FE story submission idea

[ryanahorst]

I’m 44. I’ve walked with a cane (90% of the time) since an Army training injury in 2008. Spent part of that time in S. Korea before finishing my stint at Ft. Meade in ‘09. Seeing how I was only 28 at the time, I was having some real personal issues wrapping my head around my new disability. Add in to that a fresh divorce, and I was not in a great place. I used to do obstacle courses, rock climb, hike all over… just be physically active and adventurous.

That back story brings us to here. Remember how in the early days of the internet and late 80s early 90s fears, parents were all “Don’t trust anybody on the internet! Don’t talk to strangers! Blah blah…”? Well, in an effort to take back some of my pride, I bought an ‘82 Yamaha XJ1100 inline-4cylinder motorcycle off eBay. My dad picked it up and trailered it home for me since I had no other vehicle and was predominantly stuck on post at Meade. After confirming its road worthiness, the first thing I did was find some strangers on an Internet forum much like this one and plan to attend an XS/XJ-series themed motorcycle rally in Brattleboro, VT. I strapped some gear to my bike and rode a motorcycle that was only one-year younger than me to meet my internet “friend” in PA (even slept at his house the night before we left) before a third cohort meeting us (he rode from FL) and heading up to VT. That’s the first of many motorcycle trips I’ve taken, some solo, some in groups, but I’ve rode my motorcycle(s) up and down the east coast.

My wife says this is the exact kind of stuff I should be writing down for our three girls to read about when they’re older to prove to them their dad used to do cool stuff. I could probably make a half decent tale of that week, if not other moto adventures. Think I should submit it to FE?

 

[wburns]

I’m 44. I’ve walked with a cane (90% of the time) since an Army training injury in 2008. Spent part of that time in S. Korea before finishing my stint at Ft. Meade in ‘09. Seeing how I was only 28 at the time, I was having some real personal issues wrapping my head around my new disability. Add in to that a fresh divorce, and I was not in a great place. I used to do obstacle courses, rock climb, hike all over… just be physically active and adventurous.

That back story brings us to here. Remember how in the early days of the internet and late 80s early 90s fears, parents were all “Don’t trust anybody on the internet! Don’t talk to strangers! Blah blah…”? Well, in an effort to take back some of my pride, I bought an ‘82 Yamaha XJ1100 inline-4cylinder motorcycle off eBay. My dad picked it up and trailered it home for me since I had no other vehicle and was predominantly stuck on post at Meade. After confirming its road worthiness, the first thing I did was find some strangers on an Internet forum much like this one and plan to attend an XS/XJ-series themed motorcycle rally in Brattleboro, VT. I strapped some gear to my bike and rode a motorcycle that was only one-year younger than me to meet my internet “friend” in PA (even slept at his house the night before we left) before a third cohort meeting us (he rode from FL) and heading up to VT. That’s the first of many motorcycle trips I’ve taken, some solo, some in groups, but I’ve rode my motorcycle(s) up and down the east coast.

My wife says this is the exact kind of stuff I should be writing down for our three girls to read about when they’re older to prove to them their dad used to do cool stuff. I could probably make a half decent tale of that week, if not other moto adventures. Think I should submit it to FE?

Hell yeah you should! Sounds like a story I’d like to read. I’ve done many bird hunting trips similar to what you’ve done lol. Probably should have been murdered a time or two but here I am still bird hunting!

 

[Godfather]

Authentic @ryanahorst - authentic!

For sure submit - love this story.

I’m 44. I’ve walked with a cane (90% of the time) since an Army training injury in 2008. Spent part of that time in S. Korea before finishing my stint at Ft. Meade in ‘09. Seeing how I was only 28 at the time, I was having some real personal issues wrapping my head around my new disability. Add in to that a fresh divorce, and I was not in a great place. I used to do obstacle courses, rock climb, hike all over… just be physically active and adventurous.

That back story brings us to here. Remember how in the early days of the internet and late 80s early 90s fears, parents were all “Don’t trust anybody on the internet! Don’t talk to strangers! Blah blah…”? Well, in an effort to take back some of my pride, I bought an ‘82 Yamaha XJ1100 inline-4cylinder motorcycle off eBay. My dad picked it up and trailered it home for me since I had no other vehicle and was predominantly stuck on post at Meade. After confirming its road worthiness, the first thing I did was find some strangers on an Internet forum much like this one and plan to attend an XS/XJ-series themed motorcycle rally in Brattleboro, VT. I strapped some gear to my bike and rode a motorcycle that was only one-year younger than me to meet my internet “friend” in PA (even slept at his house the night before we left) before a third cohort meeting us (he rode from FL) and heading up to VT. That’s the first of many motorcycle trips I’ve taken, some solo, some in groups, but I’ve rode my motorcycle(s) up and down the east coast.

My wife says this is the exact kind of stuff I should be writing down for our three girls to read about when they’re older to prove to them their dad used to do cool stuff. I could probably make a half decent tale of that week, if not other moto adventures. Think I should submit it to FE?

 

[Dave Eder]

Authentic @ryanahorst - authentic!

