Tips for Writing Your Own Book

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by Drew5233, Aug 13, 2017.

  1. TijgerB

    TijgerB Member

    Agreed Tricky we all know how it is between Andy and Hard drives
     
  2. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    One other small point about self publishing, ensure that the font you are using is not copyright protected.
     
    Station J and CL1 like this.
  3. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Thanks HAARA, that is an important point that I had never thought of.
     
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    That's a bit of a vague area, I think. I'd have thought most, if not all, fonts will be copyrighted, it's your licence to use them that's the important bit.
     
  5. TijgerB

    TijgerB Member

    If you use amazon you just use theirs for the cover and word for the book guess that will mean no problems in this area.
     
  6. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    Osborne2 and Roy Martin like this.
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Here's a question I don't know the answer to - who typically pays for the fees to license photographs for publication? The author, or the publisher? (Obviously the answer is simple when self publishing.)

    Whoops - I see this is answered in the Traps and Pitfalls thread.
     
  8. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Andy,
    Change of Avatar required to "Future Pilot and Author".
    Tim
     
  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    DONT FORGET TO SAVE IT TO AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE - we know what you're like

    TD
     
  10. vac

    vac Active Member

    A bit late to the table possibly -- but some thoughts -- who typically pays for the fees to license photographs for publication? The author, or the publisher? (Obviously the answer is simple when self publishing.) Don't know about pics but for quotes from literary works it is apparently the author even if they are being published by a "proper" publisher (my daughter's a novelist and that's the rule she has to work to).

    Also Andy be very clear not just about the unique perspective you are bringing to an already densely published field, but about your audience. If you hope your book will be for general readership then you must assume they will not know their brigades from their echelons and must make all of that army hierarchy stuff plain.

    When I first started on my military research journey I found everything I read pretty much impenetrable (and I have a PhD! not bragging just making the point) because of all the jargon and assumptions that authors fall into.

    As time moves on I think there is a real slot for good general readership books as well as books for young readers.
     
  11. Giberville

    Giberville Junior Member

    I used the online self-publishing company Blurb (mentioned above) to produce my book, 'The Dragon Gunners (History of the 9th Medium Regiment RA, 8th Buffs)' and found it very good indeed. It was easy to use; the service was efficient and quality of the final copy very good. However, not cheap for each book - hardback, 185 pages, many b and w photos and colour maps/pictures worked out at £31.00 each.
    Of course, this doesn't really matter as it is not a profit-making exercise and the books are for family, friends, relatives of veterans (and one veteran, I am very pleased to say, who received the book this week and with the help of his daughter is enjoying reading it).
    I wouldn't underestimate the time it takes. I really enjoyed the research (over many years) and the writing which was totally absorbing; less keen on the getting the final presentation sorted (moving around and re-sizing photos/maps and getting it to look right) or indeed the proof-reading stage. That was harder than I expected.
    Have lots of ideas for other projects - including a history of 49th L.A.A. R.A. - after a little break!

    I am wondering if you have started writing yet Andy?
     
  12. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Regarding Educational Publishing trend. Am I in the right place or was this mentioned in another thread?

    I have approached the subject of my Regiment of choice in several attempted books. In all cases they have been turned down by publishers.
    Others have offered me profound advice, the reasons for which to be honest, I don't completely understand.
    Recent Comments:
    1. In my opinion your books are nowhere near ready for publication yet. Yes, they are of enormous interest to the veteran’s families, but from a general public point of view have limited appeal.
    2. I am inclined to agree with XXXXXXX assessment that they need rewriting and certainly that more information about the early months of the war would give them greater appeal.
    3. I’m sorry if this is not what you were hoping to hear, but if you are serious about getting them published I think a different layout and some rewriting would help you in your endeavours.

