Writing a Book

[T.K.M]

My Grandfather plans since years to write his biography and ear stories as a book. He is 89 years old by now. I listened to many of his war experiences and they are all very interesting and entertaining.
I'm of course not a good book writer, but i'm able to write it down.
Now i wondered if you can give me any clues, and maybe even contact datas to book publishers who have ghost writers, are interested in WW2 orientated biographies/stories and translate also from german to english.

Regards

[Jean-Loup]

I cant help you, but I wish you good luck in your projrct, and encourage you to continue working on it whatever difficulties may arrise.

JL

[F L Clemens]

Hi TKM,

That is good news that your grandfather wants to write down his memoirs. I will give you some suggestions.

- look at other war biographies and see for yourself what makes them good and what makes them suck. Does a book leave you with more questions than it answers - or does it tell a complete, well-rounded story? There is no better guideline than to follow success.

- do not attempt to imitate successful books exactly, allow for some uniqueness in telling his story.

- be patient. Writing a biography is a roundabout process, not a straight-line production.

- start with a basic timeline. Write out a chronological list of major events in his life. Then focus on one of those events each week (or month) to fill out the details. They don't have to be done in exact order, just knock them out one-by-one as your grandfather feels inpsiration.

- after he has his basic experience written out and put in time order, go back through for things that might have been forgotten and also provide some historical background.

- avoid trying to make this biography into a history lesson about the whole war or time period. There are other books for that, stick to the main topic 90% of the time.

- don't worry about the end product being perfect in the first draft. Other people can help with smoothing out any rough spots.

- encourage your grandfather to include the little details of everyday life - the way people talked, the food they ate, the amsuements they had - all the things that Hollywood gets wrong or leaves out.

Can you give some information on his service?

[T.K.M]

thanks alot for the suggestions.

infos i can give is that he served in the rad, then in a flak unit traveling alot, later in the 2. panzer division and then ended up in an american pow camp from where he fled with comrades and ended up in another one a few days later. He witnessed alot worth writing down, many of the stories and good and bad experiences are entertaining. My grandfather is old but his brain and memory is perfect for a man in that age.

i plan to post his photoalbums soon in the photo section.

thanks again.

regards,
tkm

[F L Clemens]

If he was in the 2.Panzer-Division in the Ardennes and afterwards at places like Pruem, I am very interested. I am doing a bio of Meinrad von Lauchert, who was the division commander during that period. Lauchert also had an adventurous journey home after the division was trapped against the Rhein in March 1945.

[PZIV]

Contact John Federowicz Publishing (search that into google). They will be able to help you with whatever it is you need.

Writing a book is rewarding at times and discouraging at times. I've felt so great because of the amount of information and research I have, but at other times I feel overwhelmed because I don't have enough.

Writing a book is a rollercoaster, but honestly when you finally finish it's a great feeling.

Good luck!
Mansal