tt writers/photographers????

“I've read some really great, inspiring writing on this site and viewed some awesome photos....any of you do freelance travel writing/photography?? (besides you, Lizs) Just curious 'cause it looks to me like there is some real talent on this board. Thanks for youf info.”

“I'll scan some stuff and put in up soon”

“Dude, ya gunna scan up your extra gear too.”

“I am trying to get some stuff published. I have been working on a book for a little over a year as time permits, I also have written several magazine articles but have only submitted two and was rejected on one of them. I love to write about outdoor experiences. Any help out there would be appreciated.”

“I wrote a cookbook..
But that's not real writing.
I've also had some of my photos printed.
But nothing spectacular on either account.
That's why most writers and photographers are "starving".
At least I can still cook.”

“I took a 5 hour course yesterday on Travel Writing, thinking I would just use the info for my own personal journals. However, there was a real focus on doing it for money and info shared by the instructor, master candidate who has been published. Got some great info on basics. Also, there were some yahoos (big mouth, I've done this, blah,blah,blah...you know the kind) who had actually gotten published. I thought, gee, if that jerk can do it why can't I? Just started me thinking, that's all and I wondered how many others had similar idea if not already published. Will put my thoughts together when I let yesterday's info settle and will put it out there is anyone is interested. Also, thought some with experience could give us some tips. Have a good day, all!!!!”

“sirpete
What gear do you wanna see. I prolly got a pic of it?

I reread the top post again. I don't do any writing but I'll still post some pics if you want.”

“Here's some winter stuff for ya.”

“http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1465610&a=11900117&f=0"> winter ”

“Screw it !!!
My links arn't working!!”

“Utah--where did you find a course for travel writing? That sounds interesting. I'd consider it for the same reason you took it...just to make my own journals more alive.
Making money would be cool, too.”

“Had a poem published a LONG time ago in the high school newspaper... that'd be the extent of my experience! :o)”

“hey dude,

Those winter pictures were great|
where were they taken?

Also checked out zaleski pictures.
when you went were the watertaps
frozen?
here in ohio that has happened
to me on winterhikes.”

“Dang, barred from responding........ lol!!

Yeah, where'd ya take your class, utahiker? A college or extension thing? As you said, sit down and glean what you learned. Then, most importantly, put it to work.

While you do need to be able to write (and publishers typically wanna see writing of some kind, published clips or other stuff) if you wanna make some money at it, I've found (and others will verify) that building trust is important. Get that story and/or photo in by deadline or before. Give the editor a call if you're having problems and let him/her know about it. BE RELIABLE. Sometimes that is more important than super writing ability.

I really enjoy the aspect of writing that you get to learn about something for yourself -- and then get paid to share it with others! Can't beat that, especially if you try to focus on something like travel writing. PLUS -- at least part of your travel will be deductible come tax time.

I do general feature and news writing, too. Tomorrow I'll get the one call I need yet to be able to write a story on the problems with deer in my area this winter. People are calling for extra season deer licenses as deer eat and ruin certain trees in their windbreaks. It's rumored some deer are starving to death.

The DNR, at least at this point, says it's just cuz we've had a horrendous winter -- large snowfall early in the season and very cold temps then, followed by at least two cycles of rain and freezing rain. They say the snow is so iced over now the deer can't get to their normal winter fare.

We also discussed the problems that can arise when 1) Hunters shoot bucks only and don't want does; and 2) The problems seen on neighboring lands when a landowner doesn't allow hunting or just leased hunting.

(Hmmmm... think I've got a story outline there! What better be my final source will tell me what the DNR is seeing as far as deer populations from their aerial surveys now underway.)

Then, there was trying to find deer to "shoot" for the article. I mean, they are THICK! Could I find any for good shots? No! LOL!! I saw the perfect shot of a deer standing on its hind legs, reaching as high as it could on a tree to eat it, but it ran away when I finally pulled my slow-moving car to a stop. GRRRRRRRR!!! Woulda been the perfect shot for the story. Oh well. Instead I got a deer eating from a large round bale, with a "No Trespassing" sign on the fence in the foreground.

And I FROZE while doing the photography! Not everthing's rosey with writing/photography!!!! lol

If the story ends up on the newspaper's website, I'll post a link when it comes out.”

“null”

“I pick up a few bucks shooting and writing. At one time, I would try to write or shoot whatever I thought would sell. After considerable frustration, I decided to concentrate on topics and themes I enjoyed. The money earned doing things I wasn't thrilled with was easily forgotten when I suddenly had more times to document the activities I enjoy.

