Information for Authors

Since BNYA wishes that sailing is fully documented, we encourage people to write.

In the interests of capturing knowledge about sailing, BNYA encourages those with knowledge and interest in sailing to become authors and have their work published. By this means any amount of undocumented information or that 'hidden' in private collections can be revealed to others with a shared interest. It has proved difficult to get commercial publishers to take an interest in what is a fairly specialised and possibly low-volume market.

BNYA will publish relevant material and provide assistance to authors in the preparation, layout and design of their work, arrange printing and help with marketing. This service is undertaken on a voluntary basis with a revenue sharing agreement, although authors will need to cover some costs which will hopefully be recovered through sales.

Don't think you need to do this all on your own. Maybe working with a co-author who lived through the same times will split the work and provide additional insight. Or perhaps you could edit contributions from a number of individuals with specialist input or knowledge.

Formats may range from a monograph to a book, such as:

  • reporting on a research project
  • an extended essay on some aspect of sailing
  • the story of a class, designer, builder, sailor, club or event
  • etc.

BNYA may have information already captured in the archive that will facilitate research for a writing project or may know of likely sources.

Do contact us at any stage of the process, whether it's just an idea in the early stages or some has already been written and we'll help or advise. The writing is primarily the responsibility of the author although we may edit it as necessary and authors may need help with sourcing pictures or illustrations.

Things to think about:

  • One really key element is marketing and right from the start authors should have an idea of who might purchase the book once published and how they may be contacted as that will help with estimating the initial print run. And what they are most interested in will help with planning the content.
  • Competition: is what you want to write about truly original or provide additional insight
  • Do think of the whole book from the outset - make a plan - it will help you structure where to slot sections into the narrative. You don't need to write it from beginning to end - write those bits you are comfortable with, slot them in as necessary then join them up and add material that has taken longer to research/write. You will end up reading it endlessly, and editing it, to make sure the narrative holds together.
  • Think about the cover - its visual appeal and promotional copy - this is your elevator pitch, as people will scan that to decide whether to purchase.
  • Title: a catchy title may have appeal but not indicate what the book is about - think about a subtitle that is more explanatory. Edge-on on a bookshelf - the spine is all people can see.
  • To help readability relegate some content to pull-out boxes or Appendices
  • The layout tools can help create an index, but think through the index structure - how readers will look for information
  • ISBN: BNYA has a block of ISBN numbers and copies will need to be lodged with the British Library

If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact