This session is open to all TUoS PhD alumni and current PGRs, whether you are eligible for the White Rose Doctoral Publishing Prize 2024 prize (https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/open-access/wrup/sheffield-doctoral-publishing-prize-2024) or merely interested in developing a book proposal based on your doctoral research at some time in the future.

This will be a two-hour session. The first hour, which will be recorded and also available to join hybridly, will focus on information and support, while the second hour (in-person only) will be a live writing session where those wishing to engage practically with the process can do so in the presence of expert help and support.

Speakers will include Kate Petherbridge of White Rose University Press, together with TUoS academics with experience of the monograph publication process:

• Kate Petherbridge (WRUP) will explore how the proposal and commissioning process works for academic books, what makes a good proposal, and how a book for publication differs from a thesis.
• Dr Dominic O'Key (School of English) will reflect on the experience of developing a long-form publication proposal based on doctoral research.
• Dr David Hayes (School of Law) will discuss the experience of peer reviewing a book proposal, and what reviewers look for.
• Practical session - an opportunity to sketch the outline of a book that would communicate your doctoral research. This will consider from a fresh perspective the message, focus, structure and potential audience of the proposed book and the content the author wants to share. It will be valuable in shaping a book proposal for submission either to the Doctoral Publishing Prize or directly to a publisher.