Editorial Vision and Personal Truth: Celebrating Greg Lewin

Sometimes the most important editorial decision is recognizing when a book’s true heart differs from its original concept. Greg Lewin’s “At War With Myself” represents a pivotal moment in Brooklyn Writers Press’s development—our first memoir publication and a project that taught valuable lessons about matching titles to content and understanding what readers truly need.

The Evolution of Vision

Greg originally approached Brooklyn Writers Press with a concept titled “The Meaning of Trust.” However, after reading his manuscript, I felt we didn’t really have the content to support that initial title. The disconnect between concept and content required careful editorial consideration. I recommended that Greg consider a new title that would highlight the more personal perspective he had actually delivered. This kind of editorial guidance—helping authors see their work clearly and present it authentically—represents one of the most valuable services a publisher can provide.

Finding the True Story

My feeling was that “The Meaning of Trust” would sound commercially like a non-fiction reference title, but that clashed with what Greg had actually written—a personal account of his life, perspective, and experience. The manuscript was deeply personal rather than broadly instructional. “At War With Myself” better captured the memoir’s authentic voice and personal journey, allowing readers to understand exactly what kind of book they were encountering.

Brooklyn Writers Press’s First Memoir

“At War With Myself” holds the distinction of being the first memoir published by Brooklyn Writers Press, marking our entry into a genre that requires particular sensitivity and editorial skill. Memoirs demand a different approach than fiction or instructional non-fiction—they require balancing personal truth with reader engagement. This pioneering project taught valuable lessons about memoir publishing that have informed our approach to personal narratives ever since.

The Author’s Intelligence and Perspective

Something that struck me immediately about Greg was his profound intelligence. I enjoyed his view of the world and found that he had a lot to share. His abundance of knowledge and unique perspective came through clearly in his writing, making the manuscript engaging on an intellectual level. Greg’s ability to articulate his experiences and insights demonstrated the kind of thoughtful reflection that makes memoirs valuable to readers seeking to understand different life perspectives.

Early Career Learning

Publishing “At War With Myself” occurred during the earlier phase of my career when I was still developing my understanding of market dynamics and reader expectations. Like other titles from this period, I kept no royalties, focusing instead on supporting authors and learning the craft of publishing. Each early project contributed to Brooklyn Writers Press’s evolution and helped establish the editorial standards and market awareness that guide our decisions today.

Professional Production Standards

Despite being an early career project, I delivered a professionally produced book that met Brooklyn Writers Press’s standards for quality and presentation. Every author deserves professional treatment of their work, regardless of commercial expectations or market challenges. This commitment to professional production reflects our belief that every story deserves to be presented with care and attention to detail.

The Challenge of Personal Narratives

Memoir publishing presents unique challenges—balancing personal truth with broader appeal, helping authors find their authentic voice, and understanding what readers seek from personal narratives. “At War With Myself” provided valuable experience in navigating these challenges. The project taught important lessons about the difference between what authors want to say and what readers need to hear, and how publishers can help bridge that gap through thoughtful editorial guidance.

Honoring Personal Truth

“At War With Myself” serves an important purpose in preserving Greg’s personal truth and perspective. Every memoir represents someone’s attempt to make sense of their life experience and share insights that might help others. This inherent value transcends commercial considerations.

The Value of Intelligent Perspective

Greg’s intelligence and thoughtful worldview made “At War With Myself” a worthwhile addition to Brooklyn Writers Press’s catalog. His ability to articulate complex personal experiences and insights demonstrates the kind of reflective thinking that makes memoirs valuable. Even when memoirs don’t achieve broad commercial success, they serve important purposes for both author and the readers who do discover them.

Editorial Growth and Learning

The experience of working with Greg on title development and content alignment contributed significantly to my growth as an editor and publisher. Learning to help authors see their work clearly and present it authentically became a crucial skill for future projects. These early experiences with memoir publishing established foundations for working with personal narratives that continue to inform Brooklyn Writers Press’s editorial approach.

Gratitude for Trust and Intelligence

To Greg: Thank you for trusting Brooklyn Writers Press with your personal story and for being open to editorial guidance about title and presentation. Your intelligence and unique perspective made “At War With Myself” an engaging and thoughtful memoir. Thank you for allowing us to help you find the book’s true title and authentic voice. The evolution from “The Meaning of Trust” to “At War With Myself” better served both your story and potential readers by accurately representing the personal journey you had written. Your memoir marked an important milestone for Brooklyn Writers Press as our first venture into personal narrative publishing. The experience taught valuable lessons about editorial guidance, market positioning, and the unique challenges and rewards of memoir publishing. While “At War With Myself” may not have achieved widespread commercial success, it represents your personal truth and perspective preserved in professional publication. Your thoughtful approach to life experience and willingness to share insights makes the book a valuable contribution to the memoir genre. Brooklyn Writers Press is grateful for the opportunity to have published our first memoir with an author whose intelligence and reflective nature created a thoughtful and engaging personal narrative. 

Completing our “Celebrating Our Authors” series: Greg Lewin’s “At War With Myself” represents the thoughtful personal narratives that make Brooklyn Writers Press a publisher committed to diverse voices and authentic storytelling.

Discover Greg Lewin’s “At War With Myself” and explore our complete catalog at brooklynwriterspress.com