CAMPFIRE CHAT WITH MOC PRESIDENT ZACH SMITH |
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Greetings Missouri Outdoor Communicators,
With summer now waning, you’ve likely found some creative ways to have fun in the sun over the last few months. I know many of you have been sharing those experiences, and MOC wants to share your stories. If your latest piece saw you hook up with an expert source for a great day on the water, make a solo trip into the backcountry or perfect that new Dutch oven recipe at camp, let us know! Spreading the good word around puts eyes on your work, points customers toward the guides they never knew they needed and, most importantly, inspires people to plan and take their next big trip outside. So the next time you’re tying the kayaks on the car, loading up the picnic basket or breaking out the tick spray, think about how you might memorialize your next adventure.
While the current state of things has made this next part a little more difficult than usual, introducing (or reintroducing) people to the outdoors can be done year-round but it’s an activity that’s tailor-made for summertime. Whether you like fishing, floating, hiking, camping or taking a scenic, backroad drive to look for wildflowers or birds, those memories are always best made with friends and family. Personally, I can’t count the number of times I’ve wet a line on my own, but I’ll always remember my dad teaching my wife how to catch her first fish on Table Rock Lake.
I’ll risk telling every one of you something you already know for the sake of a good reminder: when you share the outdoor experience, whatever it may be, you’re giving back to it. As communicators, we’re all ambassadors for the outdoors by default. I know I’m guilty of taking that for granted sometimes. Maybe we all are. But when you bring somebody back to nature, you’re creating another advocate for nature. And quite possibly, you could be helping a hibernating outdoor communicator find their voice.
If you’re able to follow your local safety guidelines and still enjoy the outdoors with a friend, family member or colleague who starts following this path we as outdoor communicators have chosen for ourselves, please nurture that inquisitive mind, that thirst for knowledge and that zest for telling the story so that others might seek it out. In a perfect world, that’s what our work as professionals does every time it reaches someone. And don’t forget, we have an Apprentice Membership with those communicators-in-the-making in mind. If you have any questions about the membership, what it entails or how to get a new communicator started on the process, check out the information on the membership page or drop a line to Kyle.
As always, here’s hoping I meet you all again outside.
- Zach Smith, President 2019-2021
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
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It's hard to believe that we are easing into autumn already but the changing of the seasons is already palpable: it's getting lighter later, darker earlier, the nights are cool and the sumac and sassafras are beginning to change colors. Fall has always been my favorite season and I'm very much looking forward to its imminent arrival.
You know what else I'm looking forward to? The future of our Great Outdoors. There's still a lot of work to be done, but it feels like the tides are turning in favor of our wild spaces. First, there was the passing of the Great American Outdoors Act which will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and restore our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and create more opportunities for Americans to get outside and into nature. And, second, and perhaps the thing I place the most hope in, more people have been spending time in nature and discovering the outdoors. That is the best thing to come out of this pandemic. Numerous reports are stating that outdoor gear is flying off the store shelves and suppliers are struggling to keep up with the demand. Additionally, according to the researchers, these consumers are not just people re-discovering nature, but people new to camping, fishing, floating and hiking. And, that, to me, is huge. The more people that have memorable experiences in wild and not-so-wild places, the more allies we will have in protecting and conserving our resources.
Here in Missouri, Mike Sutherland, director of Missouri State Parks, says that there has been a lot of first-timers visiting the parks and the number of campers at the state parks this summer has been off the charts. The handful of owners and operators of campgrounds across Missouri I've spoken to second that sentiment. And, it's been a huge year for floating, too, with record numbers of floaters enjoying the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and many of our state's more popular rivers. To that end, our beautiful rivers have also been receiving national attention as well. These are all good things in my book. My hope is that the trend continues long after we're all able to get back to life as we used to know it.
We can continue to do our part to encourage participation and good stewardship by focusing on the Three Rs (recruit, retain and reactivate) through our work and our personal time.
