Turning Your Dissertation into a Book Proposal: A Guide for Postdoctoral Psychologists Specializing in Transpersonal Topics, Religion/Spirituality, or Grief
Writing a book proposal from a completed dissertation is a possible step for postdoctoral psychologists, and involves more than just a reformatting of your dissertation. Writing a selling book proposal requires a rethinking of the audience, purpose, and marketability of your research. Here’s a detailed guide on how to craft a compelling book proposal that can attract publishers and resonate with an audience beyond the dissertation committee.
Understanding the Transition from Dissertation to Book
A dissertation is a detailed, highly technical document aimed at a very specific academic audience, while a book needs to appeal to a broader spectrum of readers. According to a recent guide by Harvard University, the first step in transforming your dissertation into a book is to broaden its appeal by making it more accessible and engaging for non-specialists in your field. This means simplifying jargon, focusing on narrative flow, and emphasizing the implications and applications of your research. For example, for transpersonal, religious, or spiritual topics, can your research be applied in a workshop setting? If so, you have a higher chance of being offered a publishing contract, as the workshop creates a natural market for the book.
Key Elements of a Book Proposal
The Overview
Your proposal should begin with a strong overview that captures the essence of your book. This section should clearly articulate the central argument or narrative of the book, why it is important, and how it differs from other works in the field. The University of California Press suggests framing your research in a way that highlights its relevance to contemporary issues in psychology and beyond, especially if your work involves transpersonal psychology or spirituality.
Target Audience
Identify who the book is for. Postdoctoral researchers focusing on topics like grief or spirituality should consider both academic audiences and educated lay readers interested in these areas. This section of your proposal will inform publishers about the potential market for your book, and they expect you to know your audience and do preliminary market research. Without this, most publishers will reject the proposal.
Competitive Analysis
This part involves researching existing books that cover similar ground. Highlight how your book will fill a gap in the current literature or offer a new perspective or treatment of the subject. Use sources like Amazon and Google Scholar to find and compare similar titles and their impact.
Chapter Outline
A detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown will show the structure of your book. Each chapter summary should convey how the content supports your overall thesis and narrative arc, moving from theoretical foundations to practical applications, particularly relevant for fields like transpersonal psychology or grief counseling. Keep your summaries short--in many ways, a book proposal is like a resumé for your book--summaries that are too long may cause the acquisitions editor to reject the manuscript. Aim for 250 words or less, and treat the summary like an abstract for the chapter.
Marketing Strategy
Discuss how you will promote your book. This might include conference presentations, giving workshops, blog posts, and interviews. Publishers appreciate authors who are proactive about marketing their work, particularly in specialized fields that may require targeted outreach. Are you teaching a course that could use this book as part of the curriculum? That also creates a natural market for your book.
Sample Chapters
Include one or two strong sample chapters that are fully edited and polished. These chapters should exemplify your best writing and give a clear sense of your book’s style and argument. They act as a proof of concept for publishers about the quality and direction of your book. An introduction chapter is a good place to start.
Tips for Writing Your Proposal
Focus on Accessibility: Make sure your proposal—and your eventual book—communicates complex ideas in a way that is accessible and engaging to non-specialists without sacrificing depth. Readability is a topic we will cover in another blog post, and knowing the current trends and standards will help you write a book that will sell.
Emphasize Uniqueness: Clarify what sets your book apart from others, especially in the relatively crowded fields of psychology and spirituality.
Seek Feedback: Before submitting your proposal, get feedback from colleagues or mentors who understand your field and the book market. Consider hiring an academic editor who specializes in your field, such as JHMES.com.
Crafting a book proposal from your dissertation is an exciting opportunity to extend the reach of your research and establish yourself in your field. For postdoctoral psychologists working in areas like transpersonal topics, religion/spirituality, or grief, translating specialized research into a book can significantly impact both academic circles and public discourse. Self-help and transpersonal topics like mindfulness naturally lend themselves to workshops and other public dissemination of the knowledge.
If you are inspired to take your dissertation to the next level and need expert guidance, subscribing to our blog can be a valuable resource. By engaging with our content and expressing your support, you can also claim a 10% discount on academic editing help, ensuring your book proposal is polished and professional.
For those who have completed this journey and are looking to refine their manuscripts or proposals, remember that professional editing can make a significant difference in how your work is received. At JHMES, we specialize in academic editing and are here to help you make your book a success. Click here to start the process and get on our editing schedule, and here to see a portfolio of our work. We have successfully guided many authors through the publishing process, and we are eager to get started on your project right away!
Harvard University. (2022). From dissertation to book: A scholar's guide. https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/faculty-diversity/files/from_dissertation_to_book.pdf
University of California Press. (2023). Publishing your psychology dissertation: A step by step guide. https://www.ucpress.edu/blog/65390/demystifying-the-dissertation-to-book-process-with-michelle-lipinski/