Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Butts2 on December 26, 2007, 11:54:00 AM
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Not that you would be bragging , just that you should be proud that you can put a pen to your success. Issue - month - year or can we see it on line?
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Well before taking up Trad archery I spent a little time convincing myself that I would starve if I ever became a free lance writer. I published my first article in Archery World back in the 80s. It was a rush seeing my name in print the first time.
I subsequently published a couple in North American Whitetail, Deer and Deer Hunting, and New York Sportsman. I also sold several that were subsequently "killed" by editors with no taste. ;-) It's fun, you make a little cash and you can send a copy to your hunting buddies and your mother, but I wouldn't want to try to make a living at it.
46r
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I had several articles turned down,but the wvba did publish one in "The Voice". The clubs newsletter. :campfire:
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I had a couple published in Bowhunter a few years back. I've also written articles for Western Bowhunter, PBS, Pope & Young, and my state bowhunter organizations magazine.
I'm not really a writer, I just get bored from time to time:>)
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So,what's the trick to getting one published?
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DB,
Not sure if your response was written to me. If so, I'm hardly qualified to answer. I suppose that most of the 'paying' magazines want something a little different in subject material that catches the readers imagination....in addition to it being well written. Photography is much more important than it was in the past.
As far as most club oriented magazines are concerned, most just want articles from the membership. If it's well written; they almost always take it.
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Butts2 .... I have published a few in Traditional Bowhunter Magazine. The latest were a 2 part tribute article about Bart Schleyer that can be found in the July/Aug and Sept/Oct 2007 issues. I never miss a chance to let folks know about Bart. :>)
Mike
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I'm sending one of to PRIMITIVE ARCHER this week, hopefully it will be published :bigsmyl:
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Do letters to the Forum count???
My stories all start the same...
"I attended a small midwestern university......"
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I've had a few published by Primitive Archer and most recently a chapter on "all natural" laminated bows for Traditional Bowyers Bible #4 due out in a month or so.
Mike
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Originally posted by Dirty Bill:
So,what's the trick to getting one published?
In my limited experience, aside from being well written, your topic must be timed well and must be "fresh". I published every article I submitted, without ever sending a query. (A query is basically a letter to an editor describing the topic you would like to write about.) And I think the reason was that the topics were unique (at the time) and were written well enough to pass the muster.
Give it a shot. Write about something you know well. Make it entertaining and unique. Make sure it meets the publishers' guidelines, and if it gets rejected by one, send it to another. (Don't shot gun it out to multiple publications. I guarantee that will come back to bite you.)
Good luck.
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I've done a few, PBS, Deer & Deer Hunting back when they were Stump Sitters, Alberta Bowhunters newsletter. Nothing I got paid for.
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I've had a few come out in Primitive Archer, might have one coming out in a bigger magazine sometime soon. Oddly enough I haven't seen any of the articles I've had published.
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An article I wrote was published in Dr. James Swan's book The Sacred Art of Hunting. It starts on the same page as rocker Ted Nugent's article ends. I guess one could say the Motor City Madman and I are on the same page :D
Our own Pete Ward writes a regualr article in an e-zene.
Also our friend Mark Baker has had several publishings.
Not sure if they would pony up that info themselves, but I am proud to call them both friend.
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"Trick" to getting published is to become very familiar with the magazine you want to sell to, get the writers' guidelines and write in a fresh clear style about subjects that haven't been over done. (Writers' guide lines can be gotten for the asking from the editor of the magazines by mail or e-mail.)
And as said above, make the articles timely. To do this, you will need to know the time between acceptance of an article and publishing. An article about a Christmas hunt presented on spec in November is not going to be very interesting to an editor whose winter edition has already gone to print.
Your spelling and grammar need to be perfect and good respectively.
I wish you all success in your efforts.
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I know that Littlefeather (Curtis Kellar)is pretty darn good with a pen. I've seen his articles in TBM and the Bowyer's Journal.
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I've written a lot of articles. Too many to list. I've been published in Instinctive Archer, Traditional Bowhunter, Primitive Archer and The Bowyer's Journal. Jawge
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I wrote a monthly column, Nocks 'N Feathers for Doug Walkers Western Bowhunter and National Bowhunter publications for 10 years.
Also had articles in PBS...one key to good articles is quality photos.
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What sane person would want to write magazene articles? All that hard work, so little pay, and then you have to take flak from armchair critics forever! I'd never even consider it. Much rather go hunting than yak about it!