For sure submit - love this story.

love it @Chad Adams and @Charlie Benton

 

[huntbirdz]

Ryan...I think you definitely should write those experiences down as a ledger of cool things and adventuress that you did for your girls, family, and friends to read about. I am guessing that there are multiple smaller tales of humor, mishaps, daring and wild rides that make the brunt of your travels on that motorcycle. Sounds like you can probably fill a lot of journal pages with stories. I would honestly suggest if you haven't already to peruse over the many great FE online (shorter) and print (longer format) articles to get a sense of the style that is being submitted and published. I think this would help steer you in the direction of what you are wanting to do. Could be that you have multiple stories to submit for digital use, or larger written pieces for the magazine. Reach out to some people and get some direction, advice, etc to read your story and help provide feedback and direction. As a FE writer since the beginning in 2020, I would gladly help you in any way I can. Feel free to reach out, email, or message. - Edgar Castillo, huntbirdz@gmail.com

 

[Charlie Benton]

I’m 44. I’ve walked with a cane (90% of the time) since an Army training injury in 2008. Spent part of that time in S. Korea before finishing my stint at Ft. Meade in ‘09. Seeing how I was only 28 at the time, I was having some real personal issues wrapping my head around my new disability. Add in to that a fresh divorce, and I was not in a great place. I used to do obstacle courses, rock climb, hike all over… just be physically active and adventurous.

That back story brings us to here. Remember how in the early days of the internet and late 80s early 90s fears, parents were all “Don’t trust anybody on the internet! Don’t talk to strangers! Blah blah…”? Well, in an effort to take back some of my pride, I bought an ‘82 Yamaha XJ1100 inline-4cylinder motorcycle off eBay. My dad picked it up and trailered it home for me since I had no other vehicle and was predominantly stuck on post at Meade. After confirming its road worthiness, the first thing I did was find some strangers on an Internet forum much like this one and plan to attend an XS/XJ-series themed motorcycle rally in Brattleboro, VT. I strapped some gear to my bike and rode a motorcycle that was only one-year younger than me to meet my internet “friend” in PA (even slept at his house the night before we left) before a third cohort meeting us (he rode from FL) and heading up to VT. That’s the first of many motorcycle trips I’ve taken, some solo, some in groups, but I’ve rode my motorcycle(s) up and down the east coast.

My wife says this is the exact kind of stuff I should be writing down for our three girls to read about when they’re older to prove to them their dad used to do cool stuff. I could probably make a half decent tale of that week, if not other moto adventures. Think I should submit it to FE?

Ryan, we're always looking for great stories. Yours definitely has potential. Here's my recommendation: bang out a 500 to 800 word version of the best story and submit it as a potential web story through our online submission form HERE. Chad will read it and decide if he thinks it sucks or not. If it doesn't suck, he'll either run it or fire it over for me to read if he thinks it may have potential to be expanded for a print story. Let us know in the comment section of the submission form if you have photos to accompany the story and, if so, attach a couple of the best photos to your submission.

 

[ryanahorst]

Ryan, we're always looking for great stories. Yours definitely has potential. Here's my recommendation: bang out a 500 to 800 word version of the best story and submit it as a potential web story through our online submission form HERE. Chad will read it and decide if he thinks it sucks or not. If it doesn't suck, he'll either run it or fire it over for me to read if he thinks it may have potential to be expanded for a print story. Let us know in the comment section of the submission form if you have photos to accompany the story and, if so, attach a couple of the best photos to your submission.

I’ll start putting it together this evening! Thank you for the opportunity.

 

[coreymolinelli]

I’m 44. I’ve walked with a cane (90% of the time) since an Army training injury in 2008. Spent part of that time in S. Korea before finishing my stint at Ft. Meade in ‘09. Seeing how I was only 28 at the time, I was having some real personal issues wrapping my head around my new disability. Add in to that a fresh divorce, and I was not in a great place. I used to do obstacle courses, rock climb, hike all over… just be physically active and adventurous.

That back story brings us to here. Remember how in the early days of the internet and late 80s early 90s fears, parents were all “Don’t trust anybody on the internet! Don’t talk to strangers! Blah blah…”? Well, in an effort to take back some of my pride, I bought an ‘82 Yamaha XJ1100 inline-4cylinder motorcycle off eBay. My dad picked it up and trailered it home for me since I had no other vehicle and was predominantly stuck on post at Meade. After confirming its road worthiness, the first thing I did was find some strangers on an Internet forum much like this one and plan to attend an XS/XJ-series themed motorcycle rally in Brattleboro, VT. I strapped some gear to my bike and rode a motorcycle that was only one-year younger than me to meet my internet “friend” in PA (even slept at his house the night before we left) before a third cohort meeting us (he rode from FL) and heading up to VT. That’s the first of many motorcycle trips I’ve taken, some solo, some in groups, but I’ve rode my motorcycle(s) up and down the east coast.

My wife says this is the exact kind of stuff I should be writing down for our three girls to read about when they’re older to prove to them their dad used to do cool stuff. I could probably make a half decent tale of that week, if not other moto adventures. Think I should submit it to FE?

at the very lest write it down in a journal for them. and honestly. for you too. all of it, the military, the injury, all of it.