iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Here’s our latest monthly salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! Find all these stories here: www.aimingcircle.com/2026/09/a-ro... Join us! linktr.ee/aimingcircle (Slide 1 of 4)

IMAGE: RAJASTHAN, INDIA—U.S. and Indian Army artillerymen fire an M777 howitzer as an integrated gun crew during exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan, India, Sept. 22, 2026. The combined crews applied rehearsed commands and procedures to safely execute bilateral live-fire missions, demonstrating interoperability at the soldier and crew level. Photo by U.S. Army Maj. Sarah Harris

101

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! (1 of 3) Find all these stories here: www.aimingcircle.com/2026/08/a-ro... #middlewestpress #aimingcircle #militarylife #veteranswriting

IMAGE: U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to C Battery, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, West Virginia Army National Guard, fire a howitzer during a nighttime live-fire mission at Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 10, 2026. The gun crew delivers indirect fires under limited-light conditions, reinforcing the ability to execute fire missions regardless of time of day or visibility. This year's exercise features approximately 9,000 participants. U.S. Army National Guard photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ari Shuemake

120

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

ICYMI: OUR LATEST MONTHLY SALVO! (Slide 1 of 4) Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! Find all these stories here: www.aimingcircle.com/2026/07/a-ro...

IMAGE: TWENTYNINE PALMS, California—U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Angel Solorioserrano, a California native and a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System ("HIMARS”) operator with 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, guides an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during Rocket Artillery Battery Integrated Training as part of Service Level Training Exercise 4-26 at Quackenbush Training Area, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, July 18, 2026. Photo by U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Lainey Brummett

101

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

MAGE: CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA—U.S. and Spanish Marines observe and verify artillery impacts during Fleet Exercise 250 (FLEETEX) on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 14, 2026. FLEETEX 250 represents the United States’ commitment to layer defense of the homeland through forward-deployed forces and reinforces interoperability with allies and partners through collective maritime security. Photo by U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Channah Chilton

100

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

(Slide 3 of 3 -- "Rounds complete!") * 'Witness to History' Non-fiction Workshop is Jun. 6-27, 2026 * 2026 Submission Dates for Col. Darron L. Wright Contest Announced * Anthology to Celebrate 50 Years of Women's Achievements at U.S. Air Force Academy * Vets Writing Contest Closes May 31, 2026

IMAGE: A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Task Force Saber, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, transports an M119 Howitzer assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY), via sling-load during the Joint Pacific Readiness Center Exportable Exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, May 16, 2026. JPMRC-X, as part of Exercise Salaknib, integrates U.S., Philippine, and partner forces in realistic scenarios to enhance interoperability, refine multi-domain tactics, and strengthen regional readiness in the Indo-Pacific. Photo by U.S Army Sgt. Olivia Cowart

000

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

(Slide 2 of 3) * Virtual Summit on Soccer & WWI is Jun. 9, 2026 * 'Conflict Literature Workshop' Offers Critiques of Participants' Prose * New Poetry Anthology Probes Environmental Impacts of War

100

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

ICYMI: OUR LATEST MONTHLY SALVO! (Slide 1 of 3) Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! Find all these stories here: www.aimingcircle.com/2026/05/a-ro...

100

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

ICYMI: OUR LATEST MONTHLY SALVO! Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! Find all these stories here: www.aimingcircle.com/2026/04/a-ro... Connect with us: linktr.ee/aimingcircle

IMAGE: A U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System from 5th Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, 7th Infantry Division/ Multi-Domain Command- Pacific fires for a training iteration in support of Exercise Balikatan 26, in Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert

100

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

111

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- & war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more! Links: www.aimingcircle.com/2026/02/a-ro... * FREE On-line Workshop with Author Matt Gallagher * Sword & Sorcery Market Gains Another Magazine 1/3

100

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

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.aimingcircle.com/2026/01/a-ro... * Feb. 17: On-Line Colloquy on Vets-Writing Groups * Jan. 28 Reading to Celebrate 'Proud to Be' Vol. 14 1 of 3

120

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Con't, 2 of 2 * Deadline for Screenwriting Mentorships for Veterans is Feb. 3, 2026 * Journal Editors Boost Holiday 'Nudge' to Submit * PA & NJ Veterans-Lit Mag Calls for "Celebration"-themed Works * Mossy Point Magazines Expand to Short Fiction "Rounds complete!"

000

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, & MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fic, poetry, scholarship, & more! 1 of 2 Links here: www.aimingcircle.com/2025/12/a-ro... * Mil-Horror Editors Call for LitRPG Submissions * Army Mad Scientists Call for Ludicrous Speed

130

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

November stories, con't (3/3 — "rounds complete!"): * FREE On-line Craft Seminar to Explore Poetry of Trauma Nov. 16, 2025 * Got Books? What to Read this Veterans Day * Call-for-Papers: Pop Culture & War Post-1945 * Now on Sale! "Our Best War Stories" Volume 2!

000

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

November stories, con't (2/3): * Premier Veterans' Writing Contest Opens May 1, 2026 * Vet-Activist Editors Call for Poems & Visual Art * Publisher Announces 3rd Annual SFF Novella Contest * Novelist-Veteran Wins Syracuse Press Prize

120

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Here’s our latest salvo of RESOURCES, TIPS, and MARKETS for writers of military- and war-themed fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scholarship, and more!  Find all our November 2025 stories here (1/3): www.aimingcircle.com/2025/11/a-ro... #milwriters #veterans #milfamilies #militarylife

130

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

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

110

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

"All this has happened before; all this will happen again."

Photo of EM-50 urban assault vehicle from the military service comedy "Stripes" (1981).

021

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

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!"

021

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

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...

110

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

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 1/3

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

110

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

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!"

074

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

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

142

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

"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.

010

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

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...

074

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

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

132

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

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

130

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

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."

042

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

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.

112

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

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" 1/n

122

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

"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!"

022

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 01/11/2024

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

110

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 30/08/2024

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

111

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 01/08/2024

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.

120

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 13/02/2024

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."

020

The Aiming Circle @aimingcircle.bsky.social · 12/02/2024

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.

021