Something for Boys to Read About

It was a small assignment for Boys' Life -- I've had larger since, ones that are still awaiting publication -- but it was my first one, and the result of an idea I pitched to the editors last year. The other day I got a couple of copies of the November issue, in which the article appears, in the mail. An old-fashioned way to first see your work, since many articles aren't even put on paper these days. As far as I can tell, however, this article will only appear on paper.

"Article" is stretching things. As you can see, it's really a squib. Somewhat shorter than I actually wrote, but the editors did a nice job of making it a full-pager nevertheless.

It's also a lesson in how, in my business at least, it's good to remember the odd things you learn along the way. I first heard about the Firefighters Combat Challenge, the subject of the squib, when on staff at Fire Chief magazine back in the '90s. It seemed like a perfect thing for boys to read about, and the editors agreed.