Skimming through writing books looking for a prize?
Find anything out there that works for you?
Say you bought a few and thought that was what you were looking for only to realize the book's a bomb?
Are most of your inspirational writing collections collecting dust?
Here's what I think you are looking for. I know when I first got started it was exactly what I wanted.
I wanted a book that helped me understand a straight and direct way to communicate. I wanted patterns in writing techniques that my mind could work with to and use.
But of utmost importance, I needed to write non-fiction, prose and poetry. I needed to be able to see how other writers communicated with their readers.
Sound familiar? It should. Because you are looking for the same thing right now. Otherwise, you wouldn't be still here hoping and praying this the book you've been waiting.
A word of warning, unless you do what I do -- basically vanish from the face of the publications eye for a 22 year stretch --, expect to become a well known author. Just because you start off with only 1 article published the first year doesn't mean this line of work, it simply means you are good enough to get published, you just need to do it more often.
Read this book, do the assignments. Above all, have fun with this quirky world we call freelance writing.
So, who am I?
I'm not my daughter whom which I'm afraid, has inherited my natural talent. Not as dyslexic as me and full of vim and vinegar, she wrote her first Science Fiction novelette in October, November and December, asked me to read it and asked me if I knew anyone who would publish it.
Well, I read the first page, said to myself, this child of mine writes just like me.
After I got his e-mail, I told her to contact a friend of mine -- Shirrel Rhoades of Amazing books. She did on the 10th and three days later it along with two more she hasn't written yet are under contract.
The first is being published in February.
As for me, I've worked for Shirrel Rhoades as a contributing editor for Opportunity and Income Plus, I've had nice, decent images published by Bruce Helford when he was the editor for the Bits and Pieces Section of Hustler Magazine. He also became the producer of Anger Management and the Drew Carey Show.
I had my images stocked by Black Start Publishing and my images were published through the world.
2 images of mine are part of a 135 photographers collection Shirrel Rhoades donated to the Savannah College Of Arts and Design. The collection in which Shirrel Rhoades said where the top 135 who had significant impact of the history of photography.
5 of 7 fiction articles I wrote in one day, Were published in Street Chopper, Jamming, In the Wind and 2 in Iron Horse.
My Army writing career started with Rendezvous With Destiny:
And ended with Killer Copters: Our Deadly Middle East Weapon this in 1980:
In between 1975 and 1979 I was published in AARES, Army, Army Aviation Digest, Army Aviation Magazine, Army Times, Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, EurArmy, Fort Campbell Courier, Front Line, Lake Charles American Press, Pillars and Posts, Sierra Vista Herald, Soldiers Magazine and Stars and Stripes.
Short of Army Magazine, all have had more than one article published in each. As a collection, over 250 articles and 500 images went into print.
I was awarded 2 Army Accommodation medals -- was put in for 3 but the 3rd Infantry Division rejected the 3 because I had just gotten one. A Commander's Certificate.
I also received a personal letter of appreciation from the Commanding Officer of the 101st Airborne Division. Why? Because basically, I saved his butt.
Simple story.
I'm on REFORGER 78 taking pictures and writing stories off my duffle bag for A Troop, 2/17th Cavalry that was part of the Task Force 229th. I had just gotten a story published in Stars and Stripes. It turned out that the official photographer assigned to the task force, broke his leg. And for the only time in my life I became an official US Army photographer.
Meaning, I took all of the images during the exercise. From the bottom of the first paragraph, start from This Year.
I've worked with Hilary Brown of ABC News and took images in Black and white that the color versions taken By David Allen Burnett were published in Time Magazine.
By now, you're probably thinking that I had to be trained for this. That Public Affairs was my specialty.
Nope.
My Job title was 67Y20. AH-1G Cobra mechanic. All of my writing and my photography skills have been because I wanted this. And, because I had some of the most fantastic people helping me along the way.
Then I got out. Then I had to learn who to write what sold to civilian publications and to become my own editor --become my worst enemy.
Between 1980 and 1996 --when I went to work for Microsoft. I've been published in the following:
Commercial:
American Fitness
Army Times
Aviation USA
Better Homes And Gardens
Bicycling
Bow Hunter
Camperways
Camper Times
Gleanings In Bee Culture
Entrepreneur
First Hand
Income Opportunity Magazine
Income Plus
Inter Coastal Waterway
Lake Charles American Press
Lagniappe
Opportunity Magazine
Small Business Opportunity Magazine
Southern RV
Southern Boating
Western And Eastern Treasures
Men's Magazines:
Adam
Chic
Cheri
French Edition Of New Look
Gentleman's Companion
Hustler
Stag
Swank
Trade Publications:
American Salesman
Army/Navy Surplus
Bicycle Business Journal
Cigar Magazine
Gift Shop Magazine
Industrial Photography Magazine
Outdoor Power Equipment
Pet Dealer
Studio Photography Magazine
Unfinished Furniture
