At the conclusion of the 2024 MOC conference in Cape Girardeau, Lucas Bond assumed his role as the current President of Missouri Outdoor Communicators.

Sticking with his strengths in video production, Lucas' Campfire Chats will be in video form.

To view Lucas' first Campfire Chat and learn more about Lucas and his challenges for MOC members, please click on the image below.

If you would like to reach out to Lucas, you can do so at Lucas.Bond@mdc.mo.gov.

NEW MISSOURI OUTDOOR COMMUNICATORS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Below is the updated full roster of board members as approved by the membership during the 2024 MOC Annual Conference in Cape Girardeau. The slate of officers was approved by a unanimous vote of the Board:

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD

LUCAS BOND, PRESIDENT

Lucas is the statewide News Services Coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Lucas was born and raised in the Jefferson City area and earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Missouri State University. Lucas is happily married with two children and a third on the way. When not working, Lucas loves spending time with his family and friends and enjoying the great outdoors that God has blessed us with. Lucas also is a member of Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) and the Association of Conservation Information (ACI).

SCOTT PAULEY, VICE PRESIDENT

Scott is an outdoor ambassador for the Missouri Division of Tourism, a position he has held for over 27 years. As part of his job, Pauley travels the country (and the world) promoting the myriad outdoor opportunities available in the great state of Missouri. Pauley retired from the Missouri Highway Patrol in 2013 after 33 years of service. Pauley also has been a successful tournament angler since 1982.

RYAN MILOSHEWSKI, SECRETARY

Ryan was born in St. Louis and has been fishing since he could first hold a rod. Ryan has always had a passion for the outdoors, which he inherited from his father and grandfather. Ryan graduated with a degree in Biology from Rockhurst University in Kansas City. Ryan was a co-founder of Mahoney Outdoors magazine and has had bylines in Missouri Game & Fish Magazine, Outdoor Guide Magazine, Conservation Federation Magazine among others.

Ryan also serves on the MOC “Buck” Rogers Scholarship committee.

ZACH SMITH, TREASURER

Zach is a communications manager for Boone County Electric Coop, a post he's held since 2023. Zach is originally from West Plains and received a degree in film production from Webster University and a master's in journalism from the University of Missouri. Smith previously worked as Field Editor for Rural Missouri Magazine, a staff writer for the West Plains Daily Quill and as a reporter and researcher for the Springfield Business Journal.

Zach served as MOC President from 2019 - 2022.

MOC BOARD MEMBERS

JOHN WINKELMAN

Term Expires 2025

A longtime member of MOC, John Winkelman is Marketing Director for Liguori Publications near Barnhart, Mo. and outdoor columnist for Leader Publications of Jefferson County. John also was the longtime Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. John lives in Crystal City, Mo.

MIKE CAPPS

Term Expires 2025

As a life-long resident of Missouri and an avid outdoorsman, Mike learned to be a good steward of the land while growing up on a farm in the East-Central part of the state. His love for the outdoors led to a career in the hunting and shooting sports industry, representing a number of different companies. He enjoys hunting, fishing, shooting and most anything outdoors.

Mike also serves as MOC's Supporting Member Liaison.

FRANCIS SKALICKY

Term Expires 2026

A member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Francis has been the southwest regional media specialist for MDC since 1996. In that role, he coordinates media coverage for the 17-county region and assists with media coverage elsewhere in the state. He has periodically written articles for the MDC monthly magazine, “The Missouri Conservationist,” and pens columns promoting the outdoors and good conservation practices for several southwest Missouri newspapers.

JILL PRITCHARD

Term Expires 2026

Jill Pritchard is the Statewide News Services Coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation. She also hosts MDC’s Nature Boost podcast, which features MDC experts and partners and highlights fun and creative ways to connect with the outdoors.



In her free time, Jill enjoys birdwatching, nature photography, and hiking with her dog, Moose.

NATHAN "SHAGS" MCLEOD

Term Expires 2027

Nathan “Shags” McLeod grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Shags is the co-host of the popular morning radio show "The Morning Shag" on 96.7 KCMQ, based out of Columbia, Mo.

In addition to his radio job, Shags is the co-host of the award-winning Driftwood Outdoors Podcast.