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I've got one in the october 07 issue of PA Game news. I enjoy writing and hope to do more. Its not a trad article, but it is bowhunting.
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Originally posted by Dirty Bill:
So,what's the trick to getting one published?
In addition to what's already been said, my best advice is learn to take good, quality photographs. Editors can fix writing problems, but they can't do a thing with bad or nonexistent photos.
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Dave, we might have to start calling you Dave2sneaky...HA!
I've found that if I keep buying TJ and Don Thomas drinks that I still don't get articles published but we get to feeling pretty good.
I would venture to guess that if one was a member of PBS and/or their respective state bowhunting organization, they would get their material published. Not much pay in it, but hey, you gotta start somewhere...
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I agree Kevin. I'm not a writer. The only thing I have had published was in our State traditional archers newsletter.
Most State organization, as well as PBS, are always begging for submissions. If a person were hoping to be published I would sure think contributing to some of those publications is a great way to get started and hone the skills that are needed.
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As Brent said, I've had several published. Editors usually want specific kinds or types of articles...and unique is good. Learn to keep it "pithy" and to the point, as there are usually limits of sorts, as we all know. Nothing like pouring your heart into a good story and having to pare it down to half the size...kinda tough to take sometimes. Also, as Jason said, pics are so important...I've had several rejected for lack of good photo support! Thank goodness for PBS, and state newsletters!
Write because you want to, and you have a good story to tell...but very few make any real money from it. At least I don't. My time is better spent pounding nails if $$$ was the concern.
I'm not a "how-to" kinda guy really. My stories are mostly just relating the hunt for posterity....my kids and grandkids. We live in the good ol' days, right now, and it's important to write it down. That's my 2 cents.
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I have written several. Some were published in State club magazines, some in newspaper type journals, many were rejected. I have also written a book which has been rejected many many times. The problem with the book is publishers never read them if written and submitted by new authors.
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The most important factor in writing well is a love of writing and that of course, means reading. Plenty of sound advice in the above posts, but I would add that you need to really work on it--a friend once showed me something he'd written that was a sound 1st draft on a good topic. He was insulted when I suggested it would be publishable after 4 or 5 rewrites and gave up. In truth it was better than most of my 1st drafts. Editors appreciate it when you make their jobs easy. Read aloud as part of your revision process.
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I've written a few dating back to 1970. I'm no writer but it is fun, once in a while, to relate a hunt, especially a very special one.
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True enough, Reg. A writer has to have thick skin. Also, I spend hours and hours rewriting. The computer has made that process easier. Let me add that fledgling writers may want to begin writing about topics that elicit passionate emotions in them. These emotions will come forth in their writing. Further, I always have a problem with the comment, "One picture is worth a 1000 words." I'm sure glad Longfellow didn't listen to that! Let the pictures supplement good writing. Jawge
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I had an article published in TBM on Learning Archery a few years back. After it was published an archer friend asked me what was going to be the subject of my next article.I told him "I don't have anything else to say so it may be awhile. So far I have stuck to it.
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I had five bowyer interviews published in TBM plus a couple more on other topics, one or two pieces in the PBS magazine, and a couple at least in the Instinctive Archer magazine, which is no longer published unfortunately. It was one of the best. The time and effort it takes to develop a good idea, write the story, get good pics, and maybe travel as was necessary to get the bowyer interviews were more work than the resulting check which often hardly covered my expenses! From my meager efforts I don't know how anybody makes a living as an outdoor writer! Must be paid more than we who just submit occasional pieces. It was fun while I did it but got to be more of a chore for what it paid me. Also it seems TBM relies more on regulars now than in the past even though I still see some submissions by newcomers which I always enjoy seeing.
One key is that they are not looking for "me and Joe went hunting" stories, and you need to stay away from formulaic writing, for lack of a better term. You need to have a somewhat different slant on the story, a fresh idea, something with wide interest. And as Jason W. notes, they want good pictures to help tell the story. Some acquaintance with standard English helps as well.
