Your dissertation is a scholarly manuscript. A book will appeal to a broader audience. Take time to think about your project before you begin the conversion process of turning your dissertation into a book manuscript.

Think about the following:

TARGET AUDIENCE

Who are you writing your book for? Scholars? Or do you want to make your book more commercial? Identifying the audience you are writing for before you start writing is essential. If you know who you are writing for, you will know how to write to them.

HOW TO SAY IT

Identifying your audience will determine how you write your book. If you are writing for a general audience your writing will be more consumer friendly. If you are writing for scholars you can use more technical language.

NEW IDEA

Think about the central idea around which you want to center your book. You are not trying to please your dissertation committee anymore. You are now presenting your ideas. What do you want to say about this topic? Are you presenting a new idea? Are you willing to stand behind your ideas in the face of controversy?

BIG PROJECT

Think about the time it will take to turn your dissertation into a book manuscript. Do you have the time to do it? Where can you carve time from your already busy schedule? Know that this project cannot be done in a month or two.

BIGGEST QUESTION OF ALL

You and only you have to answer this question. Is there a book here? Not all dissertations can be turned into a book. Answering this question honestly will save you lots of valuable time.

Thinking about the material in a dissertation requires time and effort on your part. Devote an adequate amount of time to the thinking process. It will serve you will in the future.