Going back and forth with a publisher

[newday11]

  Collectors, Blockers and Memories. Here we go again - from a military publisher:

"Okay, Lee. Let me know when you have the complete ms ready. Keep in mind that there needs to be a cohesive narrative flow from beginning to end, even if it turns into fiction to avoid the censors. If not, it might be better to submit stand-alone sections to appropriate journals or digests. Either way, it simply must be compelling."

I'm going to hire Michael Garrett, the only editor recommended on P&E for an edit. Expensive but I guess worth it. Lee

[MarvaD]

Encouraging.  Have you any thought to fictionalize it?  Is that what you're asking an editor to help with?

Good luck anyway you go, Lee!

[sarahjen]

good luck Lee! i love what you've shared with us so far! either way you go, i'm sure it will be great. keep us updated.

[newday11]

  No I'm just tired of being rejected so I thought an editor couldn't hurt. But it may be going straight to military publishers like this one is the answer. It's all nonfiction; just that opening chapter on spy cases I had to stay away from particulars (names, places etc.) but the approaches are real (nonfiction). Am I making any sense? Lee

[sarahjen]

Yep!

[tradergirl]

Your approach (non-fiction with some details changed) makes tons of sense.  I think this book is saleable.

HOWEVER- I think you need to either A) take quite a bit of effort to edit yourself or B) hire an editor.  If you go route A, I suggest reading it out loud.  What the critique is saying is that your material is totally fascinating, but you haven't strung it together in a way which tells the reader a story.  Look at your outline and ask yourself-- does my book have a beginning, a middle and an end?  Does it advance a thesis or an idea at the beginning, and then develop that idea throughout the narrative?  

There are quite a few non-fiction books I'd recommend you study.  You want to find examples where the meat of the material does not necessarily follow a chronological timeline, to look for other compelling narrative structures:  Eats Shoots and Leaves (who would have thought punctuation would be so enthralling?)  Chance (a new NF book about, well, odds).  Or Cod (Kurlansky).  

Best of luck Lee!  You can do it.

T.

[sarahjen]

Karma TG. You give such helpful advice.

[newday11]

  Thanks all you guys. I just got another hit. Two hits in one day.

"Hi Mr. McCaslin,
Could you send over the Table of Contents and List of Visuals to me?
Thanks,
Meredith Dawson"

I think my list of visuals (and the visuals) are neat. Anyone want to see the list? Lee

[sarahjen]

But of course!

[newday11]

  Here's the list of visuals:
iv LISTING OF VISUALS

COVER
PHOTO: CAMPBELL BARRACKS, HQ USAREUR

PROLOGUE
PHOTO: INNER COURTYARD, HEIDELBERG CASTLE
PHOTO (2): HEIDELBERG TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
PHOTO: CAMPBELL BARRACKS, CIRCA 1945
PAINTING: CAMPBELL BARRACKS
PHOTO: METAL PLATE, “BRUECKEN TOR” OR BRIDGE GATE
PHOTO: CAMPBELL BARRACKS IN THE SNOW
GOOGLE EARTH OVERHEAD: CAMPBELL BARRACKS

TRANSITION NOTES
TWO USAREUR SYMBOLS

CHAPTER 1 – NONE

CHAPTER 2
PHOTO: STATUE OF THE “SPOOK”

CHAPTER 3
PHOTO: USMLM PATCH
PHOTO: SOVIET 2S1 SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZER
PHOTO: “METIS” RUSSIAN ANTI-TANK MISSILE SYSTEM – WIKIPEDIA
PHOTO: USMLM TOUR OFFICER LTC NICHOLSON
PHOTO: (11) RUSSIAN EQUIPMENT PHOTOGRAPHED SURREPTITIOUSLY
PHOTO: SS-12 – WIKIPEDIA
PHOTO: A SPETSNAZ TEAM – WIKIPEDIA
PHOTO: PRA MAP

CHAPTER 4
PHOTO: (2) ASA/INSCOM PATCHES
PHOTO: RESTRICTED AREA SIGN
PHOTO: FIELD STATION AUGSBURG
PHOTO: (3) LTG CLAUDIA KENNEDY & HER BOOK, ÔÔÔGENERALLY SPEAKING
PHOTO: ASA BERLIN
PHOTO: BOOK COVER, C TRICK, BY DON COOPER
PHOTO: CARTOON BY DON COOPER
PHOTO: (7) OUTSTATION LUBECK

CHAPTER 5 – NONE

CHAPTER 6
PHOTO: AFN SYMBOL

CHAPTER 7
PHOTO: GEORGE C. SCOTT AS GENERAL PATTON

CHAPTER 8
PHOTO: (4) FLAG NOTES

CHAPTER 9
GOOGLE EARTH OVERHEAD: HEIDELBERG ARMY AIRFIELD
PHOTO: MAJOR GENERAL ALBERT N. STUBBLEBINE III
PHOTOS: (2) ARMY PILOTS BOB HULEY & TERRY JORGENSEN

