Journal Submission Reformatter
Reduce reformatting pain when submitting to different journals
Reformatting manuscripts for different journals is a frustrating time sink. This recipe treats each journal as a "format delta" from your base manuscript — what changes, what can be templated, and what should wait until acceptance.
PROMPT
Create a skill called "Journal Submission Reformatter". Ask for: - Target journal/conference requirements (paste/link; if missing: unspecified) - Current manuscript format and tools (Word/LaTeX/Docs) - Whether blind review is required Output: 1) A format delta checklist from base manuscript to target requirements. 2) A controlled submission pack list: - main manuscript - figures - supplementary - cover letter - highlights/graphical abstract (if required; otherwise: unspecified) 3) A reformatting minimization strategy: - what to do now vs after acceptance (if norms vary, label as field-dependent/unspecified). Rules: - Don't promise automation that depends on tools not available; provide steps and templates.
How It Works
Instead of reformatting from scratch, the Claw computes a delta between your
current manuscript format and the target journal's requirements, then produces
a step-by-step checklist and a submission pack you can reuse.
What You Get
- A journal format delta checklist:
- Word/page limits
- Reference style
- Figure/table placement
- Anonymization requirements
- Supplementary files
- A base-manuscript strategy to minimize future reformatting
- A "submission pack" naming convention and contents list
- A cover letter template (if required)
Setup Steps
- Provide target journal requirements (paste or link)
- Tell the Claw your current manuscript format (Word/LaTeX/Docs)
- Tell the Claw whether blind review is required
- The Claw builds a delta checklist and a repeatable submission pack
Tips
- The base-manuscript strategy makes the *next* resubmission much faster
- Some formatting can wait until acceptance — the Claw labels what's field-dependent
- Especially useful after a rejection when pivoting to a different journal