Bill Sneed

Writer and retired Navy CPO; Disabled Veteran of the Agent Orange, Vietnam Era ('66 and '68) (USS Dyess DD 880 and USS Bennington CVS20)
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                         BILL SNEED, USN (RET) DAV (VIETNAM '66 & '68)
 
                   Married Charlotte E. Crowell (RN) in April 1968
 
                  Have 3 grown children and 7 beautiful grandchildren!!!
                                                                                                              
I was born in Houston, Texas in December 1941.  I was two months premature at birth.  My aunt Evelynn, my mother's sister, told me that I came early because my mother fell out of a car turning a corner, forcing my entry into the world.  No wonder I have headaches!! 
 
I learned of this several decades after my mother died in 1966.  At any rate, the Good Lord must have had good intentions for me as my registered nurse wife, Charlotte ("Tootie") told me that the chances of survival for a 2 month early premature birth back in 1941 for a male child was almost slim to none!  So here I am, like it or not.
 
My fondness for the sea comes from my Dad, who was a merchant marine engineer for 33 years, having served aboard over 95 ships during his career.  Talk about a tough old salty dog...  He was like that John Wayne toilet paper (rough and tough and took no....)  Well anyway, they were both great Americans, each in his own way.
 
During the last year of high school (1959 and '60), I was so anxious to go  in the Navy that my parents (adamant that I was to finish school) allowed me to join the Naval Reserve, doing the routine meetings once a month and then being assigned to the USS Howard D.Crow DE 252.
 
After high school, I went on active duty for my suppossedly 2 years of "required active service" which turned into 20 years of "active duty", instead.
 
 
Present: November 2007:  During my several thousand miles of trips, mostly eastward, including New York City, and the seaboard coast to Jacksonville, Florida, including a trip to Tennessee to visit old Navy buddies (Johnny Cupp and Mike Flannery) I noticed many people looking at my left leg beings I had on shorts and it was summertime. There is nothing wrong with my left leg. What you see is an external catheter, the result of prostate cancer and not being able to gain total liquid control of my body fluid, so...I have to wear this, like it or not.  It is the result of agent orange, Vietnam, 1966 when my ship, USS Dyess DD 880, backed up the Da Nang River to lob shells further inland for the Marines. In thinking back, I recall the pungent odor in the air, and we all made comments about seeing the jungle all dead and brown-looking, and it was summertime!! We didn't know it then, but it was agent orange we were breathing!
 
 
 
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                          Grandchildren of Bill and Charlotte Sneed                       
 
 
 
               WRITING SCHOOLS ATTENDED IN HOLLYWOOD
 
      SYD FIELD'S FOUNDATIONS OF SCREENWRITING
      SARA MARIC'S ADVANCED SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP
      ERNEST LEHMAN'S SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP
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                                 COLLEGE NIGHT CLASSES
                                    (WHILE IN THE NAVY)
 
ENGLISH LIT 210:        THE SHORT STORY AND THE NOVEL
 
COMMUNICATIONS 120:  INTRODUTION TO FILM AESTHETICS
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                         Writing Sales:
 
After retiring from the Navy in July 1980, I sold a short story entitled, "Piece of Cake", that was 30 pages long.  It was bought by a company that was going to record it as a travel tape, but I guess it never panned out for them; however, they paid me $325 for the story.
 
I tried to write articles, but I didn't favor this type of writing.  I sold an article about the Marshall Pottery and was paid $50.
 
I then wrote another short story  entitled, "Dixie Cup Annie".  I entered it in an  INTERNATIONAL short story contest and it won 3rd place and $50.
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I wrote several other short stories but never sent them out.  All this time I was making an effort to write a novel while, at the same time, studying every book on the craft of Fiction I could find, including:
 
          WRITING TO SELL               Scott Meredith
 
          MODERN FICTION TECHNIQUES
                                                   F.A. Rockwell
 
          CHARACTERS MAKE YOUR STORY
                                                  Maren Elwood
 
          HOW TO WRITE PLOTS THAT SELL
                                                   F.A. Rockwell
 just to name a few!
 
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 The following are testimonials (unvalidated because I will not use their names) of my writing efforts when I sent Black Oil Chief, USN out for publication consideration to several agents or manuscript critique offices:
 
"This is an extremely exciting manuscript, and Mr. Sneed's writing displays not only thoughtful attention to detail but an ability to portray convincing characters and events.  The action scenes are especially vivid and realistic.  The novel is effective in enveloping the reader in the unique shipboard atmosphere of the U.S. Navy.  
 
In general, BLACK OIL CHIEF is a likable and professionally presented military adventure novel.  The author offers an easy to read, almost casual style --which helps the reader through some of the more detailed engine room workings -- and, the author offers a wide array of colorful navy types.  The protagonist, Chief Phillip Keith, is a well rounded central character who is both resourceful and compelling.  Also, there are many minor asides such as the mascot tha give this manuscript a real boost.
 
In conclusion, BLACK OIL CHIEF, USN is the kind of manuscript that one reads and enjoys.
 
                          Yatta-Yatta Agency
                           ---- Fifth Avenue, Suite -----
                          New York, N.Y.
 
Another Agency Response: (Brief)
 
BLACK OIL CHIEF, USN is gripping and impressive.  The rough, sparse styles of dialogue and narrative mesh well and effectively contribute to the excitement and adventure of the storyline. We estimate you have a literary work of exceptional merit.  Mr. Sneed will eventually be able to win the audience he deserves.
 
                       Too Bad, So Sad Agency
                       -----North 57th Street
                       New York, N.Y.
 
And, last, comments from a Manuscript Critique Office:
 
Action is certainly superb.  You know how to set up a scene, and how to play it out.  You must have taken courses in drams in order to pace your story so well, or at least are a keenly observant person.  You lead us through a series of conflicts between the characters up to a truly shattering denoement, with Phillip and Kris overboard, fighting for their lives.
 
Readership impact is potentially terrific!  You tell a cracking good story.  The elements are savory, appealing to a wide range of readers.  It is great writing, memorable writing.  Your sales potential with this literary property is very high, partly due to a fetching subject with a wide appeal, and partly due to clever handling and a strong orginial treatment of the materials.
 
                       Manuscript YaHoo, Get Lost
                       ----Main Street, Suite 0I812
                       Los Angeles, Calif.