Your fishing Story wanted

Hi all.

After completing my first two books, "Memories and Milestones" and the soon to be published "Guiding, Barbel and other stories" Limited Editionsthat have already sold / presold out, I am puttting together another limited editionbook based on Anglers special days.

Whether the story has been published online or not, as long as you have the copyright it would be a possible chance of seeing your story in a hardback and paperback Edition book. A panel of judges will select those stories to make up the book.

Firstly. There will be Absolutely NO COST associated to those that submit articles/stories.

I particularlywant stories from lesser known writers. So if you fancied seeing your story in print, but have never yet made it happen, please get in touch.

Wishing you all a very Merry Xmas and New Year.

Graham Elliott

graham.elliott1@btinternet.comor 01628 822733

Pleased that I have had a couple of contributions already.

Just to clarify, this is my reply to one proposed contributor earlier

Hi XXXXX.I am really looking for a story about a magical day, a special fishing event, a day with good friends, a really bad day, a funny oneor one that evokes memories and can transport one to the river. It can be any length up to say 6 A4

I don't really want real technical tackle stories.

I was so pleased with the sales of the first 2 books and so many people said....I have always wanted to write a book or something....well, here is the chance. So that's the brief. There is no costs involved for contributors.

I am just hoping enough people contribute to make it happen. I have a 1/4 page advert in the Anglers Mail as well over Xmas.I hope that explains what I am looking for. Spread the word please.

Kind regards, and have a great Christmas and New Year.Graham01628 822733

Might be an idea to remove your number there mate!

Edit: Sorry Graham, seen you've put it in the other thread too, thought it was an accident!

This is an interesting project but a number of questions need answering.

1. Who is publishing the book? Or is it a self-publish job again?

2. Who is editing it? Your first book was criticised for its lack of proper professional editing (Keith Elliott - Classic Angling), and with many contributors that job will be much harder. Pete Rogers edited Red Letter Days some years ago, and had to practically re-write many contributions especially those from inexperienced writers; those with a long pedigree in writing were fine like Jim Gibbinson, Peter Wheat and Graham. Failure to do so will result in a book of uneven quality atbest, a frustrating mess at worst.

3. Who will sort out copyright permissions? It is usually best to get permission from magazine publishers etc. if work has previously been in print. ISBN no?

4. What is in it for each contributor? A free copy of the book? A payment? Nothing but vanity satisfied?

5. What length is the book? How many contributors make it viable? Is there a preferred theme apart from a memorable day? Could it include game, sea, overseas fishing?

6. Is it illustrated?Are pictures required?

7. What timescales?

I know something of all this from being involved in planning a roach themed book. Happy Christmas!

I think you should worry about things that you are involved with yourself Mark and leave the detail of this project to Graham,.... who is more than capable given the success of his first two publications.`

nice first post.............................................

Looks like another clanger dropped.

Hi Mark.

I will return and answer some of your queries after Crimbo.

Just to say that Keith was quite right to make some criticisms of my first books re editing/spelling. I believe the latest book is far better finished.

I thought it was very funny though that in his review piece, equivalent to 1 page of the book, he made two spelling mistakes!!/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gifWhat was amazing to me, I sold 27 more books of the back of the report!

The headline sentences of the first book said it was a simple book of fishing tales. And that's exactly what it was. A book by an amateur writer that seemed to strike a chord with most readers. I am very pleased it sells on e-bay for 3 x the sold price even at this early stage and book companies like River Reads have a substantial markup on those few they have left.

Copyright. Will be covered.

Book size, estimated 200 pages A5, 40 pics. Hardcover, gold block title, dustjacket, paperback. timescale fluid.

No payment except books.

Mark, having yourself been involved with planning a roach book (did it ever see the light of day?) you will realise that it's not as simple as it first seems to make it all come together. Succesfully.

Graham

If I may put my five penny worth in here, the market for another book of fishing stories is a bit oversubscribed at the moment.

My own compilation of tales,commissioned orginally by Little Egret Press under thebanner of " Crucians at Bedtime" failed to find another publisher after being withdrawn from TomO'Reilly due to his broken promises.

While both Medlar and Merlin Unwin thought the content good enough they had commercial concerns because there are already a number of similar titles in the market place at present.

Consequently, some of the stories have found their way into magazines like "Waterlog" and "Barbel Fisher." If you have good story torelay and the ability to tell it in a manner that will engage your readership, that seems to be the most productive avenue to get published.

Many of the stories in " Crucians" were told to me by other anglers but it was me, not them, that penned the words and shapedeach story. Sorry to say, it seems to me the easy way out to get others to write for you and you pick up the cheque.

It seems to me, that even if you do get published, there is not much of a cheque to pick up anyway.

The idea is particularly good, if the writers believe they only have the one story in them.

Who knows, the buzz of actually seeing their storyin print, may drive them on to better things!

Hi Peter

I have no doubt that neither of my books would have been good enough for the publishing houses you quoted. However. Selling 600 of them myself made me happy. And I was beholding to no one./forum/smilies/eye_rolling_smiley.gifIn the the second book I sought the use of one of the contributors of a story on this site, and it was given freely and is included under their name. I know they are happy about that.

Your book? You could always take the risk and do your book yourself, if it's just money you are after?Which seems to be the suggestion you are making.

Fred's point's are well made. No one is being forced to contribute anything, I just happen to think that many of the stories on the web based format, are too good to not get a wider airing. And from the initial responses from FM members, I am not alone.

