Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Being a “gun writer”?

So, if a guy publishes a gun book, does that make him a gunwriter?

Asking for a friend.

Posting on the 24hourcampfire "Ask The Gunwriters" forum makes anyone a gunwriter.

Publishing is one thing. If the book SELLS, then yep.

Same thing for magazines. JB SELLS, so he's a gunwriter.

I sure won’t be earning a living off the sales, so I’ll just remain another obscure author.

I can live with that. Being famous like JB would be too much of a burden.

Publish it and enjoy.

I published my first book over 20 years ago. It was for a niche market of Cdn Rangers who used the No 4 rifle (aka the Lee Enfield). I was surprised when others expressed an interest in it. I was teaching, started a website and put out more niche books for interested readers. My earnings pay for more rifles, powder, bullets and presents for the grandkids.

Many people mistakenly believe that every author earns a lot of money. Most don't. You should write because you want to and have something to say. Writing about guns, cartridges and related stuff won't make you rich or famous, but it can help others and will make you feel good.

That’s perfectly stated. If I was after money, I’d have made FAR more picking up some computer consulting gigs. I did this because I thought it needed to be done, and because I’ll enjoy it. Hopefully others will find it useful. If not, that’s fine as well.

And reference books are not… simple. Thought it’d be reasonably easy to put together a pretty comprehensive book. Ha… ha ha… No.

Rewarding, but not easy. Just photographing guns can drive you bonkers. So many curves to reflect light! Aaaargh…

I’ll restrict myself to this pocket reference, and a larger 99 book if this is popular. Then I’ll bow out and just enjoy the guns.

I think that with any writing you really have to be in it for love, rather than as a quick way to fame and fortune. My old man quit respectable employment to be a fulltime writer when I was a young kid, and while successful it didn't make him a plutocrat. My own efforts have brought in the odd payment, but I wouldn't want to depend on it for my income.

I hope your pocket reference sells, and you enjoy writing more to follow it.

Well... I wondered how long it’d be before I was a recognized
Gun Writer.

I’ll be looking for my royalties.


btw, jwall is my pseudonym.

Jerry

I gotta put that in my resumé.

Those that can do . Those that can't dont they write / talk about it ...

I am so happy! Now I are one too!

I am so happy! Now I are one too!

No, no.

"Them as can writes, them as can't edits". There are more editors than writers.

Jerry

Thats how I got counted...

Hmmm....for maybe the first time, I have to disagree with JB. To be a writer, you need to be able to hear the rhythm of the words you write. Punctuation is important too, but it's not everything. Keith was a writer.....needed editing, but his stories flowed in the reader's mind. O'Connor, JB, and many others can do both. I can do punctuation and grammer, but couldn't write anything others would enjoy reading. To my mind that is the difference.

Ever heard of sarcasm?

That's why I said I was glad to be a G W. !


Jerry

You guys make me sleepy.......

Well, dang.. that leaves me out. My book's just a reference book.. plain, straightforward, dry as heck. Just has the data.

Which is what you want in a book you carry through a gun show, tho. Maybe I'll practice my prose for the bigger book. Minored in literature.. put a bit of alcohol in me and I can probably still wax a bit poetic.

Not every writer is a poet, nor needs to be.

Most everything you read these days is hyperbole or bullshit, I don’t want to read poetry I want facts

I was annointed as a gunwriter by our late Mister Howell.

He and I had been having a bit of a squabble over the objective veracity of gun articles and the actual intentions of their writers. It was from this that I concocted the first posting about the Pillar of TrVth. For those of you who are unaware, the Pillar of TrVth stands out in a forlorn patch of weeds just behind the main Campfire. It is available for any camper who wishes to use it. You simply stand on top of the pillar and make a pronouncement. If what you say is objectively true, you get a pretty little green light and a sentimental ringtone. If what you stated is false, a rather large bolt of lightning issues from the heavens and zaps you into a pile of ashes.

If memory serves, the nut of my squabble with Ken was the actual motivation for gunwriting. My contention was that it was entertainment. Ken wanted to present a loftier opinion. In the midst of the exchange, I stated that the Pillar of TrVth would go unused by any gunwriter. Ken agreed and it was on this point, that he anointed me as an official gunwriter.

We stopped mowing around The Pillar of TrVth about a decade ago. It's still there if anyone wishes to use it. However, I'd suggest bringing me along to show you how it works. You'll also have quite a job clearing away the brambles.

Shaman said above ^^^^

"I was annointed as a gunwriter by our late Mister Howell".


