I want to write a book......

[Matt Dixon]

I have searched to see if this has been posted before but I couldn't find it, so bear with me if it has come up before.

I have an idea for a book I would like to write about the Great War, but I have no idea about how to start seeing about getting the project off the ground.

Do you write to publishers with your idea? Where can I find publishers? I have absloutely no idea where to start on this and maybe some of the Pals who have been published would be kind enough to point me in the right direction.

I know that there are thousands of people who want to write books and so publishers must be innundated with requests, but (like all the others!!!!) I think this idea could go somewhere and want to find out what to do next.

If anyone can help then thanks very much.

[Paul Reed]

It is difficult to know how to answer this without knowing what the book is about. Major publishers are usually after titles that are commercially viable, so if it is a unit history or war memorial book, then I would think about doing it yourself. And there has been some threads about that before.

If it does not fall into this catagory, by all means sound out a few publishers for interest, but most won't committ themselves either way without seeing a finished manuscript, as this is your first book. They are also unlikely to offer you an advance.

And finally, don't expect to get rich on it. Royalties on books about WW1 are peanuts.

The best bet is to write the book first, and then approach someone. At least then you are talking about a known commoditity.

That's what I did with Walking The Somme more than ten years ago; although at the time the series editor at P&S said that it was a non-seller and no-one would buy it. They 'sat on it' for several years before it was published. Ten years later it is their best selling title...

[Matt Dixon]

Paul,

Thankyou, I had a feeling you might offer some advice on this! I will drop you an email about this, would be interested to hear your views.

Cheers

[salientpoints]

For information on publishers go to http://www.publishers.org.uk and http://www.author.co.uk

To research and develop a book read up on it, go to public sources such as council records etc., use the website to get material a mass of material together and to develop a sense of what interests people. Then when you feel you have reached critical weight turn it into a couple of more-or-less finished chapters that you can

show an agent or a potential publisher. Up to that point, you have to just

do everything in hope and on spec.

Of course if you already have everything why not get some finished copies made yourself using Print on Demand technology. If you want to publish yourself try someone like http://www.antonyrowe.co.uk/

If you want advice on publishing / self publishing try someone like http://www.writersworld.co.uk/

You can always try Naval & Military Press, they produce a lot using POD technology and may be interested in your manuscript.

Hope this may help

Ryan

[Kate Wills]

Matt,

Previous discussion on this topic can be found in the 'Other' section, in a thread entitled 'publishing'. http://www.1914-1918.org/forum/index.php?s...6&hl=publishing

[MartinWills]

I have recently come across a couple of self published WW1 books which have been produced in small print runs by Parchment of Oxford and I have seen quite effective use of colour in these - one including a diarists contemporary watercolours. I believe they can be found at www.printuk.co.uk.

Of course there is the option of publishing on the web. As Paul says WW1 books are not a route to getting rich quickly - unless you are Richard Holmes. Some writers have had side benefits, however. Malcolm Brown who has done a lot with the IWM recalls being forced to share a an office at the IWM with another writer working on sweethearts in WW2 and their correspondence. The poor chap had to share with Joanna Lumley for some months ....

[Bernard_Lewis]

The Writers Yearbook (get it from your library or bookshop) lists publishers in all categories - history, fiction, poetry etc. Tells you how they want submissions - sample, full work, synopsis of idea etc.

Assuming its a work of local history you could try self publishing.Other options ight be try your local Archive Office - they might support or publish works on local history (mine published at no cost to me my history of the Swansea Workhouse and the Poor Law); local history societies might offer grants towards publication; hawk the work around the local publishers; try those firms who maybe specialise in your field of research (check publishers names in writers yearbook or even scan the shelves of the local bookshop to see who's publishing what).

Don't give up early and don't expect to get rich (though you never know)!

My second book on local history will appear in 2004 after 4 rejections so keep trying!

Bernard Lewis

[BMoorhouse]

Matt,

I have recently had my first book published. I by no means have the experience of some previous contributors, but was recently (well a few years ago - these things seem to take a long time) in a similar position to you.