Shags currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Conservation Federation of Missouri, was a co-founder of Conservation Day at the Capitol and was recognized as the 2016 Conservation Federation Outdoor Communicator of the Year. He also is a member of the Lake Taneycomo Hall of Fame.

NEIMA SHAHDADI

Term Expires 2027

Neima Shahdadi is an academic advisor at the University of Missouri Honors College in Columbia, Mo. Originally from Jefferson City, his love for fishing, camping, hiking, floating and exploring Missouri's outdoors developed at an early age. Neima earned a degree in English from the University of Missouri and enjoys fishing, hiking, cooking, running, watching Cardinals baseball and spending time with his wife and daughter. Neima also is a freelance outdoor writer.

Neima also serves as the Chairman of MOC's "Buck" Rogers Memorial Scholarship.

2024 MOC CONFERENCE WRAP-UP

Nature, conservation, Civil War history and outdoor education took center stage during the 2024 Missouri Outdoor Communicators conference in Cape Girardeau. There was no shortage of options when it came to finding something to do and/or write about while in this southeastern Missouri city. As always, the conference agenda was packed with exciting opportunities to explore the Cape area as well as numerous interesting educational topics, speakers and seminars.

The 2024 conference got underway in the afternoon of Friday, May 17. Attendees were treated to lunch before embarking on their adventures for the afternoon. Ten MOC attendees participated in the 2024 Thayne Smith Memorial Service Day Project and cleaned up along Cape's popular River Walk in downtown. There was plenty of trash and debris following high river levels and MOC members made sure to leave the area prettier than how they found it. Other attendees explored the Trail of Tears State Park and Bollinger Mill Historic Site while others visited the Historic Fort D or attended the Lewis & Clark Heritage Days festivities along the River Walk.

Friday's dinner and program was held at the Cape Giraradeau Conservation Nature Center where we heard from Tyler Schwartze, executive director of Conservation Federation of Missouri, about all the amazing work CFM continues to do to protect Missouri's conservation legacy. We also heard from Nathan "Shags" McLeod and Brandon Butler about how the Driftwood Outdoors Podcast got its start and how they keep their content interesting and relevant. After the evening's program, it was time to return to the hotel hospitality suite for refreshments, reunions and fellowship (and the live recordings of two episodes of the Driftwood podcast).

Saturday began with breakfast and more outdoor adventures. Attendees were able to hike, fish the city parks, explore the local state parks and explore the many historic attractions found throughout Cape Girardeau.

Saturday's luncheon program featured new MOC members Tom Westhoff of the Missouri Trappers Association as well as Brad Kovach, founder and publisher of Terrain Magazine.

Saturday's dinner was held in the historic downtown district at Port Cape Restaurant, which is rich in Civil War history. Missouri Outdoor Communicators honored John Watkins of Watkins Wildlife Rehab with the 2024 MOC Community Generosity Award and were treated to a keynote presentation focusing on southeastern Missouri from AJ Henderschott, regional supervisor for Missouri Department of Conservation. Following the dinner program and conclusion of the 2024 fundraiser auction, it was time to head back to the hotel hospitality suite for more socializing and story swamping.

As with every Missouri Outdoor Communicators conference, this one was packed with outdoor adventures, learning opportunities and great speakers.

Many thanks to all that attended and helped to make the conference a success.

Captions (left to right): MOC members pick up trash along Cape's historic River Walk; the Driftwood Outdoors team interviews Brad Kovach and Shawn Donnelly of Terrain Magazine; Tom Westhoff of the Missouri Trappers Association speaks to MOC attendees during Saturday's luncheon program; MOC members swapping stories outside the hospitality suite; MOC members Gary Stewart and Neima Shahdadi having fun at the expense of the turtle statue at the Cape Nature Center; CFM executive director Tyler Schwartze; Brandon Butler and Lauren Plunkett; John and Carol Neporadny with John Winkelman;

Francis Skalicky and Darrell Taylor.

2024 MOC CONFERENCE NOTES

To view the financial discussion documents that were presented during the 2024 conference, please click here.

To view the membership meeting minutes for the 2024 conference, please click here.

Note: The password to access these pages/files is: MissouriOutdoors



COMING SOON! ...

