the abc of turning your writing into a published book
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The ABC of turning your writing
into a published book
Anita Dewi & Tomas Zahora
Learning Skills Advisers
17 Feb 2015
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Before we start
the process of turning a thesis into a book is a highlyindividual onewhat worked for one project may not
work for another (Crawford, 2007, p. 132)
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Todays menu
Should we publish our theses as books?
Who is the reader?
Audience complexity test
Which publisher should we go with?
Three big questions
Where can we begin?
Things to keep in mind when you make a pitch Examples of book proposal formats if publisher does not provide
instructions
Tomas and Anita reflecting on the journey of publishing our books
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Should we publish our theses as books?
Are you willing to do it?
Are you motivated enough?
Do you think your topic is appealing?
Is your thesis more suitable to be published as a book or something
else(s)?
After your thesis submission, do people keep asking about it?
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Who is the reader?
A shift from academic to general readers
Wider audience
Aligning with publisher
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Audience complexity test
Can you express what your book is about in
no more than one sentence?
What prior knowledge do you have to assume for
someone to appreciate your books aim and
contribution from that sentence?
How many more sentences do you need to
REALLY describe what your book is about?
What prior knowledge do you have to assume
when reading a more extended abstract of your
work?
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Which publisher should we go with?
Whats your aim?
recognition, job security, promotion
Are you a newbie who desperately needs publication?
only a PhD is not enough
How ready are you with your manuscript?
Is it something that is already written?
Or is it something you are about to write?
Still not sure?
Talk to people!
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Three big questions
What is the big deal? Contribution
what contribution does the book make?
what is the most important thing about your book?
what is the most interesting thing about your book?
what makes it different from other, similar books?
Who should care? Audience
what kind of person do you want to read your book?
what qualifications/prerequisites are essential for
understanding it?
Why should they listen to you in particular? Author(ity) because you are amazing
because you are qualified
publication record, track record
networks: colleagues, mentors, conferences, editors
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Where can we begin?
Network talk about your project in conferences, symposium, public
events
Contact publisher(s) via phone or email
Send publisher(s)
a proposal
table of content of your thesis a sample chapter
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Things to keep in mind when you make a pitch
1. Survey publishing options
2. Devise a strategy
3. Decide on a publisher
4. Editors will probably look at
- big questions (as above)
- work the manuscript still needs
- how you come across (track record and
correspondence)
5. Mind the details
6. Believe in your project and yourself
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Examples of book proposal formats if
publisher does not provide instructions Abstract
Contents
Illustrations
Sample chapter
Audience
Your CV
Alexander, P.H. (2011) The Less Obvious
Elements of an Effective Book Proposal. The
Chronicle of Higher Education 58(9), 21
October
Title page
Summary/Synopsis
Chapter outline Market/Audience
Author information
Deadlines
Table of contents
Sample chapter
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/10/nonf
iction-book-proposal_n_3569043.html
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What did I do with my manuscript?
Asked supervisor and other people who have published with CSP
Investigated CSPs vision
Investigated CSPs published books
Investigated reviews on CSP
Contacted CSP via email
Sent table of content and a sample chapter
Revised thesis to match the tone of publisher
Slightly restructured thesis chapters (see Crawford, 2007 pp. 149-153)
Submitted on time
Followed up details and maintained good conversation with CSP
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My books timeline
Item and timeline
May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15
w k1 wk2 wk3 w k4 wk 5 wk1 wk2 w k3 wk4 wk1 wk2 wk 3 wk4 wk5 w k1 wk 2 wk3 wk4 w k1 wk2 wk3 w k4 wk 1 wk2 wk3 w k4 wk 5 wk1 wk2 wk 3 wk4 wk1 w k2 wk 3 wk4 wk1 w k2 wk3 wk4
Ask people around
Proposal sent
Email reply from CSP, offering contract
Contract agreed to be issued
Contract received
Signed contract received and accepted
Manuscript submitted and receivedManuscript proofreading - 1
Request for blurb for the book
Subject category request
Manuscript proofreading - 2
Manuscript sent to press
Request for dust jacket design
Dust jacket design - consultation period
Dust jacket sent for print
Request for flyers for promotion
Flyers in print to be sent out
Request for list of journals for book reviews
Book received
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What I did with my manuscript-Tomas
Met a member of editorial board at an informal gathering and sparked theirinterest (2008)
Assumed little work was necessary to transform the thesis into book
Assumed editors interest equals contract (2009)
Discovered much more work was necessary
Discovered I did not have a contract
Spent c. 2 years trying to remember was thesis was about and discovering anew way of seeing its contribution (2009-2011)
Wrote an entirely new introduction and first chapter (2012)
Got a contract and set a schedule (2012)
Restructured and rewrote the remainder of the thesis, added a new chapter
Collaborated with editor and peer reviewers to complete the manuscript(2013)
Published 8 months after date set by printer
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Bibliography
Alexander, P.H. (2011). The Less Obvious Elements of an Effective Book Proposal.The Chronicle of Higher Education 58(9).
Black, R. (2007). Writing a Book Proposal In L. Neave, J. Connor & A. Crawford(Eds.), Arts of Publication: Scholarly Publishing in Australia and Beyond (pp.103-131). North Melbourne, Vic: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Connor, J. (2007). Publishing a Book: Academics' Advice In L. Neave, J. Connor & A.Crawford (Eds.), Arts of Publication: Scholarly Publishing in Australia andBeyond (pp. 52-67). North Melbourne, Vic: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
Crawford, A. (2007). From Thesis to Book: Practical Considerations In L. Neave, J.Connor & A. Crawford (Eds.), Arts of Publication: Scholarly Publishing in
Australia and Beyond (pp. 132-155). North Melbourne, Vic: Australian Scholarly
Publishing.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/10/nonfiction-book-proposal_n_3569043.html