From research to scholarly book: The first steps towards publication part 1

Every significant scholarly book begins with original research, but research alone does not make a successful book. Whether you are developing a scholarly monograph, an edited collection, a research-informed textbook or an accessible non-fiction title, publishing a book requires you to rethink your work for a new audience, a new purpose and a different style of writing.

At AOSIS, we publish books across four distinct imprints, each serving different readers and publication goals. AOSIS Books and AVARSITY Books focus on scholarly works for researchers and academics, ITUTA Books publishes research-driven educational resources and professional texts, while KROTOA Books makes research accessible to broader public audiences.

For many researchers, particularly doctoral graduates, publishing a book is the natural next step after completing a thesis. However, converting a thesis into a scholarly book is far more than editing existing chapters. It is a substantial conceptual rewrite that presents your research as a coherent argument designed for readers rather than examiners.

This article explores the first steps in transforming your research into a successful academic book while helping you identify the most appropriate publishing pathway for your work.

Ready to explore your publishing options?

Download our free guide, How to turn your research into a book, or submit an Academic Book Proposal to discuss your project with the AOSIS editorial team.

Why publish your research as a book?

Journal articles remain essential for communicating focused research findings. A scholarly book, however, allows you to present a broader, more integrated contribution that explores ideas in greater depth, develops sustained arguments and creates a lasting scholarly resource.
Publishing a book offers several advantages.

Develop a complete scholarly argument

Journal articles are necessarily concise. Books allow you to connect individual studies, theories and findings into a coherent narrative that demonstrates how your research contributes to wider scholarly conversations.

Rather than answering a single research question, a book develops an overarching argument supported by evidence across multiple chapters.

Reach the right audience

Not every research project has the same readership.

AOSIS publishes across four specialist imprints, enabling authors to position their work where it will have the greatest impact.

For example:

• A scholarly monograph may contribute directly to academic debate
• A research-informed textbook may support higher education teaching
• A professional handbook may translate research into practice
• A research-based non-fiction book may engage policymakers or the wider public.

Identifying your intended readership from the outset will shape your writing style, structure and presentation.

Increase your scholarly impact

Books remain one of the most influential forms of academic communication.

A well-positioned book can:

• establish your reputation within your discipline
• stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration
• support postgraduate teaching
• influence professional practice
• contribute to policy development
• generate long-term citations.

As an open-access publisher, AOSIS ensures your work is freely available worldwide, increasing discoverability and expanding its potential impact across academia and beyond.

Step 1: Identify the purpose of your book

Before planning chapters, ask yourself one important question:
What is this book trying to achieve?

The answer is often different from the purpose of your original research.

A thesis demonstrates that a candidate has successfully completed independent research. A scholarly book demonstrates why that research matters.

Instead of beginning with a research question, a book presents a carefully developed answer that contributes to ongoing scholarly debate.

For example:

Thesis
How do workplace-based assessments influence specialist medical training in South Africa?

Scholarly monograph
Workplace-based assessment provides an effective framework for improving clinical competence, assessment quality and specialist training within South African healthcare systems.

The difference appears subtle but fundamentally changes how readers engage with the work.

Step 2: Know your audience

One of the most common reasons manuscripts struggle during peer review is uncertainty about their intended readership.

Ask yourself:

• Am I writing for researchers?
• Is this aimed at lecturers and postgraduate students?
• Will professionals use this in practice?
• Could policymakers benefit from these findings?
• Can complex research be communicated to an informed public audience?

Once your audience is clear, every decision about tone, structure and content becomes easier.
Academic writing should remain rigorous without becoming unnecessarily complex. Readers appreciate precise language, logical progression and clearly connected ideas.

Step 3: If your book is based on a PhD or Master’s thesis, rewrite rather than revise

One of the biggest misconceptions in academic publishing is that a thesis can simply be edited into a book. A thesis and a scholarly monograph serve fundamentally different purposes.