2024 MOC HOLIDAY ONLINE AUCTION

The 2024 Missouri Outdoor Communicators' holiday online auction opens to the public for bidding November 1 at 8:00 p.m. CST.

Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for the outdoorsman/outdoors woman in your life? Are you searching for your next awesome outdoor adventure? Discover some of Missouri's (and Kansas' and Arkansas') best and most popular outdoor experiences with Missouri Outdoor Communicators' Holiday Auction!

This fundraiser primarily consisting of guided fishing trips with the best in the business, outdoor getaway packages and family getaway packages.

Proceeds generated will go toward MOCs annual service day projects as well as the organization's general operating funds to ensure MOC continues to work towards its mission to advance knowledge of natural resources and related recreational pursuits, to improve MOC members' communications skills, to promote outdoor communications, to encourage appropriate use and conservation of natural resources and to mentor the next generation of outdoor communicators.

Some highlights of the items on auction include:

• Lake of the Ozarks Family Getaway Package which includes a two-night stay at Margaritaville Lake Resort, a round of golf for four people at The Oaks and four passes to Bridal Cave & Thunder Mountain Park
• A two-night getaway (including meals) at Bennett Spring State Park
• A half-day guided fishing trip on Stockton Lake with Tandem Fly Outfitters
• A guided fishing trip with Joe Bragg of Thump Thirty Guide Service
• Cabin stays on the Current River in Doniphan and at Stockton Lake
• Several other guided trips by some of the best guides and anglers in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas

Bidding for the online auction will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on December 1, 2024.



MOC MEMBER NEWS

Members of Missouri Outdoor Communicators continue to be recognized for their craft as well as their contributions to the outdoor industry.

Take a look at some of the awards and accolades our members have received as well as other recent member news:

Conservation Federation of Missouri Named National Wildlife Federation Affiliate of the Year

The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) has added another feather to its cap: It was recently named the National Wildlife Federation’s Affiliate of the Year.



CFM received the award in late June in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the NWF annual meeting. This marks CFM’s third time winning this honor since the award was first handed out in 1966.

CFM earned this award thanks to its unique programs, such as Share the Harvest, Operation Game Thief, and Conservation Leadership Corps, as well as its advocacy efforts.

“CFM’s recent track record has been truly spectacular,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Thanks to relentless advocacy and coalition building, they’ve played a leading role in several major statewide successes. And they haven’t stopped there — by championing the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, CFM has gotten us closer to securing a generational victory for wildlife on a federal level.”

“Over the past year and beyond, our team has worked tremendously hard to deliver victories for wildlife and people across Missouri,” said Tyler Schwartze, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. “This honorable recognition is a testament to the incredible group of individuals working together in our Federation family. But our work is far from done, and we look forward to continuing and advancing these strong efforts even further in the coming years.”

Schwartze added that he would like to thank all of the CFM staff, board members, affiliates, business partners, and volunteers that have helped make this possible.



Bill Cooper Inducted into the

Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame

Gary Mason created the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame to honor sportsmen who have dedicated countless hours of hard work and devotion to the outdoors. These men and women have made significant impacts on the outdoor world through hunting and fishing.

“Years ago, I told my wife there’s a hall of fame for just about everything, but there’s not one for the outdoors, and there should be, Mason says. "She told me to start one, so we did, and it’s grown into more than we ever dreamed."

The 2024 class of inductees was honored at an induction ceremony in Bass Pro Shops White River Conference Center in Springfield, Mo on August 16.

The stellar class includes some big names in the outdoor space, including MOC's own Bill Cooper.

Gary Mason had this to say about Bill during the induction ceremony:

"Bill Cooper is one of the best sportsmen I know. As comfortable in an Mexican jungle as he is in the Missouri Ozarks, Cooper is a true woodsman. As apt with a frying pan as he is with a shotgun and fishing rod. He’s a widely respected outdoor communicator. First and foremost, Cooper is a Legend in my book because he is one of the kindest and most generous people you’ll ever meet. He’s a guy you always want around your campfire.

"At 75, his enthusiasm and passion for the outdoors, especially fishing, remains as evident as ever. Outdoor enthusiasts around the world have felt Copper’s influence. He’s dedicated much of his life to entertaining and educating individuals through his media outlets, which included radio, television, over 2,000 published magazine and newspaper articles, and a robust social media presence. His popular “Living the Dream Podcast” is proof you can teach old dogs new tricks.