I'm going to pick on my son, Elliot, again. He spent the summers of his first years going on float trips and had always enjoyed the experience. But, for whatever reason, about two years ago he decided he hated all types of on-the-water vessels - boats, canoes, kayaks - and refused to go floating with us or even hop in the canoe or john boat to go fishing. We let it slide for a while because we'd rather enjoy ourselves than listen to hours of endless whining but recently, we said "No more." We packed his snorkel and fishing rod and loaded him in the car and headed for the Big Piney. As we were unloading the canoe he had already grabbed his rod and was wading and casting in the water. By the time we got the boat in the river, he was ready to go. He spent the day "captaining" the canoe, helping navigate riffles and turns and fishing when he decided to take a break from paddling. After we reached our pullout and were loading the canoe back onto the car, Elliot was asking if we could do it again the next day. He's ready to make up for lost time. Then again, aren't we all?
Thank you all for what you do to promote and protect Missouri's great outdoors.
- Kyle Stewart, The Beenders Walker Group
Missouri Outdoor Communicators Executive Director
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
MOZINGO LAKE CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 9-11, 2021
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After reviewing the feedback from our members, the dates chosen for the Spring MOC conference at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park near Maryville are Friday, April 9 through Sunday, April 11, 2021.
Make sure to be on the lookout for additional conference information, periodic updates as new plans are made, a 2021 conference registration form and a conference schedule around the beginning of the year.
The format and activities will largely remain the same as originally planned, though a few additions to the optional outdoor activities may be made.
*Please note: Those that had already registered for the 2020 conference prior to its cancellation, your registration fees will carry over for the 2021 conference as previously stated. Those of you that were not initially able to join us as originally planned, we hope that you will be able to join us at Mozingo Lake, April 9-11, 2021.
We can't tell you how much we are looking forward to seeing everyone at Mozingo Lake this spring!
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GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, SOLD!
NEW MOC ONLINE AUCTION TO LAUNCH THIS FALL
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MOC will be a launching an online auction that is open to the public in mid- to late-October as a secondary fundraiser effort for the organization and to also help raise funds for a charitable children's organization that emphasizes getting kids outdoors (more details on that will be released soon).
This auction will primarily consist of excellent outdoor vacation packages that will also allow us to show off some of the amazing adventures that can be found around the state.
MOC Supporting Member Liaison Brent Frazee and Kyle Stewart have been working together to secure donations for the new auction.
Some examples of packages include a Lake of the Ozarks Family Getaway featuring overnight accommodations at Margaritaville Lake Resort, a round of golf, tour of Bridal Cave, passes to Big Surf Waterpark and an afternoon of stand-up paddleboarding; A half-day guided fishing trip on Stockton Lake with Tandem Fly Outfitters; A "Driftwood Outdoors" guided wade fishing trip at Montauk State Park with Brandon Butler and "Shags" McCleod; A one-night stay at Bass & Baskets Bed and Breakfast and a half-day guided fishing trip with Big Ed's Guide Service on Lake of the Ozarks; A guided kayak fishing trip for two with Ozark Stream Guides; and a binder of the finest Z-Man Lures, just to name a few of the items secured so far.
ALL HANDS ON DECK
If any MOC members would like to donate their time and talent to this fundraising effort, or help procure donations, please let either Brent Frazee or Kyle Stewart know how you would like to help. We would appreciate any and all donations.
Additionally, when the auction launches, we would greatly appreciate it if we can all help spread the word about the auction and the great items on offer.
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MOC's DONIPHAN FISH, FLOAT 'N FUN MEDIA EVENT REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED |
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Our Active Media members were invited to attend the upcoming MOC Fall Fish, Float 'N Fun media event in Doniphan, Mo., September 22-24.
Due to the limited number of spaces available and the immediate response of interested media members, registration for MOC's Doniphan event is now closed.
We have a great event planned where participating attendees will sample some of the outdoor adventures that can be found around Doniphan, Mo.
Tucked into the heart of Missouri's Ozark Mountain range just north of the Arkansas border, Ripley County is known as the "land of legend and romance" and is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. Home to the lower Current River of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River, a large swath of the Mark Twain National Forest and the legendary Irish Wilderness -16,500 acres of protected wilderness, the city of Doniphan is the county hub and a stopping point for many looking to explore all the area has to offer.