A thesis is written primarily for examination. A book is written for readers.
Consequently, successful thesis-derived books require substantial conceptual redevelopment rather than cosmetic editing.

For authors seeking potential recognition under South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Research Outputs Policy, the published book must demonstrate a clear and substantial reworking of the original thesis, together with evidence of new scholarly contributions.

This generally includes:

• restructuring chapters around themes or arguments rather than thesis conventions
• integrating literature throughout the manuscript instead of presenting a stand-alone literature review
• incorporating methodology into the introductory chapter or preface rather than dedicating an entire chapter to research methods
• updating references to reflect current scholarship
• strengthening interpretation and critical discussion
• expanding the contribution to knowledge beyond the original thesis.

The final manuscript should read as an entirely new scholarly work rather than a repackaged dissertation.

Practical example
Imagine your doctoral thesis contains separate chapters on:

• Literature Review
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion

A scholarly monograph may instead be organised as:

• Why workplace-based assessment matters
• Reimagining assessment in specialist training
• Evidence from South African clinical settings
• Building effective assessment systems
• Implications for medical education policy

Notice how the emphasis shifts from reporting research to developing an argument.

Step 4: Define your central contribution

Every successful scholarly book has one central message that readers should remember after finishing the final chapter.

Ask yourself:

• What new knowledge does this book contribute?
• What gap does it address?
• Why does this contribution matter?
• How does each chapter strengthen this overall argument?

If individual chapters cannot clearly answer these questions, they may require restructuring.

Step 5: Plan a reader-centred structure

Unlike theses, scholarly books are designed to guide readers through an unfolding argument.

Each chapter should:

• introduce its central purpose
• explain how it contributes to the overall argument
• integrate relevant literature where appropriate
• present evidence alongside interpretation
• conclude by linking naturally to the following chapter.

Many successful scholarly monographs also include a short preface explaining:

• why the book was written
• the scholarly debate it addresses
• its original contribution
• how the chapters work together.

This helps establish coherence from the outset.

Common mistakes when turning research into a book

Many first-time academic authors encounter similar challenges.
Avoid:

• treating the book as a lightly edited thesis
• retaining lengthy methodology chapters
• separating findings from discussion when thematic integration would improve readability
• relying heavily on quotations instead of developing your own scholarly voice
• using outdated literature where more recent scholarship is available
• writing for examiners rather than readers
• including every piece of data instead of focusing on your central argument.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn my PhD thesis into a book?

Yes. However, a thesis should be substantially rewritten rather than lightly revised. A scholarly monograph requires a different structure, stronger argument and broader scholarly positioning than the original dissertation.

What is a scholarly monograph?

A scholarly monograph is a research-based academic book presenting an original and sustained contribution to knowledge around a single theme or research area.

How long should an academic book be?

While requirements differ between publishers, scholarly monographs are commonly between 60 000 and 120 000 words, depending on the scope of the project and publisher requirements.

Do I need new research?

Not necessarily, but successful scholarly books typically deepen, expand or reinterpret existing research to demonstrate a clear new contribution beyond earlier publications or theses.

How do I choose the right publisher?

Look for publishers with expertise in your discipline, transparent peer-review processes, professional editorial support and strong dissemination strategies. If open access is important to your research goals, consider publishers that maximise global discoverability and impact.

Ready to take the next step?

Turning research into a book begins with careful planning, thoughtful restructuring and a clear understanding of your intended audience.

Whether you are developing a scholarly monograph, an edited collection, a professional handbook or a research-informed textbook, investing time in the early planning stages will strengthen your manuscript and improve its chances of publication.

In Part 2, Turning your research into a book: Your next steps towards publication (coming next month), we will explore how to develop your manuscript, write for scholarly readers, select the most appropriate AOSIS imprint and navigate the academic publishing process from proposal to publication.
Download our free guide: How to Turn Your Research into a Book
Or submit your Academic Book Proposal to discuss your project with the AOSIS editorial team.

Quick links

• Submissions guidelines
• Submission procedure
• Publication fees
• Book proposal form