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aimingcircle.bsky.social
The Aiming Circle
@aimingcircle.bsky.social
110 followers 250 following 120 posts
We illuminate markets, contests, & other resources for writers of military fiction, non-fiction, history, analysis, poetry & more. Patreon-supported community of practice. Admin: Charlie Sherpa. Visit: linktr.ee/aimingcircle
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aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more!

Connect with us: linktr.ee/aimingcircle

Here's October's stories (slide 1 of 3):
www.aimingcircle.com/2025/10/a-ro...
IMAGE: PU.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division prepare a Paladin for Battery Operations during Rotation 25-04 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Feb. 15, 2025. Rotations at the National Training Center ensure Army Brigade Combat Teams remain versatile, responsive, and consistently available for current and future contingencies. Photo by U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Marina Caggeso, Operations Group, National Training Center
October 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
"All this has happened before; all this will happen again."
Photo of EM-50 urban assault vehicle from the military service comedy "Stripes" (1981).
October 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
RUMINT: @middlewestpress.bsky.social will also debut its new "have a nice day" sticker design!
Book cover of "Things We Carry Still: Poems & Micro-Stories about Military Gear" depicts a pair of buff-colored U.S. Army desert boots against a blue stylized contour terrain map. A sticker on the book depicts cartoon olive-drab grenade with a yellow happy-face on it, along with the words "have a nice day!"
October 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! Bullet list in thread, 1 of 3

www.aimingcircle.com/2025/09/a-ro...
Interior image of U.S. troops and equipment aboard a military cargo aircraft. The headline reads "Our September Round-up of Mil-Writing Tips & News." The Aiming Circle logo depict a plastic toy mortarman, along with the motto: "Ready! Aim! Write!"
September 30, 2025 at 2:46 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more!
www.patreon.com/posts/135258...

Connect with us: linktr.ee/aimingcircle

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IMAGE: Soldiers from the Puerto Rico National Guard’s 296th Infantry Battalion of the 92nd Military Police Brigade conduct a night mortar live-fire exercise at Camp Santiago Joint Training Center on July 18, 2025. The training enhances soldiers’ capability to deliver accurate indirect fire in low-visibility conditions, increasing combat effectiveness and readiness for real-world operations. Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Maldonado
August 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
10th Annual Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Awards close Fri., Jul. 4, 2025!

Cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100 in 4x categories.
Veterans & mil-family writers eligible!

Submit new & unpublished poetry & prose (fic/NF/hybrid) via Submittable: lineofadvance.submittable.com/submit
Photo image of Darron L. Wright while deployed to Iraq. Behind the soldier is a flat desert scene. A CH-47 "Chinook" helicopter is landed and loading. The sun is peaking over the horizon. Text reads: "Deadline: 04JUL25" "$$$ Prizes!" "FIC/NF & Poetry!" "Vets & Mil Fam!"
July 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: Here’s our latest salvo of TIPS and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! (1/3)

www.aimingcircle.com/2025/06/a-ro...

• On-Line Journal Calls for Essays, Opinions, Poetry
• Danger-Close: Darron L. Wright Contest Deadline
TEXT: "Our June Round-up of Mil-writiing Tips & News" LOGO: The Aiming Circle logo depicts a plastic toy soldiers firing a small mortar, surrounded by the motto: "Ready! Aim! Write!" PHOTO: "FORT DIX, NY—During annual training, the mortar company of the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment hangs a 120mm mortar round, a challenge for the shorter soldier due to the height of the tube. The mortar company fired 60mm mortars, 81mm mortars and 120mm mortars during their annual training at range 59C at ASA Fort Dix. Photo by Fort Dix Training Division's Steven Roussel"
June 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
"Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a picture or GIF.

Hard mode= no Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, or Marvel/DC universes.

Extra hard mode = no Master & Commander, Last of the Mohicans or A Bridge too Far. Adding BoB, and Red October to extra hard mode."
Scene from "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949) depicts a U.S. Army Air Forces executive officer signaling an alert for pending air mission by turning on a mantel a large water pitcher fashioned in the likeness of Robin Hood.
June 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
Friendly reminder: Submissions to the 10th Annual Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Awards will close Fri., Jul. 4, 2025!
Cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100 are available in each of six categories! Veterans & Mil-family writers!

Full details and background:
www.patreon.com/posts/132187...
Slide depicts Darron L. Wright deployed as a U.S. Army soldier to Iraq. A "Chinook" helicopter is landed and loading in the flat desert background. The morning sun is on the horizon. Logo is for the Chicago-based literary magazine "Line of Advance," which administers the Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Awards, now in its 10th year!
June 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: OUR LATEST SALVO of resources, tips, and markets for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and more! Slide 1 of 3

www.aimingcircle.com/2025/05/a-ro...
TEXT: "Our May Round-up of Mil-writing Tips & News!" ARCHIVE IMAGE: CAMP RIPLEY, MINNESOTA—Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, conduct live-fire mortar training at Camp Ripley, Minn., during an eXportable Combat Training Capabilities (XCTC) rotation on July 25, 2024. Indirect-fire soldiers are responsible for operating and maintaining mortars to provide indirect-fire support, including setting up, loading, firing mortars, and calculating accurate firing data using fire-direction equipment and techniques. Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Armani Wilson
May 31, 2025 at 4:51 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: OUR LATEST MONTHLY SALVO of resources, tips, and markets for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, and more!

