Academic Writing - Advice Needed

[Johnny Velvet]

EDIT: Some personally-identifiable stuff removed

[Etienne]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

I don't know if it's still the case, but university libraries used to allow you to go in and research, though you couldn't take books out.

[WOM]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

Given how difficult it can be to get a written book published, I'd be inclined to write a good proposal/outline and get a publisher interested beforehand. The response of 'the market' will tell you a lot.

However, if you plan to write and publish the book on your own - should you fail to find a publisher - then just get on with the work.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

The traditional way would be to forward it an academic publisher, who if they're interested would first send it out for peer review (ie: a bunch of established academics who're are familiar with that particular area or discipline.) You may be asked to address any concerns and make requisite changes. To shorten this process it's worthwhile conducting your own peer review first if possible. If you can get a chapter or two — or a précis — published in a relevant journal prior to contacting a publisher it would also be an advantage.

[WOM]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

This subject you're considering; do you need to be an expert in it before writing a book on it?

By that I mean, I don't suspect Steven Johnson was a cholera expert before writing The Ghost Map. He simply had a great idea for a book and probably wrote a really compelling proposal. I don't suspect he knocked out the whole book and then shopped it around, hoping for the best.

[imp]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

I can only echo WOM's and AdeC's sound counsel. Get people you trust to look at your idea and any outlines or sample chapters you write. Actually start researching and writing and see where it's taking you - are you becoming more involved and enthusiastic in the project day by day, are you believing in it and 'feeling' it more day by day? Or is it becoming a chore, taking up more time than you thought, occupying you're very waking moment, and by proxy becoming a pain in the are for those nearest and dearest to you?

Depending on which country you're in and your area of interest, I may be able to give you a contact or two, but I can't promise anything - I got burnt doing this once for an OTFer several years ago (he ended up insulting an editor who turned down his idea) and have been reluctant to provide any contacts since without actually knowing the person. Send me a PM if you'd rather.

[ad hoc]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

Who's your intended/anticipated audience? That makes a huge difference to every step of the process (which publishers to approach, how to approach them, how to write it, etc etc)

[Amor de Cosmos]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

Reginald Christ wrote: Wouldn't the fact that I have no educational grounding in the field count against me when approaching a publisher? I'm not contradicting you, I just assume that publishers (academic or otherwise) are inundated with pitches for books and are more likely to press ahead with someone who's put together a body of work in the area beforehand.

Quite possibly. One of the reasons people do PhDs is because they provide scholastic credibility. However that's in a specialised academic context, rather than more general non-fiction publishing, which I think WOM is referring to, and might be the place to look.

[Nefertiti2]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

Is it a subject you could study as a PhD? People are increasingly interested in cross- disciplinary projects. You don't say what your original subject of study was but it would give you a unique insight. Would in any acse be worth talking to people in the field to find out how your thinking connects with theirs.

there's always the British Library to research in.

[Nefertiti2]

Academic Writing - Advice Needed

There still is some PhD funding available. ( can be done part time too. )

Your current institution may well allow Alumni continued library access - lots do these days,