By Bob Doerr

The theme for the MWSA 2025 Anthology is "Reflections: Service to our Country." As the term implies it means submissions are short pieces. The format is wide-ranging: from articles and short stories (maximum 3,000 words, please), to art and photo essays, poetry, and music lyrics (if a contributor has recorded a song based on the lyrics, then please add the URL so that we editors—and obviously readers—can listen to it). All submissions have to be related in some way to the military and military life. In other words, we want this anthology to be as inclusive as possible with regards to the military experience, ranging from that of what veterans themselves experienced to experiences of veteran family members, and to civilian outsiders who have their perspective. We hope that many of you may have military, military family, or military-related stories to share. Your stories can be fiction, non-fiction, humorous, or serious. This is your opportunity to bring that story from the back of your mind onto the pages of this collection of stories from fellow MWSA authors.

Stories and poems must be written by active MWSA members and not previously published. Authors will grant a one-time right to publish in the anthology with all rights other than the anthology publication remaining with each author. The maximum word count is 3000 words, and each member is limited to one submission. Black and white graphics, maps, and photographs to which you have the permission may be included with your work with proper attribution and within the publisher’s specifications. You can submit color images, but they will appear in the final version in black and white.

In accordance with the MWSA Ethics Policy, MWSA cannot accept submissions that include politically, religiously, or racially biased or anti-U.S./U.S. military material. As we anticipate these anthologies will be read by family members of the submitter, let’s try to keep these submissions to a PG-14 level.

Submissions need to be in Word, New Times Roman, 12 pt, and double-spaced. Submissions need to be well edited before being submitted. Submissions that are poorly edited will be sent back to be fixed. We will open the submission window on December 1, 2024, and close it March 30, 2025. Submissions should be emailed to Bob Doerr at anthology@mwsa.co with the story attached. Please also include a photo (headshot) of yourself and a brief bio of no more than 75 words.

So, get those writing muscles working and get ready to have your story published in 2025! This opportunity is one of your MWSA benefits, so take advantage of it. For some, this will be the first time they have had a story published. Over the years, many of us have learned much about and from our fellow members through their stories published in MWSA anthologies. To see past anthologies, please check this link: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/anthologies.