Operational Tales
Your chance to be published on EMN’s Substack.
We’re inviting subscribers to share a story! True-to-life snapshots from the field, funny moments that kept the team going, hard lessons learned, times you overcame a gnarly challenge, or the small wins that quietly mattered.
Write in plain, PG-13 language, focus on what’s helpful or uplifting, and keep details de-identified (no names, exact locations, or incident IDs). Our Editorial team will review for clarity, safety, and fit.
If accepted, your story will be featured in a new section (Coming Soon) and help peers, students, and leaders learn from your experience.
TL;DR
What We’re Looking For
Length: Short Stories.
Format: Nonfiction vignettes, reflective notes, or short poems rooted in EM life (on duty, training, mentorship, lessons learned).
Tone: Respectful, human, and uplifting—leave readers encouraged or wiser.
Audience: Students, practitioners, and leaders across Ops, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Admin, PIO, Public Health, EMS/Fire/LE, and partners.
Safety First: PG-13, No PII, No OPSEC
We publish stories with care. Please do not include:
Names, addresses, exact locations, unit/badge numbers, incident/case IDs, personal contact info, patient/juvenile details.
Exact timestamps or specifics that identify an individual, agency, facility, or active incident (we hold anything <30 days from demob).
Write safely with general terms: “a coastal county,” “a planning teammate,” “during the first operational period.”
If in doubt, leave it out—our editors may anonymize further or decline to protect people and operations.
How It Works
1) Submit (5–10 minutes).
Use the form to share your title, story, and byline preference (first name + region, or anonymous).
2) Editorial Review (7–10 business days).
We screen for safety/PII, clarity, and fit. If substantive edits help, we’ll send quick suggestions and give you one approval pass.
3) Publish
Accepted stories are scheduled in the EMN newsletter and on-site. We’ll notify you of your publication date and link.
Your Rights & Our License (Plain English)
You retain your copyright.
By submitting, you grant EMN a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to edit for length/clarity/safety and to publish/promote your story across EMN channels (site, newsletter, social, annual anthology).
We may decline or remove any submission to protect privacy, safety, or quality. No compensation unless explicitly agreed.
FAQ (Optional section; include if space allows)
Q. Can I write about a recent incident?
A. We hold anything within 30 days of demob (longer if sensitive). Consider abstracting details and focusing on lessons learned.
Q. Can I be anonymous?
A. Yes. Choose Anonymous or “First name + region.” We still need your email for editorial follow-up; it won’t be published.
Q. Can I reshare my story elsewhere?
A. Yes. You keep your rights. We kindly request that you repost links back to the EMN version whenever possible.