Scrapbook Adventures and Ladage Photography”

“Those are great winter pics, dude! I've never done any winter hiking before, at least not in the snow. I liked the simple snow covered trail...that looks like something I'd take. Look forward to reading some of your stuff especially if it's from the east (of me) since I'm really more familiar with the west. Would be a nice change of pace and way to learn there are other places besides utah and colorado.

tommy, my course was through the continuing ed section of the community college. Maybe yours has something similar or you could make a request to the school. I learned a lot by reading the travel articles the instructor had copied for us that showed the different writing styles. Also, very interesting to me was a AAA magazine that she used. An article about a local site was covered by a writer from AZ which surprised me. However, teach said that often mags want a viewpoint of non-locals who may have become jaded to their surroundings. Gives a fresh view. Think of all the places you've been where you could do the same type of thing...also there are small regional mags and paper...I always collect them when I travel and bring them home to peruse or use for my scrapbooking. They may be a source as well. She recommended some "writing" books but the local library problably has many. As to rejection of articles, sounds like it's par for the course and nothing to get discourage about...sometime nothing is wrong with an article...just doesn't fit the available space, etc. Also, need to search out sources that target the audience that your writing would appeal to. There's some technical protocal, too, when doing a query to a publication and the submission process. Books should be able to help in that area. If you got something(s) good for us to read....let us see it!”

“I knew we'd hear from you sooner or later, lizs! Thanks for the info and hope we get to read your article - sounds very timely. Also, I have some info on a writing contest in IA...don't know if you do that but if you are interested, I can send you the particulars.”

“lol. Free is what it is.

I have three "Articles" here. A Wolf Creek Pass XC Ski Tour Trip. San Pedro Parks Wilderness, and Yellowstone Ski Touring trip. Photos album links and topo links included.

http://www.outdoorsclub.org/articles/”

“snacks (are you related to snackboy?) and pathman, I look forward to reading your articles, etc. but will save that for tomorrow at work. Hey, they have a much faster upload than my pitiful home computer and I'm entitled to a few breaks after all the hard work I give them, right???!!!!”

“great pic's Dude. Just what I needed. I'm waxing the skies as we speak..... oh oh snows a fallin!”

“backfoot
Those Winter pics were taken here in Tennessee.
On the Zaleski trip, the water taps were fine. The temps ranged from 15 to 33 degrees. I recon the water being underground keeps it from freezing for the most part.

YO SIRPETE
Don't pull a Sunshine and break anything on them skies!!”

“Utahiker -

Nope, as far as I know I am not related to anybody else posting on this site.

Don't get caught looking around at the internet at work . . . . I've been tempted a time or two, but so far haven't had the courage.”

“utahiker.......info, send me info..... THANKS!!!”

“Utahiker -

When you send lizs that info, please send a copy my way too.

Thanks-”

“Utahiker, Lizs is right on the mark. I'm a "recovering" journalist who now teaches writing. After high school and college newspaper work I put in 15+ years as a reporter and editor, along with freelance features and photography on the side. The relationship you build with an editor is crucial. This was reinforced when I met my wife, who is a former magazine publisher/editor-in-chief who still freelances, though she has a public service job at the moment that sucks up her time. Yet even in that job, her writing and media skills are big pluses.

Find out what the editor wants, when he/she wants it, how he/she wants it ... anything that makes the editor's life easier makes you look good. As an editor, I surely would have liked great writing, but what I needed most was competent writing that made the deadline. Photo skills are a big plus. Just make sure you get IDs on the persons in them.

Snacks has a good point, too. Find a subject area you enjoy and learn what the market is for that, then work very hard. Start with local/regional publications that clearly rely on freelancers for significant amounts of copy. Read them carefully and talk to the editors. I have a friend who started her freelance outdoor/travel writing career as a single mom who was working as a dental hygenist to pay the bills. She found every outlet in the region that might use such stuff and kept after them. It took years, but her publications slowly grew. Now she gets assignments from places such as National Geographic. She worked her a$$ off to get to that point.

Make sure that in your mind you are clear on the fact that writing and publishing are two different goals. There is a lot of good writing that goes unpublished and a lot of published writing that isn't very good. Learning to understand why this is so will help keep your ego/disappointments in check. It is a very very competitive business in which very few persons make a living only writing. But it can be done.

Congrats to your community college for having such a seminar. I work at a community college, so I'm partial to their contributions to a locality.”

