the abc of turning your writing into a published book

7/24/2019 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

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