You are most welcome

It's going to have to be fictionalized, as too much of it can not be written for operational security reasons, especially after I get to when we are going out on real missions. I also need to use different names. I have to erase whole sections sometimes because it's stuff that shouldn't be public.

Thanks for the magazine idea. I am thinking of writing some column pieces for the dog magazines and submitting them. I can always think of something interesting to write about dogs. I have to get some subscriptions and start reading to see what is out there so I can be original.

David, here's an idea. The AKC has a fiction writing contest every year and the winning story is published in one of their magazines (Gazette or Family Dog). The next one is on now and closes Jan 2013 so plenty of time.

http://www.akc.org/pubs/fictioncontest/

Thanks Elaine! Now we need a topic Any ideas? It's only 2000 words. There is no reason not to submit something. We can write it here together LOL

 Quote: David Winners

Thanks Elaine! Now we need a topic Any ideas? It's only 2000 words. There is no reason not to submit something. We can write it here together LOL

You could use stories about your mother's dogs OR you could use something about Fama even if you change her into something other than a bomb dog but keep her great personality. Well, maybe don't have her actually bite anyone LOL.

Sorry this is long!

I would double what Elaine has said about magazines. I would also stick with stories of Fama, because publishers like to know that other publisher found your story compelling, and a magazine will give you a good venue to get your name and story out there. You may want to seriously consider billing this as non-fiction with names, dates, etc. altered. There are a number of MWD books out there, a few came out this year, but all are by journalists. A potential publisher will absolutely want to market the fact that you work in the military. Your rank and experience will get you a long way in terms of attracting potential readers. The other reason to keep it non-fiction is that your story fills a gap in recent non-fiction publications of MWD stories. Those of you who have read any of those books know that they are lacking one crucial factor: DOGS and what its like living, working, and training them. Your story is unique in this way, which could make it more marketable than another book by a journalist. I know it may leave a bad taste in your mouth to think of using your rank and experience as a marketing tool, but that's what any publisher will want to do, and putting it under a fiction title only down plays that.

The other thing to do now, is start looking at what publishing houses are putting out books on MWD or books by Veterans. Those are the houses to contact. You should also condense this story into a paragraph (500 words) abstract that tells a potential publisher what the general story is about and why they should care about the story. I would offer to edit this for you, but I'm swamped for the summer. You may already have someone editing this, but if you would like, I can ask some colleagues who regularly edit on the side, though they would charge you.

Eric, could he do both nonfiction and fiction using perhaps different viewpoints? The main thing with nonfiction I believe is concern for security.

And yes, I agree that articles and/or stories about Fama would be a great idea.

I have always thought that if Logan was a human, he would be a rockstar.....so I am wondering, what would Fama be?

Probably me.

 Quote: Eric Hultgren

Sorry this is long!

I would double what Elaine has said about magazines. I would also stick with stories of Fama, because publishers like to know that other publisher found your story compelling, and a magazine will give you a good venue to get your name and story out there. You may want to seriously consider billing this as non-fiction with names, dates, etc. altered. There are a number of MWD books out there, a few came out this year, but all are by journalists. A potential publisher will absolutely want to market the fact that you work in the military. Your rank and experience will get you a long way in terms of attracting potential readers. The other reason to keep it non-fiction is that your story fills a gap in recent non-fiction publications of MWD stories. Those of you who have read any of those books know that they are lacking one crucial factor: DOGS and what its like living, working, and training them. Your story is unique in this way, which could make it more marketable than another book by a journalist. I know it may leave a bad taste in your mouth to think of using your rank and experience as a marketing tool, but that's what any publisher will want to do, and putting it under a fiction title only down plays that.

The other thing to do now, is start looking at what publishing houses are putting out books on MWD or books by Veterans. Those are the houses to contact. You should also condense this story into a paragraph (500 words) abstract that tells a potential publisher what the general story is about and why they should care about the story. I would offer to edit this for you, but I'm swamped for the summer. You may already have someone editing this, but if you would like, I can ask some colleagues who regularly edit on the side, though they would charge you.

Thanks, and no need to apologize for a long post on this thread LOL

I will definitely take your advice into consideration. I understand the credibility that my rank and position lends to the story. I was unaware that you could publish as non-fiction with names / dates changed. That would be the way to go.

 Quote: Elaine Haynes

 Quote: David Winners

Thanks Elaine! Now we need a topic Any ideas? It's only 2000 words. There is no reason not to submit something. We can write it here together LOL

You could use stories about your mother's dogs OR you could use something about Fama even if you change her into something other than a bomb dog but keep her great personality. Well, maybe don't have her actually bite anyone LOL.

I just need to get a puppy from Betty for new material, and record everything on video