tt writers/photographers????

“Utahhiker-- Could you please send me whatever info you sent to Lizs. I wrote an article for a local backpacking group newsletter last month and I sure could have used some help to get organized. It was OK but I felt it had no punch. MP”

“well geez, MaryPhil, I think ya have my address! LOL!! Course I am "sitting on" a piece by Big Foot...... sorry guy. No pressing deadline there, I guess. lol! (BTW, no bad storm here at all, FYI)”

“Lizs, I`m glad the storm didn`t get you!LOL

And I gave that to you, do with it whatever you want to.

Thanks Lizs!”

“Lizs--I sent the piece to a gal from Louisiana that used to do newspaper work. She promised but she never got it edited before it got published. I should have asked you.”

“When I was deployed to Macedonia I had a article published in Club International... kinda cool... sent my fire team all t-shirts”

“I'm changing careers from law enforcement to journalism. I am taking classes and have written some stuff for the university paper although I'm just getting started. The current feature article on this site is mine. I love writing and am looking forward to getting much better. Good luck and congrats on your success Utahhiker.

BP”

“bear paw... law enforcement... LOL!!!!”

“Nice job bear paw. Kept me wonderin!

One place that I got a little lost is "Had he come for a closer inspection as we slept? That's doubtful." All of a sudden it sounds like, well, he was NOT really there. I think ya mean, he was there, but not for reasons of inspecting a couple of peon humans in his domain, right? (or wrong? lol)

Could have been worded somehow or a sentence added to maybe make it a little clearer what ya meant. OR.... if it's just early morning and I'm not awake and just missed it, WHOOPS!!

I really liked the story. That's one location in Colorado I haven't visited much and would like to see more.

Thanks for sharing!”

“MaryPhyl, I found it helpful to gather a large stack of books from the library on magazine article writing and kind of "absorb" the material. also, I found a book by Zinsser called "On Writing Well" (I think) that was helpful to me. Best of all, though, I search through my old backpacker, montana and outside magazines to see how other writers use leads, endings, etc. You can get great ideas that apply to the article you're working on. Good luck on your next newsletter!

bearpaw, wow, what a transition...best ofluck to you! Do we all get to see your article or just lizs??? Can you give us the url or post a link? Looking forward to reading your article....

Lizs, keep mentoring us...we need all the help we can get!”

“On the publishing news front, my wife got a nice boost yesterday. She's been pretty sick the past week, so she was cheered to get a package in the mail containing two copies of the book "Women Runners, Stories of Transformation" in which she has an essay. Finally! To give you newcomers something to consider, develop patience. Her essay, "Pikku Lintu" (Finnish for Little Bird, another nickname for daughter El Kabong), was written four years ago, accepted for the book manuscript three years ago, found a publisher about 18 months ago, and finally is out in print. Nice hardcover, too. She gets two copies, about $40, and a discount on other copies, which is probably typical for such theme anthologies.

Newspapers have the fastest time to publication, magazines may take months, books often take years to see the light. If you want instant gratification, there's TT and other internet outlets, LOL.”

“Liz, what I was trying to say is that it was doubtful that the ram we had seen that afternoon was the same bighorn sheep that visited us that night. Hey, like I said, I'm just getting started. But I do sincerely appreciate the feedback.

Utahiker-next time you come to thebackpacker.com just click the current feature article and that's it!

And it's bear pa. My daughter is a student at Baylor. They are the bears. Actually, no law enforcement pun was intended Mr. Lizard.

BP”

“sorry, i thought it was funny.”

“Thanks for the info bearpa! I really enjoyed reading about your adventure (glad it wasn't me).

pekka - congrats to your wife on her accomplishment! Are you going to share with us, will there be a link, or will we have to buy the book or get it from the library? The title sounds inviting...

Matt, how come there are no articles by women writers included on this site? Not enough entries, lack of interest, fear of revealing name?????? Looks a little sexist to me! Please share your insight.”

“utahiker, the book, Women Runners, is listed on Amazon.com (today, May 1, is its official publication date). So it would be listed as Women Runners; Irene Reti and Bettianne Shoney Sien, editors; published by Breakaway Books; ISBN 1891369253.

It's funny how Amazon.com searches work. If you enter the title, Women Runners, the results have it listed as No. 8. The first on the list is a book about Marion Jones that has neither women or runners in the title. Tells me that certain books get pushed because they're A-list. Maybe I'm just suspicious.”