Well, we know that NO man is right about everything.

Dr. Ken and I also corresponded about several things over the years.
I first saw and read him in the Gun Rags.

I've said this before, a long time ago.
I have been PRIVILEGED to talk, via key board, with several "Writers" I was familiar with on the printed page.

I NEVER expected to have the opportunities to talk with these guys personally. Participating HERE made that
possible. I really like and appreciate the privilege and opportunities I have had HERE on the 'fire'

THANKS Guys

I stopped writing magazine articles when editors stopped using freelance articles. That was nearly 10 years ago. (Oddly enough, I just had a submitted article returned to me that never ran even though the manuscript has numerous editing marks. They were clearing out their files.)

My two books still sell a few copies every month even though they were published a decade ago and I have never marketed them. They earn me enough to buy a Happy Meal some months. (I have the prices set at the minimum the publisher allows.)

Motivation? I initially wrote magazine articles because I so admired the men who had entertained and educated me about shooting all my life. I wanted to be like them. After I had sold a few articles and gotten favorable comments from readers my motivation changed to a desire to share the things I'd learned about reloading. Evaluating new reloading components or developing safe loads for obscure cartridges is tedious, hard work. If I could save a few readers that drudgery, I was rewarded. There was certainly no monetary reward.

As an aside, I also had my share of squabbles with the late Dr Ken Howell. Enjoyable ones, because two lovers of the language can spar about its intricacies without losing respect for each other. Our longest running disagreement involved whether "alright" is a proper word or not. I maintain that it is - and still do.

Morning Rocky.

You are one of the ones I mentioned and I am glad to have the privilege to exchange ideas with you.

Thnx

Jerry

Wolfe Publishing has always published freelance articles, although not many. At least they were still doing that a couple of years and not just for their "B" annual publications, but for HANDLOADER and RIFLE. I suppose the GUN DIGEST publications still use a good bit of freelance material as they always have, but these aren't the publications they once were.

The very first time I met the late John Wootters, at a SHOT Show many years ago, he told me quite firmly that gun writing wasn't "real journalism," but entertainment. He knew this because he'd done "real journalism" as a reporter for a big Texas newspaper.

I might also point out that in many ways I am not a "gun writer." I started making most of my living writing in my 20s, and all of it from age 30 on. But I didn't start selling a few gun articles until my late 30s, and they only became a major part of my income in my 40s.

I still write quite a bit on other subjects, but for the last 2-3 year have also supposedly been "semi-retired." In a certain sense this is true because I'm only writing about half as many magazine articles per year as I did a decade ago. But quite often I don't feel retired at all....

It was Wolfe Publishing who told me they did not plan to accept any further freelance articles. The last two or three I submitted were accepted, but never published and sat in their files for years. The then-editor told me that they no longer had enough page count to print more than their staff writers produced.

Rocky- I'm at a loss to explain your experience with Wolfe, but my statement was based on actual experience. However, I had a friend who had done outdoor and hunting newspaper columns and articles for many years and later a lot of online magazine material. I suggested he contact Wolfe (about ten or so years ago) and he received the same response you did; that surprised me.

Rocky,

I noticed the same anti-freelance trend about the same time, even though by then I was a staffer for several magazines. Partly I noticed because some people still aspire to being freelance writers, and ask older writers how to do it. In fact Eileen and I have been teaching a monthly adult-education writing class on how to get published for over a decade, and the process has changed almost entirely since I broke into the business in the 1970s.

As one magazine editor explained it when he retired a decade ago, the magazine business is far more competitive now than it was even 25 years ago--due to competition from various other sources such as TV and the Internet. Many editors simply can't afford to spend the time to read freelance submissions, because editorial staffs have been cut drastically. When I started writing for him there were 14 full-time workers in the editorial office, who put out a 150+ page magazine every month. Today the "magazine" is published quarterly, totally on-line, and may have 2-3 office staffers.

That's one of the more drastic transitions, one I could kinda see coming 20 years ago, when I quit writing for his magazine. But today most magazines simply must use staff-writers who can provide reliable "content," rather than spend time on freelance submissions. (Which brings up a question: How do they find reliable "content providers" when they don't encourage freelancers?)

I broke in by writing stories and sending them to magazines. My first sale was to Sports Illustrated, back when they regularly published hunting and fishing articles, about flyfishing in the winter in Wyoming. They paid me what would be the equivalent of over $2000 today--for a "regional" story that only ran in certain parts of the country. Wrote some more regional pieces for them before selling them a main feature, which paid the equivalent of $6000 today.

