Writers' Guidelines

Concealed Carry Magazine has an ongoing need for practical, informative articles on all subjects related to concealed carry by ordinary citizens. This includes (but is not limited to) articles about mindset, social cosiderations, ethical questions, and discussions of actual events. We especially need articles which address practical issues such as how to select a firearm for concealed carry, choosing a holster and holster type, where to find good training and whether you need it, how to solve specific firearms questions or carry dilemmas, and so on. CCM has a particular need for how-to articles which address any aspect of carrying a firearm or using a firearm in self-defense. And we are always interested in well-written philosophical pieces that discuss any legal or social aspects related to the human right of self-defense.

If you are interested in writing for U.S. Concealed Carry or Concealed Carry Magazine, please click here and fill out the e-mail form in the Contact Us section of our website, or send an email directly to editor@USConcealedCarry.com.

Prior to submitting a complete manuscript, please submit an article summary that includes a short writer biography, estimated length, title and brief description.

Original Content. What CCM is purchasing from you is the right to be the first place your article is published. Please do not place your article on the web, whether it is on your personal website or blog, or on a public discussion forum, until at least one full month after the issue's "drop date," which is the day the issue is mailed to subscribers.

In some (rare) circumstances, CCM will republish previously-published articles, or articles that are simultaneously being published elsewhere, but only if we are told in advance that the article has been published elsewhere before. If your article has been or will be published ANYWHERE else, whether on the web or off it, please tell us when submitting the article so that we can make the appropriate editorial decisions about it. Don't risk your reputation by giving us an unpleasant surprise.

Format. Electronic submissions are preferred. Use MS Word .doc format when possible. If an electronic submission in .doc format is not possible for you for technical reasons, send an email to editor@USConcealedCarry.com and ask for guidance how to proceed.

Include a header in the upper left corner of your document. The header should include the article title and number of words, along with your name and email address. This information should be attached in this manner so that no matter what happens to the file after it leaves your hands, your contact data can never accidentally become separated from your article.

Arrrrgh, My Eyes! For the sake of the editor's weary eyeballs, your article should be presented in a standard font such as Times New Roman. Size should be at least 12 points.

Three Pictures Are Worth a Thousand... Include at least three high-quality photographs with your article submission. More is better.

At the end of your article, add a list of your photos (filename.jpg) and their intended captions. To avoid confusion and missing photos, this information should be attached to your article on submission, even if the photos themselves are delayed and submitted separately. If you have a particular place within the body of the text where you visualized each picture, please mark those spots in the body, but also include the complete list of photographs and captions at the end of the article.

Remember that layout requests are just that, requests. Space constraints and other considerations will dictate the placement, size, and use of article illustrations.

Who Are You? Include a short (50 words or less) blurb about yourself at the end of your article. This will be published in the magazine.

Example: Kathy Jackson is a freelance writer who lives in Washington state. She also works as an assistant instructor at the Firearms Academy of Seattle. Visit her personal website at www.corneredcat.com. (30 words)

Where Did You Get That? If a product is mentioned within the body of your article, include contact information and price details at the end of your article. Similarly, if you quote a firearms instructor or a company spokesman, provide contact details for that person or company.

Who Said That? All assertions of fact such as statistical data, historical quotations, or research summaries should be referenced to the original source. It is not sufficient to quote a book which is quoting another book. Instead, track the data back to the original source and cite that original source. Include author's name, book or article title, volume number if applicable, year of publication, and page number for the first cite. Subsequent cites can simply give author's name and page number. IF YOU CANNOT SOURCE HARD DATA BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL CREATOR, PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE IT IN YOUR ARTICLE.

If your article includes more than three sourced quotations, put the source in footnotes to avoid breaking up the flow of your writing.

Payment. Because CCM has traditionally preferred to work with beginning and previously-unpublished writers to develop our own talent pool, we ask writers to donate their first piece to the magazine. After that, we negotiate. The pay structure depends upon the type of article and where it is used, whether in print or on the USCCA website. Paychecks are issued on publication.