My recommendation to you - think of what your finished product will look like. Then go into book shops and see who has published anything similar.

Telephone the publisher to ask them how they like you to submit your work. Don't be shy in doing this - you are helping them as much as yourself by sending things in in a format which they like.

Submit your book idea as requested.

In my case the publisher (Spellmount) wanted a synopsis and sample chapter. (I had virtually finished the book by this time - all but a bit of editing).

Wait... wait some more...

You will probably not get rich, but it is a rewarding experience.

Good luck.

Brendon Moorhouse.

[Ste]

Sounds like good advice all round. My approach is to write the thing and - to misquote the Duke - Publishers be damned!

By that, I mean I'm researching and writing for my own interest, and that of others like me. I'll feel immense satisfaction if I ever get as far as having a manuscript in the local library, to aid others interested in the same local topic.

Eventual publication would be nice, but is not the primary motivation for starting the project. I suspect many others feel the same way about it. If I wanted to make serious money I wouldn't be doing this. In fact, at the moment I'm considering taking a pay cut to allow time for research, as fitting the project around my work and other commitments is proving very tricky.

General advice for submitting any product to any potential buyer: find out exactly what format they want and give it to them. Speak to the specific people that deal with your specialism to better understand what they are looking for, in terms of content as well as presentation of the submission. Imagine you are the publisher, playing with your own money: would you pay out to publish this product? Why not? How can you improve it?

It is difficult to be self critical, but it is really important, so try hard! Can the grammar and punctuation be improved? Can that tricky passage be shortened without losing meaning? Is there a punchier way of expressing a particular feeling? How much background is necessary to understand the subject? Too much, and you swamp the essentials of your subject, too little and you risk baffling the general reader. [Middlebrook's First Day on the Somme is a masterclass in this regard - his explanation of the regimental system, army organisation and recruitment is an excellent example of concise detail]

It might work to ask the opinion of some trusted friends - but choose carefully!

...and one of the most important things I find (when writing almost anything) is that drafting, re-drafting and drafting again really improves the quality my prose. It is almost like sculpture: just because you have chipped away at the whole stone doesn't mean the staue looks as good as it possibly can. Have another look, and tweak where necessary. Over time, one develops a sense of judgement about it.

I have a friend, intelligent and creative, who mentioned that he had written four or five novels, for private circulation. Familiar with his, ahem, cavalier and unpunctuated approach to writing, I asked how many drafts each had undergone. 'Oh, just one', he airily replied.

Good luck (I know I need it!)

Ste

[AndyHollinger]

All of what is said above is correct - here's some additional thoughts.

One if the book is NON-Fiction, and you can write reasonably - you'll find a publisher. The market for non-fiction is insatiable. As they said above ... while you're writing, do the research on publishers at the same time ... find people who do your stuff ... don't be afraid to call in markers with friends and big shots asking them to review and check your work ... you never know - a couple of guys might know a guy who knows someone at the IWM and boom ... your there. Ask everyone in every group you're in ... remember you're not selling insurance ... your writing a book. I went through the alumni database of my University for publishers and found over 20 ... three guys wrote back ... ALL of them are non-fiction types ... the writing and the searching is hard, but you'll get there.

Oh, if you can't find a publisher or if you just get tired of the hassle ... hire an editor ... I think you can probably get one on this board ... and publish it yourself ... just remember EVERY independent bookseller you've ever known ... the chains won't touch you ... but the Independents will ... in the US there are virtually NONE left ... but in the UK(?)

Fiction is a different story ... I've published two novels

Lex my college fiction memoir - ala Good bye to all that.

And

My marriage / bicycle racing novel

Fiction is next to impossible to get published and these are cooperatively published through the Internet ... I've sold about 600 of the college novel and about 300 or so of the Bicycle novel ... you got to just keep going ... Think of it as making it through an offensive around Ypres ... some people lived. The marketplace for non-formula fiction is very small and decreasing ...

[salientpoints]

Information for all would-be authors can be found at booktrust.org or go directly here -

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/factsheets/getpub.htm

Cheers

Ryan