"Cooper is a longtime advocate for youth involvement in the outdoors. He’s the kind of guy who teaches fishing seminars for parks and recreation departments and conservation organizations, like the Conservation Federation of Missouri and the National Wild Turkey Federation, but still finds time to take a neighbor kid fishing. He’s done incredibly cool things too, like serving as a tourism consultant for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico where he leads hunters on jungle expeditions for ocellated turkey and on the Gulf for tarpon and bonefish."



Kevin Paulson Named New Executive Director of the

Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW)

The AGLOW Executive Committee has selected Kevin Paulson to take the helm of the regional-turned-national outdoor communicator organization. 



“The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers has been blessed with some incredible Executive Directors, from Curt Hicken, to Josh Lantz, and now Mark Smith, our leadership has been unparalleled,” said Trent Marsh, President of AGLOW and chair of the search committee. “When Mark made the board aware of his intention to step away from the position of Executive Director we were all nervous about finding the next successor to that position. Through the search process Kevin stood out as uniquely skilled to lead AGLOW through its next phase,” he concluded. 

Smith, who has served the organization as ED for almost a decade, will officially hand the reins over to Paulson at the conclusion of the upcoming conference at Kentucky Dam Village on Kentucky Lake, September 22-26. 

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as the Executive Director of this organization. The last few years haven’t always been easy, but the vision of our board and the engaged and vibrant membership from all across the country have made my tenure a true pleasure. I am as excited as anyone to see the direction Kevin takes us, and will continue to be involved in the organization in whatever manner I can be,” commented Smith. 

Paulson, the owner of Huntinglife.com is a stalwart in the outdoor industry. He has been on the leading edge of digital content management and publishing, social trends, and all manner of content creation. 

Marsh concluded, “Kevin is respected, connected, and driven. We’ve already talked about the path forward for the organization and I couldn’t be happier to have Kevin at the helm as we move to take things like our writer’s camps and The Outdoor Feed to the next level.”

“AGLOW has a wonderful history and a bright future. I am proud and honored to be trusted with the legacy of such an important organization and can not wait to see what we can do together as we move forward,” Paulson added. 

Tisha Holden Honored as Missouri Department of Natural Resources Team Member of the Month

Tisha Holden, a division information officer with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Communications, has been selected as the department’s Team Member of the Month for July 2024. She was selected for her service to the department and her willingness to assist Missouri State Parks beyond the scope of her job duties.

As part of her usual duties, Holden serves as the main media contact for Missouri State Parks, a division of the department. She also regularly prepares speaking points for division leadership and coordinates press releases and media relations for all of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites. Many park events, such as groundbreaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies, include invitations to the media. Holden manages a rigorous travel schedule so she can be at these events to answer questions for the media and public in attendance. She is usually the first to arrive and last to depart events she attends.

“I have never witnessed an event where Tisha has not jumped in and performed a ton of extra work,” said Dustin Young, a division risk management inspector who nominated Holden for the award. “At numerous special events, I have seen her jump right in to assist with setup and tear down, work in a kitchen or even serve as a hunting guide during a guided hunting program for veterans.”

In addition to her initiative at park events, Holden is also an active CPR/First Aid and Wilderness First Aid instructor, helping educate team members on important lifesaving techniques.

“Tisha’s desire to help our team be ready to save lives after an already full schedule does not go unnoticed,” said Dustin Webb, director of the park system’s northern region, who also nominated Holden for the award. “She doesn’t have to do these extra things, but wants to so she can make a positive difference and share her knowledge with others.”

Holden joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in October 2019 and resides in Montreal, Mo.

MOC Members Take Home

Excellence in Craft Awards

Brandon Butler, Brent Frazee and Larry Whiteley were recognized among the "Best of the Best" in outdoor communications during several 2024 outdoor writers association conferences, taking home a total of 19 awards between the three of them this year.

Congratulations to all of you. Keep up the outstanding work!