During this MOC event, active media members will have the opportunity to tour Doniphan's Heritage Homestead and attend a blacksmith demonstration by local artisans; tour the Current River Heritage Museum; go gigging with local guides for sucker fish; fish for smallmouth bass and goggleye with local guides; tour three highlights of the Eleven Point District of the Mark Twain National Forest - The Narrows, Boze Mill Spring Float Camp and Turner Mill; float the Current River; hike part of the Irish Wilderness with Mark Twain National Forest rangers; and more!
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MOC's Stockton Lake Fish 'N Fun Media Event a Success |
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Clockwise from upper left: A "Welcome to Stockton" woodcarving depicting an angler and a black bear greets visitors upon their entrance into town; MOC President Zach Smith caught the largest walleye of the event; Scott Pauley enjoying an evening fishing for white bass; Zach Smith, Bill Cooper and Kyle Stewart enjoyed a guided paddle of the Aquatic Trail at Stockton State Park; Kris Nelson, owner of Tandem Fly Outfitters; Stockton Lake is one of the "Top 10 Lakes for Sailing in the United States" according SAIL Magazine. First two photos taken by Brad Wiegmann. Remaining photos by Kyle Stewart. |
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In mid-August, a handful of MOC members came together at Tandem Fly Outfitters and Lodge in Stockton, Mo. for MOC's Summer Fish 'N Fun Media Event to sample the excellent fishing and other outdoor pursuits to be found in the area. This MOC Fish 'N Fun event, which was hosted by Tandem Fly Outfitters and the City of Stockton was a great success with many catching their limit of white bass in the evenings and chasing walleye and crappie throughout the mornings and afternoons. Several MOC members also enjoyed a guided tour of part of the 6.6-mile Aquatic Trail at Stockton State Park. This MOC event was attended by Bill Cooper, Mitch Glenn, Kenny Kieser, Tyler Mahoney, Scott Pauley, Zach Smith, Brad Wiegmann and Kyle Stewart.
We look forward to seeing all the great stories and coverage for the Stockton area that will result from this media event.
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SELLING A MAGAZINE ARTICLE
By Kenneth L. Kieser
An old editor once told me, “Never let correct writing skills get in the way of a good story. Free yourself and let your writing go exactly where the reader would like to be.”
That was his thinking in the early 1970’s, but it will not work today. Outdoor magazines demand proper writing. Poor writing is quickly discarded by the biggest or smallest publications.
I know some of you already sell magazine articles, but here are a few tips on how to gain bylines in new publications:
Write Unique Subjects to Start: Every magazine has a stable of in-house and freelance writers. They get the obvious features, so, find a unique angle to break into their publication. I once sold a story on using Preparation “H” as a crappie additive. This unique “serious medicine” formula may not be the most biodegradable, but we did not know that then and fish loved the smell of the shark liver oil. Strange subject, but it got my foot in that magazine’s door and I sold them several more stories before their demise.
Understand Each Publication’s Format: Reading several copies of their magazine, front to back cover is the key to breaking into any publication. A publisher generally tells an editor what they want in each magazine. The stories you are seeing is exactly what the editor buys; the style of writing, themes and length. Most publications still have writer’s guidelines on their website and this is valuable information. Read it and follow this valuable guide to the letter!
Be Precise: Remember when writing magazine articles, active voice is always better than passive voice and never go one word below or above the assigned word count.
Dreaded Editing: Have another professional writer edit your work—they see mistakes you cannot. Edit by reading out loud. You can hear mistakes better than you can see mistakes, especially in your own writing. You could marry an editor like I did, but only if you’re not already married. An in-house editor is handy and we correct each other’s work—but don’t get a divorce to seek this happiness!
Use the Internet to Your Advantage: Today the internet provides studying topics before interviews. Find facts to formulate questions and then ask your expert for additional information. Readers fact-check articles on the internet and love to prove a writer wrong so they can contact the editor. You may never hear from that editor again, especially if you’re wrong more than once.
