Why Busy Professionals Turn Their Dissertation Into a Book
How working professionals turn their dissertation into a publishable book with academic book coaching, strategic planning, and realistic writing systems
By Chris McRae, PhD and Aubrey Huber, PhD, Co-Founders and Academic Book Coaches Specializing in Dissertation-to-Book Support
You finished your dissertation. The defense was a success. The paperwork is finally submitted. Now you are back in your office, lab, clinic, or classroom.
But the work lingers. It’s no longer a task to be completed. It’s a possibility.
You spent years researching, compiling data, analyzing, and writing. And you don’t want your work to just sit on a server.
You want your work to matter. You want to reach a broader audience. You want to reach readers other than the members of your committee.
But you’re also working 40+ hours a week. You don’t have a sabbatical. You barely have time to open the file again, let alone figure out how to turn a 200 page dissertation into something a publisher would consider.
The Real Problem: A Dissertation is Not a Book
Most people think the biggest challenge is making time to write. The real challenge is understanding how to rewrite. A dissertation is designed for a committee. A book is written for an audience.
After I defended my dissertation, I wanted to turn the manuscript into a book. One of my committee members had a question during my defense that struck me as the perfect starting place for engaging with a broader audience. The dissertation had led me to an opportunity for extending my ideas beyond my committee.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that turning my dissertation into a book would take even more work than writing the dissertation itself. Ideas had to be rewritten, and I had to carve out time while in the midst of a cross-country move and the start of new job.
Where Academic Book Coaching Comes In
It took me four years after defending my dissertation to finally see my book in print. The process included quite a bit of trial and error, long evenings, and working through the weekends.
Working with an academic book coach helps streamline the process by providing guidance, accountability, and support by helping you:
Identify the core argument and contribution that makes your work publishable as a book.
Remove committee driven writing and rebuild the text for readers and editors.
Create a realistic writing plan that accounts for a busy work schedule.
Navigate book proposals, timelines, and academic politics.
Academic book coaching is more than editing. It’s strategic, high-stakes support for busy professionals whose careers, credibility, and promotion opportunities depend on completing the work.
It’s possible to navigate the process of turning a dissertation into a book on your own. But having support can help save you time, relieve stress, and make consistent progress.
Turn Your Dissertation Into a Book With Strategic Support
Successfully completing and defending a dissertation is a huge accomplishment. It’s also a huge opportunity for establishing a research agenda and contributing to disciplinary conversations beyond your committee.
Turning a dissertation into a book can help establish your credibility as a scholar, and it can open up opportunities for your research and your career.
Working with an academic book coach can provide you with guidance and support that can help you avoid months of frustration.
Are you ready to turn your dissertation into a book while working full time? Academic book coaching helps busy professionals and faculty publish with clarity, strategy, and impact.
Need strategic support for your academic project? Get in touch and let’s talk.
Chris McRae, PhD — Academic Book Coach helping busy professionals and faculty turn dissertations into publishable books, navigate high-stakes academic projects, and meet career milestones without sacrificing work-life balance.
Aubrey Huber, PhD — Co-Founder & Academic Book Coach supporting working professionals with strategic writing, book proposals, and completing high-impact academic projects efficiently.
Ready to start your academic project with guidance? Contact us today.