“I rote a book called How To Be A Happy Nice Hiker When You Are Walkin In The Woods And Sleepin In The Woods And Dont Get Eat By Bares Or Let Rats Get Yer Food but no buddy gave me no dollers so it did not do reel good but it is a good book if y'all want to give me dollers.
(o:3”

“sarabelle, is that the one that said on the dust jacket, "It wood take sniffin' a hunnard butts and at least a few crotches to find all the info this book has in and on its pages"?”

“pekka-- you're not very good at dog talk..... LOL”

“Belle has written about butt sniffin' -
it's a three volume set.”

“lizs, but I know that with enough work and revisions and some constructive criticism, I can get better at it.”

“pathman - thanks for the link to that outdoors sight. I got some ideas on putting together an article while I enjoyed the members stories. Thanks!

pekka - have only the greatest respect for those who teach at the community college! Got my start there when I was in my 30's and thoroughly enjoyed the interest and professionalism from my instructors. One became my mentor and helped lead me on the cpa path....sadly, she passed away a few years later. What a waste...she was a great person and teacher. Helped me build my confidence...needed it when I interviewed for my first real professional job at 40 yrs old. Kudos to you and thanks for your insightful words!

Snacks, stopped by your great website! Wow, is there somewhere in ia that you haven';t been? Now I see why you are interested in the ia thing.

Here's some barebones information for you and Lizs. You can probably do a websearch or contact the school for further info. Good Luck to you both!!

Writing Contest: Flyaway Lieterary Review, Dept of English, IA State University, 206 Ross Hall, Ames, IA 50011

Deadline: Sept 25, 2001 $10 entry fee, 5,000 words max”

“null”

“Utahiker -

Thanks for the feedback and the info. I'm sure lizs and I will check it out.”

“Yeah, thanks, Utahiker. And also you, Snacks, for your photo-graphy help!! (We I-O-WAY-INS must stick together... well, not literally, I mean...)”

“Update, tt writers (besides my mentor, Lizs)...am in the process of having two stories published by a north caroline newspaper that also has an internet presence. I think my first story will be out in June..haven't signed on the dotted line yet but things are in the works. I basically bought some books on magazine article writing, polished up some travel journals, included some photos and targeted a paper I thought would be a good fit...voila..success (beginner's luck)! When Ihave more details, I'll let you know the web address. Just goes to show that it can be done....Yahoo!”

“That's great Utahiker! There are many here who should do the same. Looking forward to reading your piece.”

“Yeah UTAHIKER!!! Way to go! Keep us posted on when and where to catch your articles.
Just proves that if you want something and are willing to try you can get it. :)”

“It isn't beginner's luck when you do your research and follow through on the right methods. Congratulations from an ol' city editor.”

“Wonderful! You should be proud, I doubt there was any "luck" invilved.”

“uh, involved”

“Let's just say that as an accountant I'm very organized which is helpful in writing. Also, like all of you here, I love the outdoors and vacationing in other parts of the country. My stories are also a "soft sell" if you will for the area we visited - so are attractive to an edior from that viewpoint. Plus I had photos - not that I ever had any idea at the time that I would write a story - somehow everything just fell into place. Thanks for your well wishes and as soon as I have some concrete details I'll pass them on. Come on you other aspiring writers out there...you can do it, too!!!!!!”

“Way to go there UTAHIKER!
I`m very proud for you!”

“Super! Please keep us posted!”

“Congrats Utahiker!”

“Thanks for all the well wishes,tt'ers. Bigfoot, I'd like to see some of your writing in print......although with so many good stories how would you ever make that first choice of what to send???? That's was writing is..storytelling...and you are the master!!!!!”

“Hey pekka,

Define a "city editor" for me, if ya would. (Might come in very handy in my current unemployment headaches and there's been some mighty big ones. Would be good to know actual, REAL duties as opposed to hokey made-up crap. :-)

Thanks! I'm at fauxpax@hotmail.com if ya wanna hear more at some point. It's not pretty!”

“lizs, technically a city editor is responsible for all local news coverage. The newspaper I worked for under that title could never quite keep its duties and titles matched. Though I started pretty close to the classic definition, by the time we parted ways, I was supervising sports, lifestyles, arts, wire, business, photography and special sections, as I recall, as well as deadline news every other weekend. Always more responsibility, never more authority, nor pay to go with the extra hours (editors were on salary and not in the union). There was also a news editor (we served under the managing editor), so really we had what I'd call two desk editors, with varying supervisory duties as the m.e. and publisher had their whims. It was a Thompson paper when I left, though it isn't anymore. I have nothing good to say about Thompson, but good riddence to the news they are cutting and running from the newspaper business to go into electronic info publishing. Fifteen years in newspapers was enough to last me a lifetime and give me a bit of carpel tunnel to boot.”