The Unexpected: Recently a man I wrote about contacted the editor to ask “Just when in the hell his story was going to run?” He informed the editor of spending a lot of money on this story. He was speaking of his expenses from the hunt, but the editor thought he meant I charged him money to write the story and then the magazine paid me too. I contacted the editor to explain that was not the case, but he didn’t know who to believe and I lost one of my best paying markets.
Editors: Editors may become your friends after several years, but most never want a phone call from you or anyone. They are busy and don’t need distractions. Query them online and attach your bio with contact information. They will contact you if they want to further discuss a topic.
Again, read writer’s guidelines to find how each magazine editor prefers to receive queries. A few still prefer to receive queries through snail mail. The majority, however, are sent by e-mail. Remember to query non-fiction and send fictional articles directly to the editor by e-mail.
Losing Your Money Maker: Writing markets come and go. Never rely on one market to pay your rent or for your groceries. Find several outlets to write for and search for new publications. Sadly, these are tough times for outdoor publications, but mainstream magazines occasionally pick up an outdoor story. Information on what they purchase is generally found on their website.
Photography: High-definition post card shots are required when writing most non-fiction articles. A well-written manuscript could be rejected because the photography did not meet a photo editor’s standards. Send high-quality photos only!!!
Good writing!!!!
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Life Lessons Learned from Crossword Puzzles
By Charlie Slovensky, founding MOC member
Having completed several crossword puzzles and created a few, meanwhile struggling against a vast multitude of others, I have learned a lot from the challenges.
For me, the experience has been a mystical one. Some of the lessons I’ve learned are actually Life Lessons.
Life Lessons? Well, read on and judge for yourself. Here are some examples:
Be willing to admit your mistakes. You might be wrong, and the quicker you admit it, the sooner you can get back on track. Withholding judgment pending confirmation is more efficient than moving forward prematurely based on false presumptions. It could mean the difference between success and frustration.
Write softly, and carry a big eraser. Pencil in what you feel relatively certain about; erase what you’re unsure of. The height of arrogance . . . and futility . . . is to work a crossword puzzle with an ink pen.
On the other hand, you MIGHT be right. Trust what your initial instincts tell you the answer is likely to be. Having gotten it right the first time is exhilarating in the end.
Pick the low-hanging fruit – first. It’s okay to postpone decisions you’re unsure of; just watch out for the over-ripe fruit falling from above. Remember, you might be wrong!
Slow down. Concentrate. Multitasking has no place in this arena; I don’t believe in it, anyway. Multitasking leads to mistakes, and haste leads to waste. Working a crossword puzzle shouldn’t have to compete with watching television or engaging in conversation much less scrolling through Facebook.
All words are linked by common letters. This is intrinsic to any crossword puzzle addict, but it’s also the key to solving the riddles of life. Just as all words are linked by common letters and combinations of letters, all concepts are linked by shared ideas. And isn’t that the true essence of crosswork puzzling?
One letter can make a big difference. If you’re not sure of an answer but pretty certain the word ends in an “s” or “ed,” go ahead and pencil that much in. It may help you discover one of the other cross words quicker. In other words, use the clues that are available.
Keep the clues in context. If the puzzle is theme-based, try to get inside the creator’s head and stay there. You can solve a lot of the world’s problems using the same strategy. We could solve them all, if we could get inside our Creator’s head!
Learn from the past. If you pick up a new word for your vocabulary or resurrect an old one, don’t let it slip back into the severed synapses of your mind. To become an effective communicator, be a word hoarder.
Things get a little easier, once you understand. Furthermore, they get a LOT easier, once you admit you could be wrong.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, and I might be wrong, but I’m guessing that close to half of what I needed to know, about words and wisdom, I picked up from working crossword puzzles.
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For future issues for MOC TALK, please send story submissions, photographs, inquiries and upcoming events to Kyle Stewart of The Beenders Walker Group at [email protected].
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MISSOURI OUTDOOR COMMUNICATORS
125 E. HIGH STREET, SUITE 200
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101
OFFICE: 573-636-8282
CELL: 573-619-3296
WWW.MISSOURIOUTDOORCOMMUNICATORS.ORG
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