Politics at Continuum

Turning your Dissertation into a Book

If you are looking to publish a book based on your dissertation, you may find this article from The Chronicle of Higher Education helfpul.

One question the author ponders is "what if publishing dissertation excerpts in a journal actually reduces the viability of a young scholar's book manuscript?"

Click here to access it.

Copyright Question? Watch the video

The Copyright Clearance Center offers this video to answer your copyright questions. It's not only entertaining, it's also educative!

Watch or download the video by clicking on the link: http://learn.copyright.com/copyrightoncampus/

Guidelines: Publishing your PhD as a book

You would like to publish your dissertation. However a book needs to be structured differently to match the needs of a new audience. For guidelines and useful tips on how to turn your dissertation into a book, click on the following link: Download Guidelines - Revising your PhD

Generally, dissertations are published as monographs. This means a book that will be first published in hardcover for the library and researcher market. 

Here at Continuum, we are always on the lookout for new approaches and voices, so if you have an idea for a book within the fields of political science and international relations, don't hesitate to contact me at mantoine@continuum-books.com

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Marie-Claire Antoine
Acquisitions Editor, Politics & International Relations

Getting Published: The query letter

How should you query an editor?

Best is via email (be sure to contact the appropriate editor!). The query need not be long, but should give a solid idea of what your project is about. Ideally, it should include the following information:

- A brief summary of the book, describing its scope, thesis, and intent

- A note about the audience. Is this a monograph? A supplemental text? A coursebook? If you're not sure, no need to worry, but it is good to mention the courses the book pertains to (political theory, international relations, e.g.)

- A short biographical note

If the editor is interested in learning more about the project, s/he will ask you --unless you have already provided it-- for additional information, including:

- A complete proposal (see website for guidelines)

- A full vita

- Sample chapter(s) or relevant article

*Tip* Please do not send the entire manuscript in lieu of query or proposal. Editors simply do not have the time to read an entire manuscript to find out what the project is about. 

"Tip* When in doubt, just send an email and ask!

Tips on gettings published: which editor?

How do you approach an editor?

First, check the publisher's list of titles in your discipline to see whether your project would be a good fit. If you are planning an academic monograph, for example, you would be wasting your time querying a house that publishes only for a general audience.

Next, be sure to identify the appropriate editor to contact.

Most publishers have a list of their commissioning editors on their website. Pick the editor who commissions books in the discipline pertaining to the topic of your book.

If your book pertains to several disciplines, such as political theory and philosophy, choose the "dominant" one. If you're a political scientist, for example, you probably should most likely contact the politics editor.

*Tip* Avoid contacting several editors with one email. By doing so, you're actually lowering your chances of a response.