2024 Missouri Outdoor Communicators Joel Vance Excellence in Craft Awards

Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation Youth in the Outdoors Contest

• Larry Whiteley - 1st Place

2024 Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) Excellence in Craft Awards

Best in Show - Print or Electronic Media

• Brent Frazee

Best of Magazine - Hunting

• Brent Frazee - 2nd Place

Best of Magazine - Fishing

• Brent Frazee - 1st Place

Best of Magazine - Open

• Larry Whiteley - 2nd Place

Best of Newspaper - Hunting

• Brandon Butler - 1st Place

Best of Newspaper - Fishing

• Brandon Butler - 3rd Place

Best of Newspaper - Boat, Travel & Camping

• Brandon Butler - 3rd Place
• Brandon Butler - 1st Place

Best of TV, Video, Webcast or Vlog - Hunting

• Brandon Butler - 3rd Place

Best of TV, Video, Webcast or Vlog - Fishing

• Brandon Butler - 1st Place

Best of Radio/Podcast - Fishing

• Brandon Butler - 1st Place

Best in Blogs - Hunting

• Brent Frazee - 1st Place

Best in Blogs - Fishing

• Brent Frazee - 3rd Place
• Larry Whiteley - 1st Place

Best in Blogs - Open

• Larry Whiteley - 1st Place

2024 Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) Excellence in Craft Awards

Fishing - Blog

• Brent Frazee - 2nd Place

Gear/Technical - Blog

• Brent Frazee - 3rd Place

Hunting/Shooting Sports - Blog

• Brent Frazee - 1st Place

Applications Now Open for

2025 Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions

In its first year, new MOC Supporting Member the Lillard Fly Fishing Conservation Fund awarded six scholarships, made contributions to two conservation projects, and funded a school river trip led by an LFFE alum.

Applications are now open for a host of guided youth fishing expeditions for the 2025 season. If you know of any teenagers that would enjoy participating in an exciting and educational fly fishing trip of a lifetime, please visit www.lillardflyfishing.com/Programs to learn more.

MISSOURI CONSERVATION NOTES:

Boone County Nature School Officially Opens for the 2024/2025 School Year

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) hosted the grand opening of the Boone County Nature School on Friday, Aug. 23. The grand opening ceremony was held at the nature school building and featured guided public tours of the school and property, conservation education tables, and various conservation-themed activities.

The Boone County Nature School is a collaborative effort between MDC and Columbia Public Schools. The property boasts a new 8,230-square-foot building, pictured below, that houses four nature-themed classrooms, lab space, nature and student-related lobby exhibits, and offices. The building and associated grounds serve students from all six Boone County school districts through unique “place-based” education as well as the public through special conservation-related programming.  

This unique learning environment was made possible through a generous donation by Vicki Russell and the late Hank Waters. The Nature School campus is located on the Waters-Russell Unit of Three Creeks Conservation Area in Boone County and has been utilized by Columbia Public Schools and MDC since 2020.

The 111-acre campus, based on Missouri’s rich karst topography, features aquatic, prairie, and woodland ecosystems. Additions to the outdoor space include: 

• A large outdoor pavilion with adjacent bathroom facilities
• A unique, conical, 360-degree council house with three tiers of stadium seating that will accommodate up to 140 students
• Restored prairies and a pollinator plot
• A food forest with Missouri native foods, such as paw-paw and persimmon (coming soon)
• Gardens and an orchard (coming soon)
• An elderberry field

The nature school building was completed in June of 2024 with the goal of becoming an integral part of the educational experience for students and the community. The sustainable design of the building focuses on conserving water and energy. The approximately 8,000-square-foot building includes:

• four classrooms representing Missouri’s ecosystems
• a wet lab for hands-on activities
• a kitchen for the preparation of native foods
• a lobby to honor Missouri’s conservation heroes

Materials for the construction of the building were sourced, when possible, from Missouri woods. The architects included as many windows as possible to maintain the connection to nature, and the building uses water conservation features both inside and outside to help conserve the surrounding landscape. The land that surrounds the nature school is one of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s designated Conservation Opportunity Areas because of its unique aquatic life.

THE NATURE SCHOOL'S STUDENTS

At the Boone County Nature School, thousands of students experience a unique place-based curriculum while learning about the natural world and sustainable agriculture, developing outdoor skills, and enhancing their overall health. Boone County students from all grade levels are welcomed each year for one-day field trips and summer programming. Outside of school hours, the nature school is also available to the broader Boone County community.