That sort of pay doesn't happen often anymore, because the "publishing" pie is split up so many ways--partly into "free content," such as the Campfire. Eileen and I still do okay because we followed some of the new trends, including self-publishing books. In fact our self-published books are now our single largest source of income--but we had also learned through publishing books through several conventional companies about the many ways they can screw writers, and decided to keep that money for ourselves.

The big problem with self-publishing, whether magazines or books or Internet "content," if of course finding ways to get paid (unless, of course, you write to please yourself). It's a whole different business now.

John,

Thanks for the "insider" comments. Your output is exceptional in both quality and quantity. That's not flattery; it's "facttery". People have no idea how arduous writing is and how much time it consumes. One full-length article a month, done every month, is almost a full-time job.

I was successful in getting articles printed in a variety of magazines, starting some 35 years ago. I quickly learned through turned-down proposals that finding niche topics was the way to go for a freelancer. Staff writers got all the current topic assignments - which is and was entirely proper, I hasten to add. Freelancers like me had to find some off-beat topic that was more or less beneath giving to a staffer in order to get even a story idea approved.

After research, obtaining supplies, bench and range work, writing, polishing, photographing, and finally assembling a packaged article it often took months or a year between submission and print. Only then would a check show up in the mail -- sometimes only after tactful reminders. And those were the good old days!

It is probable that newspapers and magazines of all types are soon to be extinct, for the reasons you summarized. A pessimist might also say that the same goes for the shooting sports, but that's less likely. Either way, the job of "gun writer" is moribund.

So your question does not get lost as the thread devolves, let's revisit what you asked. A reference book is not a magazine article about a firearm or hunting trip. It is not outdoor fiction. What you propose is different, but very necessary. Reference books are used daily by many people and are helpful.

Here are a few things to consider.

Are you looking for a publishing house, or do you wish to self publish? From what you said, self publishing might be the way to go. Convincing a publishing house to accept your work is a challenge. They only take on so many books a year, are a business and need to turn a profit. If you approach one, find a publisher that accepts your kind of work. They do not want entire books, so you have to write a proposal. It is not difficult. One page will do. A proposal is a brief outline of your book's purpose and how will be presented. Pictures. Exploded diagrams, etc.

Do you have someone who can review and edit what you've written? Most writers are too close to their work and need someone to edit. Not only for spelling and punctuation, but for flow and structure.

Find someone who has done similar work and ask them questions. Take it offline. Frankly, this probably isn't the best place to ask your questions.

Do not listen to the naysayers or you will never get your project done.

Heck, Calhoun, that may be just what someone needs! And you may have the "gift!"

Steve, thanks for the suggestions. I actually started this 3 years ago and listened to a couple new gun book writers who went through the traditional publishing route, printed beautiful books, and were basically screwed by the publisher.

So I went the self-publishing route with a print on demand service. Is it as beautiful? No. Did it have professional editors? No. Will it be distributed to Barnes & Noble and other bookstores? Probably not, those thieves steal all the profit.

But I’m in control of revisions; it will be published and sold as long as I leave it up for sale; I’m not tied into horrendous contracts with a publisher; I’m not making pittance per sale while publisher and retail houses rake in all the profits; and the book is available at a good price for collectors. I’ll sell fewer copies, but end up happier.. I think.

Calhoun, can you tell us what your book is about? May be of interest to folks on the campfire.

You're welcome.

Like some, I went the traditional route as well, but because they are businesses, I discovered that compensation for the work was less.

As technology advanced, traditional houses fought back against the computer literate, who decided to go the self publishing route. They called them "vanity publishers" amongst other things. Both can exist in the same space, but it took awhile for them to accept that they no longer had 100% control. The computer age has made it easier to get your word out.

The other concern was getting a publishing house to sign on. Niche books don't make them money. Your work can be top drawer, but will be rejected. You have probably found this out..

Happiness is key. If you don't have a website, you should get one. When you promote it, you will have to grow a thick skin. Using this site as an example, there are a bunch of grumpy Guses who take great pleasure in putting others down. Ignore it and carry on.

All the best!

Sorry, it’s about Savage 1895’s / 1899’s / 99’s. Available at www.savagelevers.com. I’ll be adding more Savage 99 stuff to the website later, been on vacation in Yellowstone.

That’s exactly what I decided. And being a pocket reference, it has limited info so there will be folks upset it doesn’t have their preferred subjects. I’ll survive the criticism somehow, I think.


Cover of the book.. obviously I am not a graphic designer by trade.

