Finished a parital outline of how the taxi book might flow

[shadowknows69]

Being that this is to an extent a DU collaborative project I felt that I'd keep you guys in the loop as much as possible because it is inevitably your encouragement that got me started and may ultimately be what kicks my unproductive ass into finishing it. Any professional writers who would care to throw some constructive criticism my way please do. A little key for this outline: Things in quotes usually correspond to a particular column I've wrote, or have yet to write, and a chapter within that section will most likely consist mostly of that column. Expanded upon of course. Once again any thoughts would be helpful. If we ever get this sucker published DU is definitely going to be on the dedication page so let me know if you think we're going in the right direction.


The front lines from the back seat
Taxicab conversations about the war on terror with those who are fighting it. OR
Anonymous stories from the back of a taxi of the war on terror, from the soldiers fighting it
AS SUBTITLES

Outline

I. Introduction
• Speculative essay on the power of the cabbie to find out information.
• Mission statement
• Personal and local (base) background
• Method of information gathering. The hats I have to wear.
• Accuracy disclaimer
• Dedication and recap of intention.

II. The institution of war
• Chapter name-‘The method of the madness’-stories of particular tactics used by our troops and against them. “Ice mortars”. Cell phones-“Al-Qaeda’s top five list”, “cleaning up the hornet’s nest”
• “A dish best served cold”
• “The tragic redistribution of heroes”
• Chapter name- I drive the midnight train and killers are the fare. “Waldo the murderer”. “A blast from the past and the beauty of war.”
• Chapter name-‘Life during Peacetime?’ “Love American army style”. “Fighting each other over here when they’re not over there.”
• An essay on drug use in the army
• An essay on racism in the Army
III. Departure
• Brainwashing in basic
• The cannon fodder arrives enthusiastically
• “Marching to the beat of the broken drum”
• “A dish best served cold”
IV. Homecoming
• “Back from Iraq looking for crack”
• “Hopeless homecomings”

V. Huge hearts and hopeless causes
• “Huge hearts and hopeless causes”
• “the interviewer interviewed”
• Speculations on future conflicts. Essay on the fluidity of battle plans. “The dogs of war run soon”
• “The tragic redistribution of heroes”
•
• “Drafted”
• “A mother’s love….for combat”
VI. This story has no ending?
• “A revolutionary in the ranks?”
• “Just get us home”
• “My brain is still chewing”
• Conclusions

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Looks awesome, dude

Rock on!

[TygrBright]

2. Very cool, very provocative...

Here's what you need to sell it:

Flesh out the outline a bit: put a one-sentence "teaser" after each bullet point.
Complete a first draft of the introduction and any other material that makes it clear what the book is and how it came about.
Complete first drafts of one bullet point from each of the other five sections.

Type it all out nicely in Word, double-spaced.

Write a 2-page description of yourself, your background, and why you want the book published, and include a summary of how much material you have already.

There's your "shopping" package for showing to literary agents. Make one copy and seal it in an envelope and mail it to YOURSELF. Be sure the postmark has a legible date, and DO NOT OPEN IT when you get it. Just stash it in a desk drawer. This is in case of future copyright issues arising before you get an agent, etc.

Once you have all that done, the icky part starts. Are you keen enough to get this published to slog through the icky part?

encouragingly,
Bright

[shadowknows69]

4. Great advice TygrBright

Thank you so much. One question concerning content if you'll indulge me. How much personal info and indeed info on the base I work near should be in the intro. Do people have to know that in addition to being a cabbie on and off for 15+ years that I actually do have some credentials as a journalist and in the mass media? IMO it would lend credibility to the work as non-fiction even though I am going to write a disclaimer saying obviously I can't verify any of these stories and I have intentionally not learned anyone's name. In short how much of a bio of me do you think is prudent. Also. I feel the need to give a rudimentary history of Ft Drum as well. I think the more facts we have the more it is going to hit home that these are real men and women.

[TygrBright]

5. For your "shopping" package the bio info should go...

...in that 2-page letter. You can include a little about the local base and why it's relevant in there, too, but keep it short! That 2-page letter and a glance at the outline may be the only chance you have to "sell" the book, and if it looks too long and wordy, it'll never get read.

Remember the old saw about the guy turning in the 40-page term paper? "I would have written a shorter one but I didn't have time." One thing your letter will help "sell" is your ability to CRAFT. To use words well and make your point with economy and style.

More detailed info. about you and the base can be in your draft materials for section 1.

helpfully,
Bright

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. I'm good for at least one copy!

course I'm gonna cry all the way through it, like I usually do with your posts.

[JackBeck]

6. I'd love to get you as a cabbie one night.

Only once did I get in a cab that had on AAR.

What a great ride that was.

Good luck on the book.

[shadowknows69]

7. Got an interesting PM

From a fellow cabbie who offered to put me in contact with some of his coworkers and friends, some writers as well, who have similar tales to tell. Obviously to have other similar stories would increase the scope and probably the effectiveness of the book but I'm torn on what to do for a few reasons. What do you think DU?

[Dora]

8. I work in book publishing.

Your outline is very interesting, and you have a lot of fascinating and compelling material to offer the reader. These stories reveal a side of the Armed Forces that the rest of us are not privy to. They are dark and sometimes mundane, and I mean that in a good way.

My advice: take as much of yourself as you can out of the book. You're the driver (author), your vehicle is the book and the passengers are the many stories you have to offer. Drop the introduction. If you must have introductory material, limit it to a paragraph or two and call it a foreword. Give the stories all of the spotlight.

Try to connect with a writer's group in your community, and meet with them at least once a month. Peer-review and self-editing is an essential step in the process.

The idea of bringing in other drivers' stories is a good one. This would transform the manuscript into an edited collection, of which you would be the editor (just as worthy a designation as author). The benefit of bringing in other voices is the likelihood of increasing the emotional impact of the collection.

Have you read any Studs Terkel? If you haven't, I recommend "Working." He's an excellent example at the how-to of compiling oral histories (which is pretty much what you're doing). Studs, however, leaves himself entirely out of the picture. Your biggest work ahead of you right now is determining how much of this book is about you, and how much of it is about your fares.

Keep it simple. Don't make this a memoir. You are the conduit.

You're doing good work, and you have a project that may interest a publisher some day.

Nitty Gritty and Practical Aspects: With an ms that's as "now" as yours is, timing is absolutely of the essence, and the matter of a year can determine whether your ms will ever get its own barcode. In all honesty, I think that if you really want to get these stories published, you better get cracking. Optimally, this should be timed for release in two years or less, and it takes a year for most publishers to produce a book (give or take months). Big releases come out in Fall and Spring for the Winter and Summer reading seasons. Marketers work six months to a year in advance of publication with review outlets and chain buyers. What can you do? JOIN A WRITER'S GROUP, start sending letters to agents introducing yourself and the collection. Send them samples, but not an entire ms.

Bookmaking is a business that not a lot of people understand. PM me if you have more questions, I'll help if I can.

[shadowknows69]

10. Thank you

So much good advice. I'm going to have to credit 50 different people as editors lol.

[The Straight Story]

9. Kicking - this looks awesome! Keep us updated! (nt)