Aim Your Words at the Write Targets

Documenting personal and family stories of military service is a long-running theme in the Red Bull Rising blog. What follows in this post is a list of venues through which citizen-soldiers, veterans, friends, and family members can share words, stories, and perspectives. These venues are presented in alphabetical order, and range from informal online exchanges to more traditionally edited print publications. Some even provide opportunities to communicate through visual arts, poetry, and fiction.

Remember, you don't have to write for a living to write about your life.

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AMERICAN VETERANS CENTER

Website: www.americanveteranscenter.org

According to the organization's website, "the mission of the American Veterans Center is to preserve and promote the legacy of America’s servicemen and women from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom." Veterans, friends, and family can place a personal stories on the Online Veterans Tribute, via the website, e-mail, or postal mail.

E-mail: tribute AT americanveteranscenter.org

Mail submissions to:
American Veterans Center
1100 N. Glebe Rd. Suite 910
Arlington, VA 22201

Submissions sent via e-mail or post should be submitted in Microsoft Word format, if possible. According to the website, any story that is not submitted in a format that can be electronically copied and pasted onto the site will take 4 to 6 weeks to transcribe and post online.

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"TELLING: IOWA CITY"

Website: www.workinggrouptheatre.org

A series of Eastern Iowa stage performances in November and December 2011, "Telling: Iowa City" presents the individual experiences of nine veterans, as performed by those veterans. A component of the performance is an opportunity for others to share their own thoughts and experiences regarding military service.

According to the website: "'Telling: Iowa City' is only a small collection of the hundreds and thousands of stories across Iowa of veterans' service to our country. We invite you to tell your own story to us. We will collect them and archive them with the rest of our 'Telling: Iowa City' narratives."

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THE JOURNAL OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE

Website: va.eku.edu/volume
Facebook: Click here.
Print publication: The Journal of Military Experience
Deadline for submissions: Dec. 31, 2011

Edited and published on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky. and started in Fall 2010, the Journal of Military Experience "reflects the struggles service men and women across the nation, a process that has helped them come to terms with what they experienced and educate those who have not served about the nature of war and military service. Many of the [writers featured in the first issue] have expressed a therapeutic effect from sharing their stories and all are motivated to move forward with their new lives."

Proceeds from book sales go toward publishing future issues, as well as toward funding an "Operation Veterans Success" scholarship and retention program at the university.

Click here for guidelines.

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MISSOURI WARRIOR WRITERS PROJECT

Website: mowarriorwriters.wordpress.com
Facebook: Click here.
Deadline for submissions: Dec. 30, 2011

The Missouri Warrior Writers Project is seeking submissions for a national anthology of poetry, non-fiction, and fiction by veterans and service members about their wartime experiences regarding Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the organization's website:

This experience includes deployments and those who have never been deployed. Transition back into civilian life is also a topic of interest for this anthology. The contest will award $250 each to the top entries in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. All entries will be considered for publication in the anthology. There is no entry fee.

Click here for guidelines.

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REAL COMBAT LIFE

Website: www.realcombatlife.com/share-a-story/
Twitter: Click here.

The purpose of this Minnesota-based online effort is "to provide an online forum for our brave veterans to share their experiences and to educate the public on what life is like in combat from a first-hand perspective."

The website continues:

Writing your thoughts down has long been a method for individuals to help deal with stress. Military members have the most stressful job in the world and it is important that we do not ignore those signs within us. Sharing your story may not help heal all the pain we have inside but it helps you know that your story is out there and not bottled up inside.

It is also important to educate the public on what life is like in combat. The media reports what they want you to hear. This is your chance to educate the public on what life is really like in combat and to let them know what you have done for our great country. Not all stories have to be about getting shot at. We want to hear your funny stories and what you do to fight the boredom. The story can be as long or short as you want ... we just want to help you get your voice heard!