From Dissertation to Book

This course comprises 3 “blocks” of 4 workshops that will help you work towards the publication of a monograph based on your dissertation. The blocks are standalone, so you might want to join one in your first year, then another in your second year. Attendance is expected to be in-presence. Fellows should be aware that they need to set time aside to work on these tasks to participate fully in the block they are attending. 

The first block focuses on the book proposal—from identifying a potential publisher to how to reframe your dissertation’s contribution as a more substantial intervention in the field that will look “marketable” to a publisher. In the second block you will revise a body chapter to make its form and style more appealing to a wider scholarly audience. The third is also an opportunity to revise a book chapter, but is run more as a writers’ group (with peer and teacher input). 

The meetings will include: 

• practical information on choosing a publisher to approach and how to do so 

• language input on functional features of the book proposal and a dissertation chapter  

• style and syntax across publication types 

• individual feedback 

The teacher will provide targeted materials and activities to help you complete your writing within this timeframe.  

Each session includes both input and peer discussion. You will get feedback on your writing from the teacher, from your peers and from yourselves.  

Ben Carver teaches English research writing and communication at the EUI Centre for Academic Literacies and Languages (CALL). His PhD in literary history was awarded in 2012 (University of Exeter) and appeared as a monograph in 2017 (Palgrave). Since then he has published research articles, edited a volume of essays on literature and conspiracy culture (Routledge), and published pieces for a broad readership on television programmes, science fiction, and music. He is interested in supporting early-career academics’ ability to write and publish in a range of formats, for audiences within and beyond the academy.