John (or others)

What do you see for the future of what I refer to as "coffee table magazines" like Grays Sporting Journal, Double Gun Journal and such? While one can read work like that on-line it seems to be a better format in print and They seem to have some room for freelance writers. It would be a shame to lose them.

One of my favorite magazines, Eastern Fly Fishing just became American Fly Fishing and while perhaps a little thicker, it's much diluted in subjects and places I'm interested in and as a result I'll likely drop my subscription.

Allen

www.savagelevers.com

Then you're golden. I am sure that you have spread the word in the Savage section here and other places.

I will add your link to my site.

🙂🙂🙂

Great job!

Well, that's very kind of you, and thank you very much. I had fun doing it, hopefully folks will get some use out of it.

That's what most of us want from what we do, I think..

Calhoun, I'm interested in 99s. I just may order a copy.

A paperback from the website is $21 plus shipping, that hopefully is low enough to not be a problem for anybody. Might want to take a look at the calendar while you're on the web site, it has some very cool pictures of special order engraving, checkering and carving for 1899's. The pocket sized book didn't allow very large pictures, so got permission to use those photos in a calendar for folks who wanted to see lots of detail.

David Royal will have a larger book on engraved and one of a kind 1895's/1899's/99's coming out probably next year. So keep an eye out for his as well.

[quote=Calhoun]



So, you are Rory Calhoun. aha.

I liked him too.

“River of No Return” and many other roles.

Was told my mom thought he was a good looking guy, so I got the name. Been called Calhoun since I was a tyke.

Allllright. LIKE


Jerry

Will do. My Dad and Uncle Bill both had 99s....in .300, of course.

I'd have guessed that. I got started deer hunting with a loaned 99C in 284. Wish I had that rifle.

Yes R C was good looking



60 years ago.



Jerry

Rocky,

Thanks for your nice words! Yeah, writing is work--but if you like to write it beats some other jobs.... :-)

You're absolutely right about freelancers having a better chance of selling articles if the subject is somewhat off-beat. Magazines have staff writers to review the latest guns, ammo, scopes, etc.

One of the changes that actually helped gun writers was the switch to digital photography, which happened about the same time pay rates from magazines started dropping. Digital made it far easier and cheaper to put together a photo "package," rather than take slides and get them developed. Taking slides, as you well know, required taking more than one of the same photo, in order to make sure at least one was useable.

Then you either had to mail off the film, or take it to a local shop, for developing. Eileen and I preferred to use a local (and very good) shop to mailing--but as is common in Montana that required a 140-mile round trip. Our switch to digital cameras was paid for the first year just in film development costs, and also saved a LOT of time, since we could immediately see the results. That definitely helped balance the drop in magazine pay rates.

John

Allen,

That's an interesting question--partly because a little over a year ago Gray's Sporting Journal asked me to write for them again, and offered enough money to make it possible. I sold my second article to them in 1976, the first full year they published, and did a lot more for them over the next 20+ years (also spending a couple years as their editor), then just got too busy with other markets.

So far have done four stories for them, but right now my "jury" is still out on Gray's future, for a couple of reasons. Will know more in the next few weeks.

John

Calhoun/Rory,

I just ordered a copy, since I'm something of a 99 nut. Used to be a lot nuttier, but the idea of having a quick, compact reference to take to gun shows is a great one!

Am also sending you a PM, with some ideas about the present status of self-publishing gun books, which may or may not help.

Good hunting,
John

I have your link and book picture on my site. It is with the rest of my books. Just scroll down when you go to the page.

Let us know before I get all my friends their Christmas gift subscriptions!

Thank you very much! It's in my mind that I bought a 99G from you a decade or so ago in the classifieds.. I also believe I bought one of your Murray's books.



Awesome! Appreciate it very much. I'm going to have to pick up that Campfryer book.. don't know how I've missed that.

Gun....there ya go. I now are one😁🙄

By your post count you have less experience than I.



Jerry

Okay....just ordered a copy of the book and the calendar. Now I'll be able to talk in a little more detail about my .303 and .22 HP.

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it, as a 99 nut the calendar blows me away. Let me know what you think.

MD:

I've completely enjoyed both GSJ and your contributions to it through the years, and I'm glad that you're back adding to the mix with thier particular brand of sporting literature.

I would argue that most gunwriters write about what they DID. Ie., hunting, shooting a firearm for review etc etc.

You can only write about things you know about. This knowledge comes from actually doing those things then writing about them. No competent editor would even consider publishing anything less. I believe your premise is wrong unless you have evidence to the contrary.

Thanks very much!