www.aimingcircle.com/2025/04/a-ro... 1/3
Headline reads: "Our April Round-up of Mil-writing Tips & News!" Aiming Circle logo depicts green plastic mortar soldier with words "Ready! Aim! Write!" IMAGE: U.S. Army artillerymen assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Redleg, prepare to fire an M119 Howitzer during a night live fire exercise at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, March 26, 2025. The exercise enhances precision artillery skills to maintain readiness in support of Coalition operations. These training exercises reinforce skill sets to maintain Coalition readiness to aid in the enduring defeat of ISIS and securing regional stability. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Steve Asfall
April 30, 2025 at 11:33 AM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
We've got a new Linktree! Connect with our FREE round-ups of market news & tips, and with our community of practice serving writers of military themes and topics!

linktr.ee/aimingcircle

#writingcommunity #militarywriting #milwriting #militarylife #civmil #veterans #aimingcircle
Screenshot of The Aiming Circle's new Linktree website features the typewritten "What's Your Story" banner, along with a photo of U.S. Army mortar soldiers that has been colorized a bright green to mimic plastic toys. Website buttons are labeled "Mission Statement & About", "Get more from The Aiming Circle on Patreon", and "Mugs, T-Shirts & Other Merch."
April 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: OUR LATEST MONTHLY SALVO of resources, tips, and markets for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, and more! (1 of 3)

- "Veterans Lifestyle Magazine Continues March"
- "Lit Review Seeks Criticism on N.C. War Writing"

www.patreon.com/posts/round-...
IMAGE: U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and Thai soldiers assigned to 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, Queen’s Guard of the Royal Thai Army, fire artillery rounds during joint exercise Cobra Gold 2024, Sa Keo, Thailand, Mar. 3, 2024.
February 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
ICYMI: OUR LATEST MONTHLY SALVO of resources, tips, and markets for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, and more!

www.patreon.com/posts/round-...

- "Applications Open for 2025-26 Army Writing Fellowships"
- "Anthology Explores Space Force History"

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Headline reads: "Our December Round-up of Mil-writing Tips & News". Aiming Circle logo is plastic toy mortarman encircled by words "The Aiming Circle" and "Ready! Aim! Write!" Photo is soldier adjusting fuze on mortar round prior to firing.
December 31, 2024 at 3:21 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
"Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War" anthology: amzn.to/2OZktFN

"Whether you're writing military-themed genre fiction or literary non-fiction, strategy or policy analysis, history or journalism, or even modern war poetry—this puts an arsenal of innovation & expertise at your fingertips!"
Book cover to "Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War" anthology borrows an image from U.S. WW2 propaganda poster—soldiers marching from viewers' right to left. Background image of slide depicts WW2 soldiers on sandy beach marching toward viewer, with surf in background. Headline reads, "60+ authors + poets + more / Talk how to write about war". Also: "In Print + On Kindles ! On Sale Now!"
December 2, 2024 at 6:12 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
A new "patch" & logo! Same literary fire-mission!
We’re replacing our B&W diagram of a U.S. Army M252 Aiming Circle with a bright-green plastic mortar soldier, a targeting recticle, and the motto “Ready! Aim! Write!”

Follow and sample us for FREE at our public-facing blog: www.aimingcircle.com
Text reads "Tools, Tips & Markets for War- and Military-Writers Since 2017. New shoulder-patch-like logo includes the text: "The Aiming Circle — Ready! Aim! Write!" At the center is a plastic green U.S. Army toy soldier, loading a mortar. Behind the soldier is an aiming recticle, similar to one that might be seen when viewing through a rifle scope. There are two yellow stars, one on each side of the circle. The website "aimingcircle.com" appears below the toy soldier.
November 1, 2024 at 2:39 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
Our August 2024 round-up of mil-writing tools, tips, & resources! 1/n

Find all the links here: www.aimingcircle.com/2024/08/a-ro...

- ‘Small Wars’ Website has New Owner—Big News Pending?
- Mil-Family Museum Plans Anthology on Federal Service
- FREE Virtual Generative Writing Workshop Nov. 3, 2024
PHOTO: An M119 105mm howitzer waits to fire amid a backdrop of northern lights during Exercise Northern Strike 2024 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 11, 2024. Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon
August 30, 2024 at 3:28 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
Our July 2024 round-up of mil-writing tips, markets & resources! www.aimingcircle.com/2024/07/a-ro...

- U.S. Army to Assign Editorial Tours as Broadening Assignments
- New Volume Dissects Additional Sci-Fi Tropes for Authors
- Publisher Announces 2nd Annual Mil-SciFi Novella Contest

1/n
Army news photo depicts Utah parachutist deploying a large American flag during recent event.
August 1, 2024 at 1:55 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
Collateral Journal is one of The Aiming Circle’s top-recommended markets for military writing! Collateral editors seek poetry, prose, non-fiction, and visual art that interrogate “the effects of violent conflict outside of the battle-story or combat-zone.” Check them out: www.collateraljournal.com
Contributor "Charlie Sherpa" (left) & Collateral Journal founding editor Abby E. Murray at AWP24, Kansas City, Mo. Collateral Journal's "swag" at AWP24 included male and female toy soldiers, as well as buttons featuring text such as "fund poems, not war" and "fund kids, not war."
February 13, 2024 at 5:45 PM
aimingcircle.bsky.social
From #AWP24:
- What veteran-friendly publisher is closing?
- What are AWP's "war-writers tribe" potentially cooking-up as an organizational framework?
- Will there be a new arts residency for veterans in 2024-25?
- Is that @fobhaiku.bsky.social in this AWP photo?!

www.patreon.com/posts/notes-...
Official AWP photo depicts tradeshow attendees during AWP Bookfair & conference Feb. 7-10, 2024, Kansas City, Mo. Convention Center.
February 12, 2024 at 5:32 PM