Professionalism. Please respect all deadlines and space constraints. When your article goes over length, it means someone else's article is being cut, or someone's photo will not see print. If you do not feel you can keep the article within space constraints, notify the editor as soon as possible; we do have options that can be worked out on a case-by-case basis.

Getting It There. Email is the preferred method for article submissions at CCM. Send your completed article, along with any photos and other attachments, to editor@USConcealedCarry.com.  

Holster Reviews

Length -- under 1000 words.

USCCA members have an ongoing need for thorough, honest reviews of holsters and related  products, including (but certainly not limited to) belts, purses, fanny packs, IWB and OWB holsters, crossdraw holsters, ankle holsters, shoulder rigs, belly bands, undershirt holsters, pocket holsters, and clothing with concealment pockets.

The best holster reviews received each publication cycle will be published in the print magazine, while others will be published on the member-exclusive USCCA website, with new content appearing weekly.

The goal is to supply USCCA members with a varied and excellent mix of holster types and materials to consider. Our readers come from a wide variety of economic backgrounds, with varying physical and practical needs. Accordingly, reviews should not be limited to one type of holster or holster material, nor to one manner of carry, nor to either end of the cost spectrum. We are always looking for variety.

Details. Lots of Details. Discuss the quality of workmanship as well as discussing the specific design. Include everyday details from your personal experience using the holster: what worked, what didn't, what needed to be tweaked.

You are strongly urged to live with the holster as your primary carry method for at least two weeks before writing your review - longer if possible. If you need to make any adjustments to the holster whatsoever during that time, please note what you changed, why and how you changed it, and whether the change improved matters.

It's Not An Ad.  Include negative information as well as positive. Include positive as well as negative. Your job as a reviewer is NOT to sell the product, even if you think it's wonderful. Your job is NOT to chase people away from the product, even if you think it's horrible. Your job is simply to provide a straightforward assessment of the product, including both positive and negative information in an easy-to-read, enjoyable format.

While purchasing and measurement details are important, please do not simply regurgitate a checklist of information anyone could get off the manufacturer's web site. Readers need concrete purchasing data, but are mainly interested in learning what the reviewer personally observed and experienced with the holster while using it.

Contact Data.  Include contact information for the supplier and an approximate price. If applicable, note how long it took the holster to be delivered. Note additional details such as shipping cost, the condition of the holster upon delivery, and whether the holster maker was timely in communicating with you as the purchaser.

General Information. Holster reviews should not unnecessarily belabor the pros and cons of a particular carry method, but should stick with discussing the holster itself, particularly the strengths and weaknesses of the holster design and its execution.

Be Honest.  In the interest of integrity, please disclose in the article if you got a special deal on the product, or are closely associated with the holster maker.

Include Good Photos. All reviews need to be submitted with at least three good pictures, more if reasonably possible. A good review can be turned into a great review with good photos.

Gear Reviews

Length: under 1000 words.

Please read the section titled "Holster Reviews" above, as nearly all the same requirements will apply.

Live With It.  When reviewing gear, please live with the gear for long enough to find the product's flaws. Give it a good workout so that your writing does not mislead the readers. As an example, that generally means a test flashlight will get used enough that the batteries run down a few times. Take it with you on a camping trip. Throw it in your glove box and let it rattle around. Use it before you write about it.

If you're doing it right, the test product will show some signs of wear before you are ready to write it up.

Gun reviews

CCM publishes firearms reviews from regular contributors. These reviews are typically assigned in advance so that writers' efforts do not overlap. If you would like to write a gun review for us, please contact the editor directly by sending an email to editor@USConcealedCarry.com.

Training class reviews

CCM regularly publishes after-action reports and reviews of firearms training classes. These reviews are typically approved in advance so that writers' efforts do not overlap. If you would like to write a class review for us, please contact the editor directly by sending an email to editor@USConcealedCarry.com. Send this email before the class begins, so that we can discuss important details you will need to know going into the class.

How-To articles

Length: 1500 to 1900 words

(Longer articles require special approval; contact the editor for details.)