CHAPTER 10 – None

CHAPTER 11
PHOTO: SMLM LICENSE PLATE
PHOTO: SMLM REPORTING CARD
PHOTO: DETAINED SOVIET TOUR CAR

CHAPTER 12 – NONE

CHAPTER 13 – NONE

CHAPTER 14
PHOTO: DIVIDED GERMANY MAP
PHOTO: BERLIN DUTY TRAIN
PHOTO: BERLIN TRAIN ROUTE SKETCH
PHOTO: BERLIN WALL ROCK
PHOTO: BERLIN DUTY TRAIN
PHOTO: (2) FLAG ORDERS BACK & FRONT
PHOTO: (8) AJ’S PHOTO GALLERY
PHOTO: (2) LT DANIELLE (SMYER) WILDASON, & SHADOW BOX
PHOTO: BERLIN DUTY TRAIN
PHOTO: VOLKSFEST QUEENS
PHOTO: LTC (RET) MARSHA L. HANSEN
PHOTO: (3) MOVIE, STOP TRAIN 349
PHOTO: BERLIN DUTY TRAIN

CHAPTER 15
PHOTO: USMLM PATCH
PHOTO: COVER, A CASE STUDY, THE NICHOLSON INCIDENT
PHOTO: 1 PAGE OF A CASE STUDY, THE NICHOLSON INCIDENT
PHOTO: COL RON GAMBOLTI
PHOTO: 2 MG LAJOIE
 
CHAPTER 16
SECDEF WEINBERGER

CHAPTER 17
PHOTO: 11TH ACR CERTIFICATE
PHOTO: OP ALPHA ON THE EAST GERMAN BORDER
PHOTO: WILDFLOWERS

CHAPTER 18
PHOTO: SETAF PATCH
PHOTO: SKY SOLDIERS
PHOTO: SETAF LOGO
PHOTO: (3) AIRBORNE TRAINING
PHOTO: M1 RIFLE
SKETCH: RANGER WATER TEST
SKETCH: SLIDE FOR LIFE
PHOTO: CG PLATOON
PHOTO: AIRBORNE PATCH
PHOTO: PARATROOPER FRANK R. BROWN III

CHAPTER 19
PHOTO: MI BALL
PHOTO: MENU/SEATING
PHOTO: PROGRAM/ MI BRANCH INSIGNIA
PHOTO: DRESSED-UP COUPLE
PHOTO: FLAG MIX-UP

CHAPTER 20
PHOTO: LIZ RYAN RELAXING
PHOTO: WASHINGTON MONUMENT
PHOTO: TERRY FORD GUEST SPEAKER AT REUNION
PHOTO: LIZ RYAN WELCOMING AT REUNION
PHOTO: RISTORANTE ALPINE
PHOTO: CCF CERTIFICATE
PHOTO: THE CONSTELLATION AT BALTIMORE’S INNER HARBOR
PHOTO: MARIA & ROSARIO DIMARCO
PHOTO: BG JULIA KRAUS

CHAPTER 21
PHOTO: HEIDELBERG CASTLE – AWARD WINNING IMAGE
PHOTO: (2) OFFICIAL PASSPORT
PHOTO: (17) SCENES AROUND HEIDELBERG
PHOTOS: (2) CARNIVAL MASKS
PAINTING: BRIDGE OF SIGHS
PAINTING: VENICE COLORS
PAINTING: 1860’S VENICE
PHOTO: (15) SCENES AROUND VENICE
PHOTO: (6) SCENES FROM ITALY TO FRENCH ALPS BY TRAIN
PHOTO: (5) SCENES AROUND COLMAR, FRANCE
PHOTO: A SPARGEL FIELD IN GERMANY
PHOTO: SPARGEL
PHOTO: (2) VOLKSMARCHING SYMBOLS
PHOTO: VOLKSMARCHING MEDAL
PHOTO: SCHLIERBACH IN SNOW

CHAPTER 22
PRINT: GERMAN REUNIFICATION DAY
PRINT: OLD HEIDELBERG
REAGAN LIBRARY – HOTLINE: PHOTO (9)
RETIREMENT SPEECH FOR MARIA DIMARCO  PHOTO

EPILOGUE
PHOTO: LEE RECOVERING FROM PARALYZING STROKE
PHOTO: (5) CAREGIVERS
PHOTO: LAKESHORE REHABILITATIVE HOSPITAL
PHOTO: “RECOVERED” AUTHOR & WIFE

[sarahjen]

Did you have a stroke?
I never would have thought that a list would be so captivating. Can you post a few picts? I would love to see some.
Sarah

[lizbrenaman]

Lee, can you think of some non fiction titles that are similar to yours, and have had success?
Not necessarily the same material, but military in nature, and set up the same way?  Maybe
personal accounts of war experiences, etc...

The reason I ask is, maybe you can read through some and get an idea of what a publisher is
looking for (as far as edits, not material-you have something unique to offer).  Look at the way
they handle the narrative.  It may be something you can do on your own, or something your
big ole bunch of QT friends can help you with...

Liz

PS congrats on the hits!  i knew you'd get them!  mr. Liz and I loved the bits you sent over!

[newday11]

  Thanks guys; can you post pictures on QT? Or I could send in a reg email if I had addresses.

Yes, I had a paralyzing stroke 2 + years ago; about 70% back. Lee

[lizbrenaman]

here's to a smooth 30%, Lee.  will send warm, healing wishes your way.

email-you have mine