Neil Strauss

Yesterday, I told you I was looking to give one of you the chance to write a book, specifically the memoir of one of the most interesting and famous modern-day mob figures I’ve ever met.

I want to remind you again that this is for real. If you are selected, your book will be printed and distributed by
the same company that puts out my books and compensated like any other co-writer. To all of you who have emailed over the years asking me how to break into the notoriously finicky publishing world, here’s your answer.

So, anyway, here’s how this is going to go down:

I recorded one of the not-yet-announced book subject’s stories,
which you’ll find at:

http://www.neilstrauss.com/barley.mp3
(right-click to download - it’s 16mb so may take a little while)

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to turn his words into a sample chapter for the book. You have ten days - until Friday, April 24th at noon Pacific Standard Time (that’s
3p.m. EST) - to submit the chapter. Make sure you send your submission to IgniterGroup@gmail.com so the entire editorial staff can read it.
   
Yesterday, I said that I preferred that the writer be in Los Angeles. However, there were so many great responses from around the world, that we’re opening up the search to you, wherever you may live, as long as you have the time this year to dedicate to this.

Here are ten short tips to help you knock this out of the park:

1.    All submissions must be double-spaced and emailed as an attached file, preferably a Microsoft Word document.

2.    Make sure you include your name, email, and phone number not just in the email, but ALSO at the top of your sample chapter.

3.    There is no length requirement. The chapter may be as short or as long as you feel is necessary.

4.    Make sure you write the chapter in the first-person, i.e. from the perspective of the mobster who’s telling the story. Since his name has not been provided, you may use the first name “John” if you need to use it elsewhere in the story.

5.    It may make it easier to write the chapter if you start by transcribing the recording of the story.

6.    The last sentence in his story gets cut off.  In case you choose to use it, after he says he should have called 911, I asked him why he didn’t. His answer: “Because I know they tape record 911.  And I don’t want my voice on that fucking thing.” (No, this will not be a feel-good story for children and Sunday school teachers.)

7.    You don’t have to use all of the information in the recording: feel free to include and leave out any parts of the story. The goal is simply to write a compelling narrative.

8.    If this is your first time writing something like this, you may want to read an autobiography written by myself, Anthony Bozza, or someone else to get a feel for the genre and style.

9.    You don’t have to transcribe the subject’s words exactly. Your goal is to write how they would write IF they were a writer.

10.    Please note that this is not a contest. It is simply a search for writers. The writers of the three most compelling submissions (as determined by Igniter staff and the mobster) will be contacted, and a meeting will be arranged. And, no, it won’t be the kind of meeting where you’ll be made an offer you can’t refuse.

Although it is our hope and intention to select one of the three top applicants to write this book, Igniter, myself, and the subject are under no obligation to use anyone submitting material as a writer.  So, that said, make your submissions great. Because the whole goal of this is to give someone new a shot and a voice, rather than relying on the same writers who always get used for these types of projects. In short, we WANT to help groom YOUR talent.

I believe that’s it.  So download the file at the link below, and let’s see some great writing:

http://www.neilstrauss.com/barley.mp3

Looking forward to reading your words.
   
Best,
Neil Strauss

P.S. The following may sound extreme, but the reason I’m writing it is because I was told to by bigshot publishing lawyers, who realize that many of the submissions may be similar because they’re based on the same story, so they want to avoid problems down the line. Thus, without further ado, the DISCLAIMER: All submissions to
be the cowriter of this book shall be deemed by Igniter Literary Group to be, and shall remain, the property of Igniter Literary Group. Igniter shall not be liable for any use, distribution, or disclosure of any submission or be under any other obligation. Without limiting the foregoing, Igniter shall be entitled to unrestricted use of the submission for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without compensation to the provider of the submission. In fact, we may even make the three top submissions available online, so that those of you on this list
can vote for your favorite.

P.P.S.  With the next email, we will resume our regularly scheduled programming on this list.

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