Publish and be damned

[Mutley]

I have previously discussed similar idea with Rats on the voice pipe, So my votes in. But lets not go volunteering others without fully realising the implications. I think Rats has likely got enough on his plate at the moment. There is also a crucial problem with time. Though with a good team we could possibly get it done for Christmas.

Would need to ensure dits are gen recollections and not regurgitated from a previous copyright publication. Then there is the legal protection stuff to consider. Would need permission from each dit author.

At the moment everything is 'in the public domain' so we will need some copyright protection

The main probs for a project like this would be:

collating the material - not necessarily a prob if they are all either here, on Once a Marine, or L10 site, but we need masses more.

proof reading and copy editing - a lot of man hours, we do have someone on this site. (PM sent)

getting a publisher interested - difficult unless it is part financed up front. Any ex RM-printers, still in the business?

[Nosalesmanwillcall]

I am "editing" on a charity fundraising publication at the moment, on a no-risk publication basis, because I have got a sponsor and am allowing the publisher to sell advertising space. Being editor is much more involved and time consuming, than it sounds, technically as I have had training, I am also proof-reader and copy editor

I would perhaps look at splitting the book into 3 sections something like:

• All at Sea, Barrack Tales, Op around the world.

To give you some idea of the scale for a booklet of say 64 pages with a sponsor and minimum advertising we would likely need 180 reasonably length dits. It would need to be sold at around £2.00 and would likely need to sell 2000 to raise £1,000 clear, however sell 4000 and it would be more like £6,000 clear, but then upping the cover price to £2.50 would likely raise £8,000 clear as long as they were all sold!

Just to give you an idea, but yes my vote is cast and pending diary commitments I would assist.

[ratso]

I have a list of publishers and am sure this is not a problem the main areas will be all the editing and as you say proofing .
Then we do have some of the best military authors to turn to and I feel sure Southby-Tailyour would lend his support and help on such a project.

This is a great idea and could be finished off with some of the great cartoons drawn by the illustrators at that time in the Corps. Anyone out there ????????

[El Prez]

Good idea, go for it. Sadly 'Art' Huddart is no longer on the planet, but some of those he spawned, I mean trained, must be around. Gladly help with perrroooof reading.

[Andy O'Pray]

The two cartoon books, UP THE FALKLANDS and CARRY ON YOMPING, were published by Blandford Press, Poole. Contributors were Roy Carr, Arthur Huddart and John R. Webb.

Aye - Andy.

[ratso]

It would be a fitting tribute to one of the men who made us all laugh for years to see a collection of this brilliant work presented on the open market.
I know I wish I still had all the ones I had when I was in.

[Sea Soldier]

Hi Muts,

Great idea re a Dits book,just had an "O" Group with the TQ,who proof reads as part of her job & has offered her services.

I used to do a bit of Cartooning (got me into bother occasionally,especially when "Authority" was the victim) ... I must stress,I am NOT of the calibre of the aforementioned,illustrious illustrators,but ... as the old lady,having peed over the sea wall said "Every little helps"!

So count us in,I agree with Loz .... don't undersell it ... better to have an orderly queue waiting (bit like getting into the Corps,eh ?) ... if Folk are convinced its good,they'll pay !

Cheers,

[ratso]

I saw this and thought it was something which I had been receiving e-mails about over the last few weeks but it's not.
This is already underway through others who have set out their stall already, so I think it is a case of lets try and sort out befor we all meet in the same publishers office with the same book.
As for Nosalesman your book seems to be a general dits book where as what is proposed here is just the Falklands, I think?
The book which has been discussed with myself is aimed at raising funds for Falklands charities and all proceeds with go their.
I feel it is a great idea but cooperation and working together is a major part in getting this to move forward.

[Mike]

Mutley, With you all the way,Grrrate idea.
It appears that we have enough cartoonest, However if yr ever short I could help out, in 60's I did a few funnies for the Globe and Buster under the 'nome de plume' MoKe also have done a few safety jobs for HMCG before they went commercial,and had a number of works published in the dailys.
Aye

[Mutley]

The idea appears to have taken off. I will hand over to "Nosalesman" but just to avoid confusion I propose:

• all profits to benefit those suffering from PTSD as a result of military service, and their immediate family.
  
  both the "once a marine site" and "militaryforums" sites get recognition.

[Nosalesmanwillcall]

I should have clarified the 'charity' editing is entirely unrelated.

Just to clear any confusion:

Yes, intend a general dits book, funnies (ha ha & peculiar) coffee table type not heavy read.

Understand from Rats message that a team is already progressing an FI book. Is that proposed to be:
a read, or coffee table? funny and, or just funnies? solely FI related topics?

we need to append a formal notice:
©MilitaryForums.co.uk 2002
All rights reserved no part of the messages herein may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means outside of the MilitaryForums.co.uk network without prior permission

Once it is clear that the 2 projects will not step on each others toes I will start contacting contributors.

I will look into getting a user group off the ground.

[Guest]

count me in guys, you could buy a couple, and give them for birthdays/christmas, I remember lots of artists in the Corps, most of them piss artists, but up the Falklands was a Gem.

[Nosalesmanwillcall]

Okay guys,
A user group is being set up as we speak, and I will contact those of you who have offered skills shortly and get you signed up.

On the question of dits for publishing there are a couple of possiblilities so I am asking for a consensus:

We could look at provide a designated board / area for dits to be submitted, thereby having a set disclaimer that in submitting they agree to them being included, or
leave as is, with dits scattered around the forum and the usergroup seeks out suitable dits, and then contact originator by email/pm for permission to include.

Let me know what you think?

IJ

[El Prez]

I reckon the story entitled 'Basha' in the Quotes and Anecdotes file should have pride of place. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard and been so happily disgusted in ages. It's a true Bramah.

[Guest]

I think a seperate board for dits would be better, as stated, if they`re on that board, they`re in the book, this would also save time scanning through the forum, for dits,and as said, a disclaimer/permission to use would be a good idea, to save any hassle later on.this is easy to say, but the sooner we start, the sooner we save the Fearless