In academia, the mantra “publish or perish” is more than a cliché. In most humanities fields, securing tenure proves impossible without at least one book under your belt. Yet despite the obvious importance of academic publishing, the process remains an enigma to most young scholars. In this helpful guide, a seasoned author offers essential advice for novice academic writers seeking publication. He explains why not all publications are equal, why e-books are not as widely respected as printed books in the academic world, how to schedule publications prior to tenure, how to spot a publishable idea, how to approach the right publisher, and a host of other useful tips that greatly increase one’s chances of publication. By outlining a step-by-step approach to publishing, this indispensable manual removes much of the mystery surrounding an essential component of an academic career.

Jeffrey Kahan is a professor in the English department at the University of La Verne in La Verne, California.

Jeffrey Kahan
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 206
Bibliographic Info: appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-5923-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8697-7
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction, or Five Reasons Why God Never Received Tenure at the University      1

1. The System      23
2. Revising the Dissertation      65
3. Readers’ Reports, Replies, Rejections, and Writer’s Block      93
4. Contracts, Cash, and Other Queries      119
5. Conclusion: Have Faith      145

Appendix: Sample Proposals      165
Bibliography      193
Index      197

“Kahan includes samples of notes, book reviews, book proposals, and replies to readers’ reports, and answers questions about contracts, money, multiple submissions, and other topics”—Reference & Research Book News.