Your dissertation will need significant reworking to be considered publishable by most academic presses. Exceptions may occur when a doctoral student, usually with a publishing track record, has planned for book publication from the outset.

WHY do I need to revise my dissertation?

Your dissertation will need significant reworking to be considered publishable by most academic presses. Exceptions may occur when a doctoral student, usually with a publishing track record, has planned for book publication from the outset.

Certain types of arguments lend themselves to publication in either book or journal form. For example, an historical study in which conclusions emerge from the narrative, or an attempt to push a particular debate further through the close reading of texts, may require 80,000 words for development; while a single conclusion reached by or proven through primary research may be much more effectively presented in 10,000 words.

WHO is the audience of my work?

You need to think about who you are writing for, as the audience for a monograph is different to the audience for your dissertation.

A PhD thesis is a sophisticated test of research abilities and is aimed at an audience of your supervisor, examiners and immediate colleagues. A monograph is aimed at a broader audience of academics and researchers and the approach should change accordingly.

WHEN should I begin rewriting my thesis?

The process of rewriting is almost always more difficult and time-consuming than authors imagine. Typically, a minimum of 12 months’ work is needed – however it has been known to take five years or more! You may want to jump right into revisions after your committee accepts your dissertation, but we advise giving yourself a bit of time and space so that you return to the project fresh and invigorated. Most academic publishers will only consider fully revised dissertations. Once you’ve completed revisions and a press has expressed interest, be prepared to go through another round of revision after a peer review process.

HOW do I revise my dissertation?

Consider your audience

• Look closely at the books you have found most persuasive and engaging and identify what makes them successful.

• Keep your audience in mind constantly. Most monographs are specialized books and have a fairly targeted audience. Spend some time thinking through the possible readers in your audience and then revise with them in mind.

• Do not assume that readers will be as familiar with the literature as you are. Illustrate your points with examples and provide context.

• The introductory chapter should be the reader’s way in to the argument. It must be accessible, compelling, and clearly state the aims of the book.

Look at your approach

• Make sure your book’s title and the table of contents offers a clear and descriptive roadmap to the book.

• Think about the narrative flow of the book and make it as cohesive as possible. Many PhDs have a more ‘stop-start’ approach, in which a point is made and then backed up with evidence. It may be possible to reduce some of this evidence, or to confine it to endnotes. The organizational structure is very important to the success of the final book.

• In general you should aim to cut out or significantly reduce your review of the literature. Instead, relevant literature should be cited at appropriate points throughout the text.

• Substantial methodology sections should be omitted. You may discuss your methodology in the introduction or opening chapter of the book, or talk about it briefly as you present your results.

• Add a conclusion that brings together the main points of the book and brings the book to a definitive close.

Consider the style of your writing

• Make sure that all sentences are clear, coherent, and concise. Animate abstract ideas with active verbs and only use jargon as a form of necessary short-hand.

• Remember to remove all references to ‘this thesis’ or ‘this dissertation.’ We advise authors not to mention the book’s origins as a PhD thesis in the preface or acknowledgments, as this information is often repeated in catalogue listings for the book and it can, unfortunately, be detrimental to sales.

• During the process of fine-tuning a PhD for publication it can be very valuable to have chapters read informally by colleagues or other contacts. An external eye can be helpful in pointing out omissions, suggesting new arguments, and in reassuring you about the quality of the work.

• If English is not your first language, it is highly recommended that you find a native speaker with expertise in your field to check through the final manuscript.

There are a number of production issues that you should keep in mind

• Be aware that not all illustrations/tables/diagrams are suitable for book publication. These will need to be negotiated with a publisher.

• Remember that you will need permission to quote copyrighted material. There are resources on copyright law and permission available on request.

You can always contact HamnicWritingServices.com whenever you need guidance on thesis/dissertation writing.