    I find the whole thing degrading and frustrating as the core readers for whom I wrote are delighted with what I have produced but would like a professionally published copy.
    They all work in professional capacities where report writing is an important factor in their work. However publishers seem to prefer plenty of padding whereas engineers like myself were taught to precis the document and stick to the facts.
    I find the books published over the past decade or so very similar, or is it because I buy the Kindle versions to save money and space on my already crowded book shelves.
    They all seem to have the same format appearing to have been computer written with the same program. (Due to Axxxx perhaps?)
    One book that I actually bought as a hard cover, has failed my own critique due to there being so many pages. The weight of which rivals any religious publication.
    The author has spent years researching it. To the point that one needs to research the list of Commanders in the subject covered, before attempting to read the story.
    Or continuously put it down to look them up.
    One author has made mention of the fact that there were too many amateur authors of WW2 books. it was not possible to write about WW2 without a credible PhD.
    From whence will we obtain books containing original unpublished accounts of the ordinary soldiers, officers and men, of WW2 if these "Literary Standards" are maintained by the publishing elite.

    I am now considering writing a book about WW2 with true facts but invented names to sell as Fiction to see if the same problems occur.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2021
  13. TijgerB

    TijgerB Member

    I agree with you and well when I go publish my books it will most likely be on Amazon. There people can decide for themself what work best hardback or ebook. And Amazon do not tell you that the battle of XXX is not important enough for a book.
     
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  14. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    One Good Book
    It is said that we all have one good book in us. Publishers are aware of this. They can't really be asked about the one off wonder. The same applies to musicians
    They want an author who can turn out a whole series of hits or leave you to the DIY market, unless you are prepared to pay for their very expensive time then sell it yourself.
     
  15. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    I've published "my book" (not really mine, because it's based on an autobiography, originally recorded on tape) privately, through a publisher Tredition.co.uk. I chose them after much searching - and after being turned down by quite a few regular publishers - because conditions and sale prices (I wanted the story to bought and read!) seemed okay to me. Book is available through shops, Amazon, etc. Might be worth to take a look.

    19-02-18_Rifle Brigade_Cover_EB_tred.jpg
     
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  16. Listy

    Listy Well-Known Member

    As someone on the other side of that publishing hump, I think there might be two possible reasons here:

    1: Who are you approaching? It's no good trying to flog your idea on military history to Mills & Boon for example. But Pen & Sword will take most peoples works. Earlier in the year they were calling out for any new works.

    2: How are you approaching? What's your Synopsis like? A quick google, studying some blog posts will give you the key. That's all I did and I was accepted first time at P&S.

    Self-Publishing has its down sides. Yes, you'll make more money per sale, and doing it through KDP will generate a steady income, possibly even greater than the sum of book sales. Trouble is you'll need the advertising networks to do it. That's where a Publisher comes in. Yes you're loosing cash on sales, but they come pre-loaded with advertising contacts and they'll give you an advance, so in essence you'll have already sold the entire print run.
     
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  17. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Thanks for the advice. I will think it over before I "close the book" and forget it all ( easy and most attractive option).
     
  18. Listy

    Listy Well-Known Member

    I'll tell you now. There will be a time when you're heartily sick of your book. It's happened for each of mine. It's usually when it gets returned to you for the umpteenth time by the copy editor and you've got to go through it again.
     
  19. JDKR

    JDKR Member

    Even if you are not considering Helion & Co as a publisher, they provide some very useful author guidelines: Author Guidelines | Helion & Company. Although they provide the Helion house style I suggest they have general applicability and if you are sending sample chapters would impress a potential publisher. Some other points:
    • Anyone writing military history must consider maps and their production.
    • Get a friend to read your manuscript to get a frank, neutral view.
    • Make sure you have a workable version control system as it is easy to get confused.
    Best wishes.
     
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  20. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Having taken into account the advice here together with that of a number of experienced authors and visiting various publishing sites.
    I have scrapped the idea of publishing the book that I have drafted.
    It has all been said and done before. Not that it is rubbish but due to my increased knowledge of the modern literary world and its marketplace.
    Which is oh so different than writing freebees for family and friends.
    I will use my own original primary source material in something completely different.
    I was in my earlier years, in Engineering, Sales and Marketing, attending courses on the subjects.
    I just need to focus on basic marketing principles rather than WW2.
    Then design and engineer a book that will sell to Joe Public not just WW2 specialists.
    As there is no way I could afford to publish a book with my finances.
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2021

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