of acceptance. It's like being wrapped in a cozy blanket made of validation and accomplishment. Suddenly, all those late nights spent hunched over my laptop, all those moments of writer's block that felt like banging my head against a brick wall, they all make sense.
With that, I would like to give a big shoutout to my supervisor for being a guiding light and helping polish my writing to perfection. His expertise, patience, and support have been invaluable every step of the way. With his mentorship, my writing has blossomed (maybe not in full bloom yet), and I've gained confidence in expressing my ideas effectively (better than when I first joined in). Alright, let's spill the beans - I'll admit, my supervisor isn't flawless. But, who is? We all have our quirks, right? And in the grand scheme of things, those little flaws haha (p > 0.05) Well, they're about as significant as finding a penny on the sidewalk. No biggie! So here's to my supervisor, the unsung hero behind the scenes, who's always there to lend a helping hand and make sure my work shines bright. Cheers to you! ❤️
To all my fellow writers out there still trudging through the trenches of rejection: keep going. Keep writing those words, even when it feels like the entire universe is conspiring against you. Because one day, you'll get that email. And let me tell you, it'll be worth every single word.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some celebrating to do (CNY is coming!). Maybe I'll treat myself to that lots and lots of CNY cookies which I've been eyeing or splurge on a new notebook for my next masterpiece. Because who knows? Maybe lightning will strike twice, and I'll be back here again, regaling you all with tales of my next manuscript acceptance. (Performing my morning ritual now for my 2nd submission, that will be an official academia debut which is related to my current work finally haha)
Until then, keep writing, keep dreaming, and never forget: the world needs your words. 📝✨
Love,
Estee
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