Additionally, more than 2,000 fifth graders from schools all over Boone County will learn at BCNS for seven days, spaced over three sessions to allow students to observe the native landscape during three different seasons. While on-site, students will connect with nature in new and exciting ways, engage in unique and meaningful cross-curricular learning opportunities, develop proficiency in various outdoor skills, and be inspired to create lasting change in their community by participating in a sustainability project.

To learn more about the Boone County Nature School, visit www.BooneCountyNatureSchool.com.

MILO'S WILD GAME CORNER

By Ryan "Milo" Miloshewski, MOC Secretary and hobby wild game chef



Thanks to my grandpa, I grew up hunting, fishing and eating a lot of what we harvested. Over the last ten years, I have been honing my wild game cooking skills. With the help of Hank Shaw, John Wallace and other wild game chefs, I have been able to create some really great dishes with ducks, venison, fish, and other game Missouri has to offer. 

Reverse Seared Backstrap

The backstrap of the white-tailed deer is one of the most coveted cuts of meat in the wild game world. It is also one of the most abused. Turning it into poppers, overcooking, and soaking in water is criminal to a guy like me. A simple recipe I love is a smoked and reverse seared hunk of backstrap. Try it, and you will never abuse the backstrap again!

One of the most important parts of wild game is the handling of the meat after harvest. If butchering yourself, remove the hide and get it cooled as quickly as possible. Remove the backstrap, put in a Ziploc bag or game bag and, if temps are warm, immediately put on ice. If you are taking to a processor, field dress the deer and stick some ice in the cavity. For those able to age their deer, remove the hide and age for 7-10 days. You would be surprised how much proper handling makes a difference.

HOW-TO:

1. For this recipe, use a cut of backstrap that will fit well in a cast iron pan (about 12-inches long). Let it come to room temperature if refrigerated or frozen. Coat with a small amount of olive oil and season to your liking. I usually do the standard salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Don’t be shy and use a Cajun seasoning if you like—I have done it and it is phenomenal. Let it rest for 15-30 min.
2. Get your smoker ready while the seasoning penetrates the meat. Use whatever wood/pellets you like, but cherry or maple is my preference. Get your smoker to 225-degrees and maintain that temperature. 
3. Add the backstrap to the smoker and let it go until it reaches an internal temperature of 115-degrees. This takes about 1-2 hours, depending on thickness.
4. Remove the backstrap and let it rest for a couple of minutes, so the muscle fibers tighten a little bit.
5. Get a cast iron pan screaming hot and add a high-temperature fat like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or my personal favorite rendered duck fat. Do not use butter, as it will burn.
6. Sear the backstrap on all sides for one minute.
7. Turn the heat down or cut it off entirely and add butter, garlic cloves, and a few sprigs of rosemary. 
8. Baste the meat for one minute with the fragrant fat concoction. 
9. Remove the backstrap from the pan and let it rest for 15 minutes.
10. Slice against the grain and serve.

"CHARLIE'S CHUCKLES"

By Charlie Slovensky, MOC founding member and father of MOC TALK.



This column is dedicated to all those outdoor communicators who couldn’t make it as clowns in a circus or standup comedians in Vegas. It will be a combination of humorous quips and anecdotes to give us food for thought as we self-analyze our writing styles. It is offered free of charge and free of malice, and with the keen knowledge that none of us can afford the option of a therapist, not that visiting one would be helpful.

THE PROOF IS IN THE READING

One of my favorite admonishments is “Don’t trade ‘perfect’ for ‘good.’”  Perfectionists frustrate themselves with their futile attempts to achieve a perceived level of perfection instead of moving forward with a project when it reaches a satisfactory level of excellence.  If our discriminating readers or listeners tell us they wouldn’t change a thing, neither should we.

The proof is in the reading (or the casting of the pod, as the case may be).  For written content, the recommended approach is to let the creative juices flow freely into the first draft, cut the word count by 50% in the second draft, and edit for clarity in the third and fourth drafts.  Overall, ‘tis a  noble stab at near-perfection.

