25 May About 18 months ago, I defended my humanities dissertation and took a tenure-track job
Since then, I've done a fair amount of soul-searching about my first book project and have also spent a lot of time talking with other junior faculty about publishing.
For almost every one of us, the formula for successfully drafting and editing a book, and then landing a contract, is mysterious.
So I set out to find out if there is a formula for publishing one's first academic book in the humanities. The simple answer seems to be no. Yet two university press editors -- Elizabeth Ault, editor at Duke University Press, and Jim Burr, senior editor at the University of Texas Press -- whom I interviewed on their experiences working with first-time book authors helped me develop a longer, more comprehensive and insightful answer that I'd like to share.
In fact, this essay is for you if you're an aspiring first-time book author or if you're undecided about whether or not you want https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5953fa54d084cc12098b613c-1200/no-30-chris-stoddard.jpg" alt="black bbw hookup"> your research to appear in book format. It is part one of a three-part series I'm writing dedicated to answering the question, "What do university press editors have to say in regards to the mystery surrounding first-time book authorship?"
In this first article, I'll pass along some of the general suggestions Elizabeth and Jim gave me on how to turn your dissertation into a book.