From Dissertation to Book by William P. Germano

At the heart of From Dissertation to Book is the idea that revising the dissertation is fundamentally a process of shifting its focus from the concerns of a narrow audience-a committee or advisors-to those of a broader scholarly audience that wants writing to be both informative and engaging. Now revised and updated to reflect the evolution of scholarly publishing, this edition includes a new chapter arguing that the future of academic writing is in the hands of young scholars who must create work that meets the broader expectations of readers rather than the narrow requirements of academic committees. 'Now tell it to us in language we can understand!' Since its publication in 2005, From Dissertation to Book has helped thousands of young academic authors get their books beyond the thesis committee and into the hands of interested publishers and general readers. 'You know something!' I would say if it could hear me. With crisp directives, engaging examples, and a sympathetic eye for the foibles of academic writing, From Dissertation to Book reveals to recent PhD's the process of careful and thoughtful revision-a truly invaluable skill as they grow into their new roles as professional writers.When a dissertation crosses my desk, I usually want to grab it by its metaphorical lapels and give it a good shake.

Writers will find advice on such topics as rethinking the table of contents, taming runaway footnotes, shaping chapter length, and confronting the limitations of jargon, alongside helpful timetables for light or heavy revision. Germano offers clear guidance on how to do just this.

But even dissertations strong enough to be published as books first need to become book manuscripts, and at the heart of From Dissertation to Book is the idea that revising the dissertation is a fundamental process of adapting from one genre of writing to another. The author of Getting It Published, Germano draws upon his extensive experience in academic publishing to provide writers with a state-of-the-art view of how to turn a dissertation into a manuscript that publishers will notice.Īcknowledging first that not all theses can become books, Germano shows how some dissertations might have a better life as one or more journal articles or as chapters in a newly conceived book. William Germano's From Dissertation to Book is the essential guide for academic writers who want to revise a doctoral thesis for publication. But a dissertation is written for a committee and a book for the larger world. All new Phd's hope that their dissertations can become books.

From Dissertation to Book by William P. Germano