Blog - Writing SQUADDIESAURUS

Writing a book is rarely a straightforward journey. Often, what begins as a simple idea evolves into something entirely different, and in my case, it evolved into a standalone book I never originally planned.

My book, 'Squaddiesaurus,' started life merely as an appendix. Initially, it was intended it to accompany my military memoirs book, Beneath the Red Cap, by offering brief explanations of the unique words and phrases commonly used among soldiers. Military language is rich, colourful, and occasionally baffling to outsiders, so my goal was straightforward: demystify this jargon for readers unfamiliar with military slang and try an make it funny.

However, as I began compiling these terms, the appendix grew rapidly. I found myself recalling more sayings, humorous anecdotes, and obscure phrases than I'd anticipated. Soon, I was reaching out to friends and ex-squaddies for their contributions, gathering more and more material through casual chats down at the pub. Each conversation yielded new insights and additional phrases that couldn't be left out.

Before long, what began as a modest glossary blossomed into a fully-fledged dictionary and thesaurus of over 50 pages, dedicated to military terminology. 'Squaddiesaurus' had taken on a life of its own.

From the start, my intention was always to keep the book funny and abstract, never to be taken too seriously. It's meant purely as comedy, a playful exploration of military slang. I even marketed it as the perfect "book for the bog." Whether you find yourself stuck on the toilet without your phone or, in an emergency, without toilet paper, 'Squaddiesaurus' could truly come in handy.

The writing process itself took around three months, a relatively swift endeavour given the scope and scale of the content. However, formatting the manuscript for Amazon KDP turned out to be an entirely different battle. Navigating Amazon's publishing requirements was initially daunting, but after many trials (and errors!), I finally mastered the process. Realising others might face similar hurdles, I shared my experience and tips in a detailed Twitter (or is it X now?) thread, hoping to help fellow writers streamline their self-publishing journey.

The journey taught me two valuable lessons: books often write themselves or at least they create the idea of themselves, and sharing knowledge is as rewarding as the act of creation itself.

You can buy the book HERE