Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Attention Gunwriters

Gatehouse;
I realize that most folks on the Internet are good people, real name or not, and I can understand your defense of them. Which sort of makes my point. When the article in OL appeared slamming forums, a lot of folks were upset for good reason. No one could argue that the article wasn't accurate concerning some forum participants but it painted with too broad a stroke. That's what I felt was happening on this thread.

The magazines I write for are very much interested in the Internet as a way to get feedback from their readers. That's all I can say on that without overstepping the bounds of forum courtesy.

John;
I couldn't agree more on both your evaluation of the industry and your opinion on the value of these message boards. People are the same everywhere and I like to think the good ones are still in the majority. I can also understand why you would use a handle if your purpose was to mingle a bit without drawing attention to yourself. I don't have to worry about that. There are a least three writers I know of named Dan Johnson and no one has heard of any of us. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> One writes on hunting and fishing for regional publications in the mid-west (I bumped into him at the SHOT Show a couple years back) and the other writes on hobbies, mostly kit planes. That's why I added my middle initial "C" to my byline though the magazines keep leaving it out.

Dan Johnson

Tom Turpin;
I scanned back over the thread and realized I had indeed missed you when I said Ken and John were the only "real" gun writers on this thread. I'm sorry. Like others here have done, I was overstating the situation. I was also trying to avoid directly confronting certain people and ended up insulting all. My apologies to the forum in general as well.

Dan Johnson

Are you at liberty to name the magazine(s) you write for?

Model70man;
I'm not sure your question was aimed directly at me but I'll respond and hope others will also. Nothing to hide. I am a Field Editor for Guns & Ammo and Accessories Editor for Handguns. I have also written for a number of other publications but not so much any more as these two magazines plus some work for a sister publication, RifleShooter, keep me pretty busy. I should also note for anyone who doesn't know, the Editor titles do not really mean I am an Editor. I am not, other than Editing my own manuscripts. They are just titles the magazines put in the masthead to indicate a member of the contributing staff and their areas of expertise. For example, Handloading Editor, Gunleather Editor, etc. A Field Editor is someone who covers a variety of subjects.

Dan J

Yes sir, my question was for you. Of the magazines you mention, I subscribe to Guns & Ammo and Rifleshooter. I have a bad habit of not getting the author's name from the magazine stories unless I have read his work for years. In the future I'll make it a point to watch for your articles. I think it's kind of neat to see correspondence from the "gun writers" here on the forum. It makes me think you guys are everyday people! Thanks...

Model70man;
So you are the guy who reads G&A!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Glad to meet you at last. Most people don't pay much attention to the byline unless they are thinking, "Who wrote this crap?!!!"

Dan J

We are everyday people!

When I moved to this little town 13 years ago, my wife and I started a bank account. The friendly woman who set it up asked what we did for living. Bev was intrigued, and mentioned it to her husband Jay, as he reads a lot of hunting magazines. Jay said, naw, a hunting writer would never move here! I invited them to our housewrmming party a few weeks later, and told him we all have to live somewhere! Jay and I became good friends and occasional hunting partners.

Most gun writers I know are pretty much ordinary people. We may get to hunt a little more, but we still have bills to pay, lawns to mow, and bosses to please.

On average we may be deafer, though. When Jay found out I knew really famous gun writers like Craig Boddington, Ross Seyfried and Layne Simpson, he said he'd sure like to be a fly on the wall when we all got together on a hunting trip. I told him mostly he'd hear things like "Huh?" and answers to questions that were never asked.

JB

LOL...Good one, JB. I'm worse than most. Deaf in one ear and can't hear out of the other.

Dan J

Thanks guys. I might add I'm hard of hearing too since as an early teen I used to shoot 50 rounds of .38 Specials all the time and didn't know ear plugs existed. Now at 54 I'm blessed with tinnitus and listen to my ears buzzing 24/7. But back to the "gun writers"...I have met Layne Simpson and Col. Jeff Cooper at the 2000 NRA Annual Meetings in Charlotte and I enjoyed that. I asked Layne to someday write an article on the old Lyman, Unertl, and J.W. Fecker barrel mounted target scopes but I'm still waiting...how about it guys? Maybe I'm the only one that likes these old scopes but I know John likes old scopes because I keep track of them in his writings. Thanks...

I'm tempted to do another old-scope piece, but my editors will only stand for so many. Might have to wait a while. Am still looking for the perfect Unertl hunting scope. Came across a 4x in real nice shape a couple years ago but all it had was an extremely fine crosshair so passed.

JB

Three gun writers at the range:

"Windy today, isn't it?

"Naw -- it's Thursday."

"Me too. Let's go get a beer."

To All:

I just returned from a very interesting visit to Boyd Gunstock Industries in Mitchell, SD and found that in my absence, things bounced all over the place on this thread. It all goes to show that things that start with the simplest of questions drag out all sorts of stuff!

Friend JB really hit the nail on the head about the one thing that almost all gunwriters have in common, provided they have been in the business more than a day or two. That is, none of us can hear ourselves toot! On the same visit to Boyd's with me were five of my colleagues. A conversation amongst us was something to behold - mostly huh's, whatcha say, repeat that again, etc. Even so, it was lots of fun and very educational. Added, my colleagues and I usually see each other only at show time and at the shows, we're usually too busy to have a decent conversation. Trips like this one to Mitchell provides some free time to chat and compare notes - like a discussion of the brands of hearing aid batteries!

As to scoundrels and cads in the outdoor writing business - you bet, there are a few beauties. I could say the same about the medical profession, particularly the legal profession, used car salesmen, and, perhaps even the clergy. Most of us put our britches on the same way, but other than that, we are a truly diverse lot. I've been doing it long enough to know personally most of the clan. The vast majority are great guys, fun to be with and most interesting to talk to. Not only are they experts at what they do, most are as honest and hard working as they can be. Sure, a real stinker gets in every so often. Most don't last long though. Not only are the quickly discovered for what they are by the equipment manufacturers and service providers, they are also unmasked as horse's asses almost immediately by their peers. That is normally the start of the slippery slope downhill.

For example, I once worked at the same magazine with a real beauty, a well-know writer. A friend of mine in the firearms industry called me one day and told me of a "deal" this fellow had offered an importer. Basically, it went as follows - you give me a couple of your shotguns and you can write an article anyway you want it and I'll edit it and sign my name to it. He also implied that it was either that way or no way! The importer was incensed and dumped on my compadre who then called me. I called our joint editor and reported what I had been told. I didn't tell him the guy was a real jerk as everyone in the business already knew that fact, presumably including the editor. Anyway, he checked into the facts of the allegation and shortly thereafter, the writer was no longer employed by that magazine. Last I knew, he wasn't employed by any magazine.

Finally, I guess I'd best not take more trips as too much goes on while I'm gone.

Friend Dan - no offense taken - even my editors sometimes don't think much of my writing!

Tom

This thread should have been titled "Attention (Mostly Magazine) Gunwriters". Those of you that are more in the public eye so to speak. I say that because those of us with few magazine credentials have a hard time getting arrested. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I've written four books. Two are in use with the Ministry of Forensics (Firearms) in Ontario and various police agencies in North America. Many times (by appointment) I've walked into police or government buildings, announced my appointment time and name and got "Steve Who"? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That should also explain why few offers come my way. When they do, it's more for a product "shake down" and not magazine space.

One of these days I'll submit an article or two. The brag sheet and letter won't be much of a help though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Safe Shooting! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Steve Redgwell
303british.com