Getting dissertation published - a few questions

If you really want to do this, then you'll have to be prepared to putting a lot of work into editing that which you've already got. In my mind, this might include adding new sections, stuff that you'd otherwise have liked to include, and perhaps returned to data collection in order to increase your sample size.

Yea exactly. This isn't a problem as I can find the time to do all this no problem. But what worries me now is that doing all these improvements has made me realise that so much has been left out of my original dissertation due to the good ol' word count limit, that I feel my marks for what I submitted would decrease because of this - then again my supervisor didn't actually point out any of the areas of concern which are in my head (for example, small things like I put in questionnaire results but didn't say who I asked - well I did in the rationale section at the beginning, but should have done again).

I never think about publishing essays that I have written for my degree until I've had marks and feedback - as you said, if it's not worth an A or First, it's not publishable anyway (even if it does get a First, it still doesn't mean it should be published unless you get a very high mark). Also, the feedback helps with editing, as an expert's second opinion will save you from any potentially embarrassing errors or weaknesses.

I take it you want to publish your dissertation in a journal? If so, they usually have word limits too, but it probably won't be the same as your university word limit, and so you would have to rewrite it to make it fit their requirements. You cant just say 'well, I would have written more but I would have gone over my limit' - they wouldn't take it seriously.

Exactly. My supervisor always mentioned the publishing angle (due in part as I had decent technical knowledge), and said my work was fine etc (didn't say what's its worth as he cant). The only problem he had was I didn't ask like 50 people for questionnaire results, again due to my word limit. So if I get the work published, this will again be something not includeable.

What?

If you want to get this published, rather than whining about all the stuff you *could* have done, surely you should get back out there and get more results?