Hi, I'm Laura Portwood-Stacer.

I'm a publishing consultant, developmental editor, and the author of The Book Proposal Book: A Guide for Scholarly Authors (Princeton University Press, 2021). Through my online courses and workshops, I've helped thousands of academic writers craft outstanding book proposals and connect successfully with editors at university presses and other scholarly publishers. Find out more about me and what I do at ManuscriptWorks.com.

What's covered in this webinar?

This 60-minute webinar will:

  • Decode what publishers mean when they say they don't publish dissertations
  • Explain what scholarly book publishers are looking for in new projects
  • Identify key changes you may need to make to your dissertation to turn it into an appealing book manuscript
  • Point out red flags that may signal to acquisitions editors that your dissertation is not ready to become a book


There will be a Q&A period after the presentation to address any lingering questions you have.


Who is this webinar for?

This webinar is intended for anyone who would like to publish a book based on their dissertation. It will focus on publishing with university presses and other scholarly publishers.

The presentation will not explicitly cover trade publishing or seeking representation from a literary agent, which is not necessary to publish with a university press or other academic publisher. However, I can answer questions about trade publishing during the Q&A if you are trying to decide which path is right for you.


When will the workshop take place?

The webinar will be held live via Zoom on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 10:00 am PT (1:00 pm ET/6:00 pm GMT). Registrants will be provided with a recording and supplementary handouts. You can register even if you don't plan to attend live. You will then get lifetime access to the recording and materials.

If you register after the live webinar has taken place, you will still be granted lifetime access to the recording and supporting materials.

Register to attend the webinar and access recordings + supporting materials

Live webinar: Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern / 6pm GMT). All registrants get access to the recordings and supporting materials regardless of live attendance.

By signing up for this webinar you agree to be added to the Manuscript Works email newsletter list.

You can unsubscribe from this list at any time without affecting your registration.