Don’t Go It Alone! And Other Tips on How To Get Your First Book Published with a University Press

Publishing a book can be an isolated — and isolating — experience. Not only are the processes of researching, writing, and revising often solitary affairs, but you may also feel like you’re on your own, with few resources and mentors to guide you, especially if you’re working on your first book. As a graduate student, you have your committee to offer advice and feedback. Once you’ve completed the PhD, however, it can be a different story.

Fear not! You are not alone. Most immediately, you have us — two seasoned university press editors — to offer tips on how to get your book published and point you toward other helpful resources. But we also mean it in a more fundamental way. University presses are publishers usually associated with universities that are driven by their mission to publish books and journals of scholarly or artistic importance, rather than by profit. Publishing with a university press is always a collaborative process.

November 10-14 marks University Press Week 2025, an annual celebration of the global university press publishing community. In recognition of the ways university press authors and publishers “work together to advance knowledge,” this year’s theme is “Team UP.” Even if you are the sole author, a book is always a team effort. While the following tips are intended to help you navigate the process successfully, we offer them in the spirit of teamwork, with an eye toward the people who shape a project and can help and support you along the way.

1. Step Away from the Dissertation!

You may or may not be interested in turning your dissertation into a book. Either way, we recommend taking a break after the defense. Doing so may be easier said than done. You may be in a contingent position and under pressure to get a book contract in hopes of getting a more permanent job. Or perhaps your adviser encouraged you to write your dissertation “as a book” and you’re thinking, why not send out proposals immediately? You can absolutely meet with editors as a grad student and soon thereafter. Just be mindful that presses generally do not publish unrevised dissertations. If you’re determined to pitch your project sooner than later, you must make clear how the book will be different. There may be organizational changes such as moving the lit review to the endnotes or adding a chapter. Other revisions will be more holistic and tonal as you further develop your argument and stake out your contribution to your field.

2. Author, Know Thyself…

The biggest change from the dissertation to the book is you. When you’re a grad student, your committee members are the authorities. They are the ultimate arbiters of whether your thesis — which is, at base, a means of earning a credential — passes muster. When you’re writing a book, you are now the authority. Dissertations are designed to show what you know and often to “fill a gap” in the literature. Books are written because you have an argument you’re bursting to make or a story you’re eager to tell. You may also have to publish a book to get tenure. We get that! We also want to publish great books. No doubt you’ve done extensive research and gathered interesting data. Now is the time to further embrace your status as an expert with exciting ideas to share!

3. …And Know Thy Audience

It’s imperative that you have a sense of who your book is for and what it offers them. Your audience should be bigger than your dissertation committee and hyper-specific subfield, but also more defined than “general readers interested in X.” Your readers are, above all, the people you are reading. Whom do you cite and engage? What and where are the conversations into which you’re intervening? Remember: Arguments and audiences are indissociable. What you have to say is important only insofar as it’s important to certain people interested in similar ideas and issues. Thinking about who you’re writing for will help you draw out the significance of your claims now and develop a strategy for promoting your book later.

4. Find a Press That’s a “Fit” for Your Project

University presses have different strengths and specialize in different subject areas. Knowing which presses will be interested in your work and will have the expertise to develop and market it is key to getting a contract and publishing a successful, impactful book. Whether or not you realize it, you probably already know many of the presses with a reputation for publishing in your field. Their books likely line your shelves and are referenced in your works cited. The Association of University Presses also offers a helpful Subject Area Grid to get your search started. You can also peruse the reviews section of your favorite journal, browse the exhibit hall at your usual conferences to see who is displaying, and talk to your colleagues about their experiences with different publishers.

5. Find an Editor Who’s a “Fit” for You

It’s important to have an editor who shares your vision and with whom you can communicate openly about any concerns and timelines on your end. Your editor is your primary partner throughout the publishing process and your guide through everything from peer review to contracts to the fussy technical details of final submission. Finding a fit may feel overwhelming, but remember that it’s equally our job to find you — to seek out projects that build on our presses’ established strengths and promises to make meaningful contributions. Before you submit a proposal, you can schedule time to meet with editors at different presses at a conference. You need not have a full manuscript ready, but you should be able to speak confidently about your project. Don’t forget, this is also your chance to learn about how we do things — our processes, timelines, and visions for our books.

6. Make Your Pitch

So you’ve narrowed down your list of presses. Now it’s time to send a proposal. Simultaneous submissions are common and expected, though do note in your cover letter if you’re reaching out to multiple publishers, and let us know if someone else expresses interest. While book proposals typically have three main sections — an overview of the project, a table of contents with chapter summaries, and discussion of the book’s market — presses often have slightly different guidelines. Do check their websites and follow their instructions closely. You will likely need to include your current CV, as well as one or two writing samples. Note: Samples should be from the book, not dissertation chapters or a related article. Whatever its structure, every proposal needs to answer the same core questions: What is your book about? Why is it important and to whom? And why are you the person to write it?

7. Don’t Go It Alone!

While we’ve tried to offer some preliminary guidance and moral support here, be assured that there are boundless resources available to shepherd early-career scholars through the publication process. We’ve linked to a number of them, including Ask UP, an expansive FAQ for scholars by university presses. The Association of University Presses is co-sponsoring a webinar series with the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions on Publishing with University Presses. A recording of the first session, “Turning Your Dissertation into a Book,” is available online and chock full of fantastic suggestions for revising the dissertation, writing an effective proposal, and pitching an editor. Finally, do “Team UP” with your local university press. Even if they don’t publish in your field, many university presses offer resources, guidance, and support for faculty.