After completing a doctorate, publishing a dissertation is often seen as the next logical step, but the process is not always easy. The first tip to keep mind is choosing carefully between the prestige of an academic press and the income of a commercial press. Authors should also spend time presenting at academic conferences and using the opportunity to meet and network with editors. Most of all, authors should be prepared to spend time revising the dissertation for a new audience, as different journals and academic publications may have different audiences. It is important to use patience and persistence to survive the process from rejection all the way through publication.
Publishing a dissertation obviously requires finding a publisher. The first consideration is whether to pursue an academic or commercial press. Academic publishers associated with a university generally provide more clout to those who are looking for a professor position at a college. University presses, however, can have a long wait time for publication and usually offer little in the way of an advance or royalty money. Commercial presses can often put the dissertation out more quickly and offer a little more profit. The commercial press, though, may ask for more substantial revisions to make the work accessible to a general audience and don’t carry as much weight in academia.
The choice between commercial and academic presses may also be determined by the subject matter. Some dissertations are on esoteric topics which would be difficult to pitch to a commercial publisher. Publishing a dissertation on the influence of American movie director Steven Spielberg on modern filmmakers may be easier than finding a commercial market for a study on the ecological impacts of fruit fly infestations. The writer may have to be realistic about the best market for his work.
One of the best ways to find a publisher for a project is at academic conferences. Many conferences have a book room filled with publishers showing off their latest titles. Attendees can browse the titles and see if any publisher has a line which would be a good fit for their projects. Presenting a portion of the dissertation as a paper at the conference can give the author additional exposure. The editors frequently scan the list of presentations or attend panels specifically looking for new material. Meeting an editor can boost a writer’s chances of jumping up the publication list.
If authors have not had a chance to mingle with editors at a conference, publishing a dissertation can also be accomplished through query letters directly to the company. Many publishers now have websites which list instructions for submitting a prospectus for any proposed project. A prospectus covers general points about the work, including methodology, references, length, expected audience, and a breakdown of chapters. Even if the writer has met the editor, a prospectus may be required simply as part of the process.
Once publishing a dissertation has become a reality, the best tip to keep in mind is the need for revision. A dissertation is written for a specific group of people, most likely scholars who know the topic as well as the author does. In order for the dissertation to appeal to a larger audience, the writer may need to add some explanations or adjust his phrasing. More material may also be necessary; the project might be long enough for the dissertation committee, but a publisher might ask for an additional chapter to meet a word length requirement. Authors should be prepared to spend some time going over the material or doing additional research.
The last tips to remember for publishing a dissertation are the two p’s: patience and persistence. The process typically is not fast and can involve a lot of waiting for replies and sending the work out again. Rejections are common and can be based on anything from the dissertation’s subject not fitting with a company’s product line to budget problems rather than the quality of the writing or research. Even once a publisher accepts the project, more changes and proofreading may be required.