Finally, it has also been suggested that it is a good idea to read our work aloud, to ourselves or to a trusted critic.  For those of us who are our own worst critics, this hardly seems necessary, and is often an excruciating exercise.

For my part, I give it the old college try, working through at least three drafts, balancing paragraph length and swapping phrasing for the sake of clarity, looking for better words and pushing for complete themes.  Then I let the editor read it aloud if he wants to.

All these years, I must have been doing something right.  At the Dawt Mill MOC Conference, when Bob Todd, editor of River Hills Traveler, told a small group of MOCers that “he never had to change a thing I had written for my columns,”  that confirmed two things for me:  One, that I was truly in touch with the magazine’s audience, and two, that my proofreading was catching mistakes in my grammar and spelling.

The proof was in the reading, or the re-reading, and that was good enough for me.

Actually, Bob wasn’t being totally transparent.  He had changed nearly every article title I had proposed.  I understood that as layout editor he had to be concerned about page appearance and spacing and those sorts of things.  Or maybe he thought he just had to put his fingerprint on the copy somehow.  

At any rate, I took no offense, relieved that our collaboration was good, and didn’t have to be perfect.



WRITE FOR TERRAIN MAGAZINE!

By Shawn Donnelly, Editor of Terrain Magazine

ABOUT TERRAIN MAGAZINE

Terrain Magazine is a nonprofit publication devoted to growing outdoor recreation in St. Louis and the greater Midwest region. We do this by delivering a free, bimonthly print magazine, daily online content (terrain-mag.com), social media content, community events, and partnerships with leading outdoor organizations. 

Our work over the past 10 years has cultivated an audience of enthusiasts who spend their leisure time running, hiking, biking, camping, climbing, paddling, and actively enjoying nature. We believe everyone should have access to outdoor experiences and are committed to building an outdoor community that is inclusive and diverse. 

Terrain is part of River City Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation, fostering equitable, community-driven programming, and supporting the region’s grassroots outdoor organizations through community-centered grant-making. Our goal is to help all people experience the natural world in a way that is meaningful to them.

WRITE FOR TERRAIN

Terrain is currently seeking article pitches to fill out our editorial calendar for the next year. As you may know, we accept various types of articles for publication:

News articles: Short items that deal with factual/informational topics, like new outdoor businesses/organizations/programs, locally authored outdoor book releases, new trail or parks projects, significant outdoor organization anniversaries or milestones, local outdoor trends, etc. These typically run from 250-500 words in length and are paid on a case-by-case basis.

Department articles: Contributions that explore facets of the following sports/topics: Running, Biking, Hiking, Paddling, Camping, Destination, Nature, Culture, and Mind + Body. We will consider how-to/best-practice articles, first-person articles covering a certain outdoor program or experience, local outdoor personality profiles (narrative or Q&A), informational/service pieces, reports on new destinations/opportunities to engage in an outdoor sport/activity, etc. These typically run from 750-1,000 words in length and require imagery sourced by the author and/or magazine. Fee is about $250, with additional funds available for original photography.

Feature articles: Like department articles but reserved for longer, more complex, and intriguing pitches. With feature articles, the more personalized and detailed the information, the better the chance of acceptance. The writing style here can be similar to storytelling; we are looking for a heavy dose of excitement and lifestyle. Examples include describing a recent adventure you have completed (with advice on how others can also do it), how to get started in a certain sport/activity with detailed expert advice, a deep dive on the history of a particularly interesting local outdoor location or experience, roundups of top parks or trails or events that are presented in a unique way or perspective (examples: best fall hikes, top campsites for kids, etc.). These articles typically run 1,200 words and up and also require imagery sourced by the author and/or magazine. Fees range but start at $350, with additional funds available for original photography.

All submissions must include quoted sources where appropriate, to help localize the story and engage our outdoor community and constituents. We will also consider opinion pieces with an engaging or timely hook.

If there has always been an adventure or undertaking you have wanted to try, this is the time to pitch it to us; while we can't pay for travel and expenses, we can help "underwrite" your experience with an article in the magazine. This is also your opportunity to get ambitious and creative.

All article pitches should be sent to me, Shawn Donnelly, at shawn@terrain-mag.com.

Thanks, and let me know if you have any questions. 

Shawn