Graham

Graham, please dont think I am having a pop. I just think that if it's your book one ought to do the hard work and put ones own stamp on it or you are actuallycreating something akin toa magazine full of articles /stories from an eclectic bunch of writers, experienced or otherwise.

As I said there are a few compilations of short stories around at present and angling publishers don't seem too enthusiastic, for although I have had one very successful angling book published I am not a 'known' name if you know what I mean.

It is a truism that if you want to get rich don't write about angling!Having just completed my sixth book on either Football or fishing I am a bit past the vanity publishers eager to help you for a couple of grand up front. That said,when my current football project is out of the way,if none of my current publishers are interested I might consider producing"Crucians" myselfvia the self publishing route but I accept it is a risk commercially and financially.

As you say there is no harm in making the offer to aspiring writers to tell their stories but in such circumstances if it carried my name as editor I would have to be fairly brutal to ensure a consistant quality and a house style is maintained throughout.

Best of luck with it.

Thanks Peter.

I just think creating something from compilations can be considered ones own book, especially if it would not have existed without the hard work needed to make it professional, viable and saleable. The book will also include some of my stories.

I believeit's a worthy aspiration and will just have to see if it does come together.

Graham

In any compilation work where an editor draws together a number of writers into a book,everybody gains.

Each individual writer has the chance to have his written word immortalised in a book than can be read in a 100 years time. Although I would disagree with Graham that the book could be classed as his own, it is still his creation in the format it appears in and one to be proud of.

Having appeared in a dozen or moresuch works, starting with 'Top Ten' compiled by Bruce Vaughan, I was pleased to be invited in each and every case.

This time, Graham is inviting anglers to submit their work, who knows they may go on to write their own work having seen just a small part of what can be done.Lastly, we the readers have the chance to enjoy what will hopefully be an interesting collection of stories. Anyone who thinks it is easy to get a book published is easy should try it - Lots of hard work that only starts when you have got it as a book - then you have to sell it to the anglers out there.

I pass this as a general comment, and not directed at any author or editor, but in my experience, the reason that Medlar and others won't touch some genres of book and some authors/editors are that margins are quickly eaten into by long editing tasks, and when that's done, you may as well have given a fat advance to a great writer.

Top Ten was edited by a professional editor, and was a great little book, but in the cold light of day, it was an average book in many respects, sold when there wasn't anything like enough specialist angling material in print; that was the point of it, it filled a void.

I can fully understand why a good angler would want to see his/her experiences placed on record, but it's my personal opinion that good writers don't have to work for nothing, and amateur writers are better getting good writers to 'ghost' their stories, which will cost some money which will have to be repaid. In other words, the best stories are worth paying for, one way or another.

In 30 years of rewriting copy, I can tell you there are a great many angling 'writers' out there who are made to look good by journalists; I have 'edited' articles which verge on the illiterate, from angling 'writers' you know very well. Nothing wrong with that; it was my job. Emphatically NOT as examples of the illiterate, I used to ghost Ed Turner, and my old mate Adrian Curtis pitched in with him to do Mega Pike. Greg Meenehan talked with with Ritchie Macdonald for his book.

Ivan Marks was written by Peter Collins, Pete Springate got me to write his features in the defunct PCF, and I ghosted **** Clegg and Steve Gardner, too.

Great anglers have brilliant thoughts and much to give, but that doesn't make them great writers. I have lost count of the articles and book I have started reading with enthusiasm and stopped midway, disappointed. I really hope Graham gets the cream of FM's contributors on board. With a bit of a buffing up, they're better than many AT used to pay....

Just imagine .......

"The Gordon Whoppit Diaries"

or

"On the Wagon with Deanos Mam"

or

"The Doomsday Book of Mammoth Pies"

Thanks Phil. You are right of course, I meant ones own creation.

In see there is some young bloke here that might wish he kept a few more of these.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RAINBOWS-END-by-PHIL-SMITH-VGC-1st-H-B-CARP-BREAM-PIKE_W0QQitemZ180315689358QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Books_NonFictionBooks_NonFictionBooks_SM?hash=item180315689358&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Looking forward to seeing you at the BS meeting Berkshire 19th February for your talk.

Mark said. " I really hope Graham gets the cream of FM's contributors on board. With a bit of a buffing up, they're better than many AT used to pay.... "

Exactly my thoughts and hopes.There are some fantastic stories from many of the websites, that will only be seen by a relative few. This opportunity might just launch a few onto greater things.

Mark, if it's looking positive in a few months, I would like to get back to you? (not for free!/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif)

Graham

Well,

I have offered on SEVERAL occasions to save the Anglers TimesAND Gregory Whiteheads neck by penning articles on the ONE fish that everyone wants to read about...

GUDGEON! "The fish that was too hard for **** Walker (and Malcolm Brambly) to catch!".

Snubbed my the litery giants of the angling pressalso"Titbits" and "My Weekly" regarding my expertise in the cookery buisness, I FLATLY refuse to ever write another article on this most noble of fish...OR DONKEY PIES!

Deanos said.

"I have offered on SEVERAL occasions to save the Anglers TimesAND Gregory Whiteheads neck"

Surely this is a much worthier cause????/forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif/forum/smilies/wink_smiley.gif

Graham

I offered them (Anglers Times) my article...

"DEFEND YOURSELF AGAINST AN ATTACK BY A BABOON ON THE RIVER BANK"

my psychiatrist said that he thought that it was a work of great genius, and also that "any four year old child would be very pleased by the effort".

You can have it for your book if you want Graham!