I will say that what I appreciated about doing business with TBM is the fact that they paid up front for the article when they signed a contract for it. If they never decided to run it it was their loss and not yours (that never happened to me by the way). Other magazines I did business with contracted with me but did not pay until the article was published. It could take a while before you got paid. Of course, PBS does not pay for submissions. Give it a try if you have the urge--you just might be pleasantly surprised. And just to make sure I'm clear on one matter, I did not write for the money but the enjoyment, but it came in handy and helped me add to my wall of bows!......Dave
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I had my first paid article in the most recent Bowyers Journal (also cover photo). There is no chance that writing magazine articles will pay the bills or even the associated expenses. You may get some return if you spend a lot on hunting and can figure a way to write that off your taxes. Note: the IRS frowns on business models that show a loss many years in a row.
Writing may be a lot like traditional archery. You do it because you can't help it. One of those, "If I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand" things.
I like what Reg said. Reading is the key to writing. If you spend all your time in front of the TV you're up the creek. If you can't stop reading you probably can't stop writing.
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Originally posted by Reg Darling:
The most important factor in writing well is a love of writing and that of course, means reading. Plenty of sound advice in the above posts, but I would add that you need to really work on it--a friend once showed me something he'd written that was a sound 1st draft on a good topic. He was insulted when I suggested it would be publishable after 4 or 5 rewrites and gave up. In truth it was better than most of my 1st drafts. Editors appreciate it when you make their jobs easy. Read aloud as part of your revision process.
Very good point. The last time I payed attention, I found I usually rewrite a piece well over a dozen times before I'm remotely happy with it.
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Think about what distinguishes a truly superb bow--it's in the glue lines, the fade outs, tip overlays and indefinable grace in the way it's shaped. The same holds true for writing and it's achieved by exercising the same patient attention to detail.
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I have had articles published in regional club newsletters. One appeared in Missouri bowhunter, written about Earl Hoyt Jr. shortly after his death. I received a very nice letter from his widow Anne, which is among my most treasured keepsakes.
Last year my new years resolution was to be published in TBM, and I held fast to that. My first TBM article will be appearing some time in the spring of 08, hopefully with many more to follow.
For me, a few college English classes probably helped. I pursued a degree in criminology and one of my sociology profs used to conduct rather odd midterms. He would pull subjects from a hat, and you had 90 mins to write a 750 word essay on the subject. I always scored over 85%, it just bugged me that he used to deduct points for punctuation. A hand written essay in 90 minutes on the relationship between the burgoise and the prolitariat, and it's related matter in todays world, and he deducts points for missing an apostrophe!
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I had two article this year in TBM and one in Bowyers Journal.
Should have another coming out soon in TBM about a season and hunt shared with my Dad and son......
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I've been asked to but never got around to it. I have given input on several articles on the future of hunting and one other major topic that is hopefully dead and gone.
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inaugural issue of Eastman's Bowhunting Journal.
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3 in TBM with another coming out in the next issue or 2 ("Friends in Snow Places")and 1 in Sport Fishing Magazine.
All of you should write or keep a journal. The collective experiences of those who "camp" here are too valuable to let fade away with time. Perhaps a "Best of Trad Gang" collection of essays and memories ??
DonD
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Only in the Trad Bowhunters of Georgia quarterly, so far. But then again, we beg for anything to fill the space. So unless it is obscene, you can get published really easy!
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I've sent in 3 to TBJ. One was published last winter/spring. 1 out of 3, just about the same as my shooting accuracy!
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My first article is being published in the next Primitive Archer issue (Feb/Mar '08) :D To give you an idea of the turn-around time, my article was submitted and accepted in June '07. It's a story about a medieval-style boar hunt I conducted last April (see avatar).
On a similar topic awhile back, I believe someone posted that TB already had all of their articles lined up through '08. If you submit an article remember; patience is a virtue ;)
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I've been fortunate enough to have one published in Primitive Archer, PBS magazine, and a three or four in Pennsylvania Game News Magazine. Whenever I send something to Traditional Bowhunter I don't get any response back :confused: so I am going to quit trying. Don't have the energy / time to write much anymore...seems Tradgang and hunting are taking up all my time :thumbsup:
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I am certainly not a writer but love to do it. I have had three articles published in Primitive Archer, one is in the current Feb/March issue. I do hear back from TBM but always get them rejected. :(
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I had an article published in Primitive Archer a few issues back..."The Story of Elkie" about the bow I built to go elk hunting last year in Colorado. I had also written a story about my prep for the hunt and a daily diary of my time in the Colorado mountains but nobody wanted it.
These were the first articles or stories I have ever written...even in high school many years ago. Pat
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I've had a couple published in Primitive Archer.
The last one in the summer issue of 2005 I believe.