Revising Your Dissertation : Advice from Leading Editors (Edition 1) (Paperback)

"What do editors want? A full spectrum of answers is revealed by the experts who here set forth, with wit and good sense, the arts of revising a dissertation. The result provides rare insight into the process of finding the most effective ideas, passions, and structures for a well-turned revision."--Douglas Mitchell, Executive Editor, The University of Chicago Press
"At last! An authoritative, up-to-date, succinct, intelligent, and witty guide to making the transition from dissertation to book. I will recommend this book to my publishing colleagues as readily as to would-be authors. It is a must-give to a graduating Ph.D."--Charles Grench, Assistant Director and Senior Editor, The University of North Carolina Press
"Anyone planning to revise a dissertation will find no better guide than this. Beth Luey deserves our thanks for recruiting some of the best editors in the business to help aspiring authors understand and deal with the many challenges of turning a thesis into a successful book. From advice on basic matters of organization and style to pointers aimed at writers in different disciplines, this book will be indispensable for scholars just beginning their careers, but it should also be useful for more senior scholars who want to improve their chances of having their proposals received favorably by busy acquiring editors."--Sanford G. Thatcher, Director, Penn State University Press The aftermath of graduate school can be particularly trying for those under pressure to publish their dissertations. Written with good cheer and jammed with information, this lively guide offers hard-to-find practical advice on successfully turning a dissertation into a book or journal articles that will appeal to publishers and readers. It will help prospective authors master writing and revision skills, better understand the publishing process, and increase their chances of getting their work into print.

In this guide experienced editors of scholarly books tackle such subjects as addressing a target audience, broadening a topic, reorganizing, developing a voice, and finding the best documentation system. Specific chapters address authors in different academic fields: the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and arts. The guide also gives advice to authors of books on topics of regional interest and of books written for practicing professionals.

Revising Your Dissertation will be useful for students who are developing a dissertation topic or are in the process of writing a dissertation, as well as those who have completed a dissertation they wish to bring to a wider audience.