Eagle Days: Life and Death for the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain

[edwest2]

I have 40 years at a publishing company without a college degree. Our head writer has no college degree. Both of us had to learn the publishing business by the seat of our pants. Learning how to write to inform and entertain takes years. It can be done.

However, unlike the illustrators we work with, writers seem more easily offended, to a greater or lesser degree. While I can tell an artist that a leg is too long, all writing is black ink on paper. A quick glance does not suffice. When converting original documents to book form, a way to order the material for the specialist reader and those just curious has to be chosen. There are plenty of fine examples in existence.

Unfortunately, descriptions and even titles chosen by publishers, and, in some cases, writers can create the wrong impression or put off potential buyers. Reviews on Amazon range from bad to atrocious. Far, far removed from proper book reviews. And if a review for a specialist book cannot be found quickly, what happens? Potential buyers tend to discount it.

I have seen many Ph.D. papers online. The writer usually offers only surface impressions with occasional bits of originality. A seasoned writer does not spring into existence overnight. I suspect that if some went on to write history books that they would drown in the deep water of actual research into original documents. It appears that 5 years is a minimum while 10 years or more is average.

There is no How to Write History Books to a High Standard in 5 Easy Lessons. Too many writers think they can complete a book in less time than what those documents would allow.

Finally, a proper discussion, such as can be had by two people sitting face to face or even on the phone cannot be had. It takes just one or two off hand remarks to cause a problem.