“Ohhhhh, now I see, Bearpa810. But I didn't take it that way. Always good to have someone else read it (preferably someone with no ties to it, I would imagine) to see if they catch stuff -- be it typos, bad grammar or something like this instance, where a meaning was ambiguous.

I can't tell ya how many times I had that happen with my newspaper editor. It gave me a pretty critical eye... but still, there were things I thought were perfectly clear, that he said, "Explain that better."

So it goes for all of us :-)

utahiker, I think Matt is always looking for articles. Somewhere there is info on how to submit one. So, GET AT IT!! lol!!”

“lizs, I;ll submit one - after you do! YOU be the one to break down the barrier...yeah, lizs!”

“Ohhhhhhhh... utahiker, seems like it's come up in conversation before. As it's what I do to make a living, I don't do "FREE." Personal policy. Stand up for your writing and/or photography and get paid. Freebies bring the market price down for everyone. (Although I do see this site as more "hobby" writing........ and as that, it could be a good place to get a "clip" for future paying gigs.)

Also, although a hiking fool, I am a fledgling backpacker... Someday I'll have to get over that and do a major trip!!”

“Lizs, while I am interested in getting clips, if I'm going to put in my time and effort I may as well try to do it for money. Also, been meaning to ask, what kind of camera do you use on the job? Any tips for taking photos? Thanks!”

“YIPPEE! Came home, got five Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation mags in the mail (which included 2000 annual report) AND INCLUDING TWO OF MY PHOTOS!!!.

Oh yeah, a nice check, too. Sure, I'd sent stuff in, but it was all a surprise. I have to say this is a great organization to work with as far as handling a person's shots and paying. Plus, a very good cause.

Hey, Snacks, I saw YOUR stuff, TOO. I got the ground view and you got the aerial view, well at the Heritage Addition, anyways. Glad you kept your butt in the plane! :-)”

“okay, lizs, are you going to tell us where WE can see your shots - and snacks, too? Or do we have to sit here and just imagine how beautiful they must be! lol...we want more...”

“Well, utahiker, I was hoping they'd be on this organization's website, but NOOOOOOOOOO. They don't seem to do photos there. And my scanner sucks and doesn't work right so I can't post my home left-overs (bracketing, ya know.... even though they have shots, I have virtually the same shots at home)

And I think Snacks donated his shots to the cause, so he doesn't have them. In fact, I think the National Park Service might have requested some of his. (Hmmm... I better look at THAT website; maybe some are on it.)

He took shots from a small airplane, kinda hanging out the back, from what I understand of his description.”

“Yikes! Some people will do anything to get published...”

“Hey, thanks for proving that us CPAs don't deserve to be shut out of "creative" careers. What you accomplished is very exciting. I wish you continued success for your writing and photos.”

“welcome, young&creaky, what area of "bean counting" are you in? I do corporate for a large multi-state corporation. I just signed up for a 6 session freelance writing course at my community college that runs through june/july. Next time I might go for the 36hr web designer certificate - the way big corporations get gobbled up today, you need to be prepared for whenever the ax will fall. You need to start a new thread and tell us more about yourself....so you can get the "official" welcoming!”

“Utahiker- I did start a few threads asking questions about equip. I didn't do a "hello" one. As for accounting, I did corporate sec reporting until I bailed after two babies. After a few years at home, I worked for a local non-profit. Right now I'm home doing taxes and PTA bookkeeping, because I had a problem with recurring Lyme. I'm also a girl scout leader, and my friends and I want to be more like the boy scouts with more frequent outdoor adventure.
The family has car camped with borrowed equip until recently when I bought two tents. Not ready to tackle backpacking (need equip and strength) but after listening to everyone talk about the quiet on the trail, I want to try soon. Have 6 and 8 year old girls and a husband who hopes this is a passing interest. I think he'll come around. The kids are enjoying the hiking we've been doing every weekend. Camping has been knotty but having our own equip should help.
New careers are a way of freshening your life. I've wanted to be a writer since I was 5, but never have tried. The discussions here have inspired me to at least start a journal, with my kids and husband helping with notes and pictures. The thing I like best about hiking and camping is no phones and TV, and the tiredness that comes from walking and breathing fresh air. The scenery is better on foot too. I also like armchair travel so keep up the publishing.”