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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Duckslayer100" data-source="post: 290844" data-attributes="member: 1485">I've worked professionally for outdoor industry mags, and now freelance. Here's what they're looking for: 1) Clean, clear, concise copy: If you're a no-name with no following in the outdoor world, putting your best foot forward means making sure your copy is clear, clean and concise. Run-on sentences, typos, poor grammar and spelling -- all snafus that the big dogs can get away with because they have clout to carry them through the muck (and editors willing to fix things for them), but make submitted works by newbies DOA. If you're not confident in your writing, take some classes or get insight from someone with a lot more writing prowess. If you can submit queries to magazines that read well and look good with minimal editing, you might edge out some folks who are sloppy or lack basic understanding of the English language <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />2) Truly New and Unique story lines: Part of the problem with writing is it's damn hard to come up with a truly new or unique story that hasn't been rehashed a dozen times already. I used to write a monthly column in Wildfowl about retriever health, and after almost three years I was plum burned out and stepped away. Now the guy who replaced me appears to be rehashing some old story lines I used in my time, which to be honest most likely had been written in some way before I was filling the void. Tips, tricks and how-to's may be an outdoor mag's bread and butter, but finding new hacks for centuries-old traditions can really rack a guy's brain. Good luck on you for trying! 3) Photos, videos and digital: I used to be able to just submit stories and have a good shot and getting something published. Now, unless you're on an industry hunt with photographers, or line up your own photographer, many publications EXPECT accompanying pictures to go with your writing. This can not be understated. Photos cost money. A magazine pays you (the writer) for the rights to publish a story, and then also has to pay a photographer (often per photo, which can average 2-5 per piece) to fill in the gaps. If you submit your own professional/edited photos with the copy, you'll automatically jump to the top of the pile. If you have little experience with photography, get a decent camera, take some classes, and learn the basics of cropping, editing and brushing up pictures. And now, more and more publications may ask for digital add-ons, such as small video clips to run online with the story, or social media-ready posts to promote a story. All of this, as a package, will take a lot of extra time and effort, but will get editors to realize you're serious and someone worth giving a shot. 4) Get used to constructive criticism: The biggest gripe I've heard from editors and publishers about writers these days is almost nobody new can take constructive criticism. Get used to being told your stuff isn't good enough. Because unless you're the next Gene Hill or William Faulkner, you're stuff needs work. Period. Listen to these people. They're probably not wrong. Learn to get better (go back to my first point No. 1 in this list). Improve your writing style. Heck, get your own style! The more you work on improving your writing and listening to those with decades of experience to back them, the better you'll be.5) References, references, references: You may think you're king shit on turd island about whatever topic you're discussing, but unless you've literally invented some sort of outdoor activity, there's bound to be someone out there who knows more than you do. Find these people! They are great resources. Interview them and use their insight as reference-backed quotes in your stories. After all, who the heck are you exactly? But if you're able to shed some insight or tell a story backed by a professional in the field, then your article has clout. Some folks you interview may want to read the story before it's published. As long as you have nothing to hide, that's totally fine. I'd rather they felt their words were accurately and appropriately portrayed in print, than to get a tongue lashing after the fact and effectively "black listed" going forward. 6) Ask what they want to ready: Sometimes the best way to get in the door is to offer up an example of your best writing (ideally a short published piece that shows your professionalism and writing style) and then ask what a publication may want to fill their issues in the coming year. Typically, every publication out there has a theme each quarter or month, and are looking for articles to fill the void. Sometimes these are already filled by regular contributors, but they may still be looking for something small to fill extra pages. Don't be afraid to offer a few unique ideas when you do query a publication, as it shows you have your own thoughts and may be an asset to the magazine. That's probably enough for now. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask or even PM me. -Tyler</blockquote>

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