Navigating Dissertation-to-Book Challenges
Strategies for Career Defining Scholarly Work
It took me two and a half years to sign a contract for my first book. Not because my research or writing wasn’t strong, but because I struggled to master the language and logic of the book proposal.
That experience taught me one of the most important lessons in turning a dissertation into a book: the book needs a coherent story and a clearly named goal from the start.
Your proposal is a signal to editors, reviewers, and yourself exactly what the book is meant to accomplish. Nothing should be “revealed” only in the last chapter.
As one of my former professors used to say, “Academic writing isn’t a whodunit.”
If you’re moving from dissertation to book, consider:
Does your manuscript tell a story that can be summarized in a single, compelling sentence?
Can you name the goal of the book clearly in your proposal?
With these questions in mind, here are five challenges scholars face when turning a dissertation into a book proposal, and how to navigate them:
1. Naming the Core Contribution
Many dissertations contain multiple arguments or findings. The first step is deciding what the book’s central contribution is.
Reflect:
If I had to summarize this book in one sentence to a senior scholar in my field, what would I say?
Which chapters or sections from my dissertation best support that central argument?
Clarity in naming the core contribution ensures your book doesn’t feel like a collection of interesting ideas. Instead your project will be a cohesive scholarly work.
2. Reframing the Dissertation for a Broader Audience
Dissertations speak to committees; books speak to a broader scholarly and public audience. For my first book, reframing my project for a wider audience early was critical.
Ask yourself:
Which sections rely on insider knowledge or committee-specific language?
How can I reorganize or expand content to make the argument compelling to a broader audience of scholars, students, or a broader public?
Your work is excellent, but you are no longer writing to defend your ideas to a committee. Now you need to communicate the significance and impact of your research clearly to a new audience.
3. Structuring and Sequencing
Even with a strong argument, timing and organization matter.
Consider:
Does the chapter sequence build a cohesive and coherent narrative?
Are there sections that could be condensed, expanded, or split to create momentum for the reader?
Strategic structuring transforms a dissertation from a document that satisfies institutional and disciplinary requirements into a book that presents your argument with clarity, coherence, and purpose.
4. Maintaining Momentum
Long-term projects are challenging commitments, regardless of your experience. Writing a book is a process that requires consistent and deliberate practice.
As you set out to turn your dissertation into a book consider:
When do I write best, and how can I protect that time?
Which milestones will keep me moving forward consistently?
Just like the process of writing a dissertation, small, regular progress compounds into completed chapters and ultimately a book manuscript ready for submission.
5. Getting External Guidance
Even the best writing can benefit from an outside perspective. When I was shaping my first book, my colleagues and mentors often spotted inconsistencies or gaps that I couldn’t identify on my own.
Ask:
Who can provide informed feedback on argument, narrative, and audience fit?
How will you incorporate feedback without losing your unique voice?
Feedback isn’t about approval; it’s a method for sharpening your work so its contribution is unmistakably clear.
Final Reflection
Turning dissertation into a book is challenging, but every challenge in the process is also an opportunity to clarify your argument, strengthen your narrative, and elevate your work.
My first book taught me that a strong proposal and a clearly named contribution are invaluable.
If you want structured guidance to move from dissertation to book efficiently, you can apply for Academic Book Coaching to receive a customized plan tailored to your manuscript, timeline, and goals.