How-to articles are a mainstay at Concealed Carry Magazine. Our readers are interested in knowing how to effectively conceal firearms, how to deal with specific social situations, how to address security concerns with family and friends. They want to know how to use a firearm efficiently in high stress situations, how to avoid danger in the first place and how to deal decisively with trouble if it arrives anyway. They want to know how to practice effectively and how to select good training. They want to know the difference between a stock and grip, a caliber and a bullet diameter. They want to know whether to move when threatened, or whether to "stand and deliver." They want to know the signs of an impending assault and they want advice how they can integrate concealed carry into a normal, busy lifestyle. They want to know how to deal with specific physical and lifestyle challenges related to carrying a concealed firearm.

Be Clear. Speak directly to the readers using plain language. Avoid wordy circumlocutions.
 

Do: Get your gun.

Don't: One should obtain one's personal firearm.

Be Focused. Choose one main theme for your article and stick with that theme. Use supporting details to support the need to learn the skill your article teaches, or to provide a word picture of how to do it. Avoid the temptation to wander off into other subjects even if they are tangentally related.

Do Not Use Jargon. OODA loop. Combatives. Condition Yellow. Double taps. FOF. Watch your six. Tactical. And on, and on, and on. Even readers who understand the meanings will often skip over these worn-out phrases and the paragraphs that surround them. Use fresh language!

Include Good Pictures. Remember that the purpose of photos is to SHOW what the article EXPLAINS. See the photo guidelines for tips.

Write What You Know. More to the point, don't write what you don't know. You definitely do not have to be a military hero or a law enforcement officer in order to know a thing or two about civilian concealed carry. But if you want to write about choosing firearms, it helps if you have some experience with shooting different types of guns. If you want to write about how to conceal under regular office clothing, it helps if you regularly wear office clothing. If you want to write about techniques for shooting after dark, it helps if you regularly practice shooting in low light conditions. Whatever the subject, your writing will definitely work better if you know what you're talking about.

Do Not Boast. While it is important to establish that you as the writer know what you are talking about, you should be able to do this in a single sentence (Examples: "As a firearms instructor who trains more than xx number of people a year, I see ..." or, "After carrying a firearm for more than xx years, I found ...").

Your clear writing and common sense advice are your real authority. You need not appeal to any other.

Where Did You Get That? If you learned a technique from a particular school or received a great insight from a specific instructor, please give credit where credit is due. Similar techniques might be taught in a lot of different places, but acknowledging where you learned the technique is both honest and courteous.

Philosophical, Legal, and RKBA Articles

Length: 1500 to 1800 words

(Longer articles require specific approval; contact the editor for details.)

These opinion- based articles are among the most difficult to write well, and are also the most popular submission for new writers. Here's how to stand out from the crowd.

Say Something New. Most firearms owners have already heard the slogans. "Better to be tried by twelve..." "From my cold, dead hands ..." "Molon Labe."  These were all brilliant once, because they were fresh, new ways to express a very old idea. Now they are stale, cliché'd ways of expressing the same beautiful old idea. The idea is as grand as it ever was -- but find a fresh way to say it and you can be the brilliant person who said it first.

Avoid Namecalling. If you must refer to a politician whom you despise, use that person's proper name, with the proper spelling. If you must refer to a state with less than friendly laws, use that state's proper name, with the proper spelling. Do not resort to kindergarten-level name twisting for dramatic or comedic effect. Manuscripts which contain this unprofessional language will get tossed without a second glance.  

Get The Facts Right. This cannot be emphasized enough. Be sure you have your facts right!.

All assertions of fact such as statistical data, historical quotations, or research summaries should be referenced to the original source. It is not sufficient to quote a book which is quoting another book. Instead, track the data back to the original source and cite that original source. Include author's name, book or article title, volume number if applicable, year of publication, and page number for the first cite. Subsequent cites can simply give author's name and page number. IF YOU CANNOT SOURCE HARD DATA BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL CREATOR, PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE IT IN YOUR ARTICLE.

If your article includes more than three sourced quotations, put the source in footnotes to avoid breaking up the flow of your writing.

Articles Outside the Box

Sometimes, a really great article just defies being categorized. If you have an idea and would like to write something for CCM that does not fit neatly within any of the above categories, please drop an email to the editor at editor@USConcealedCarry.com