Writing for a magazine?

Say what you will about TJ, he’s made a full time living at it, doing what many here would aspire to for a living. And few manage to. And therein lies the rub, most of these professions aren’t what people envision, there’s a heavily commercial element to it all you have to embrace if you want to go the distance like TJ. I didn’t always agree with TJ, but I accept he understood many things I don’t about selling stories for a living.
 
MD said:
I'm a professional full time freelance writer in the commercial fishing and marine world.

It's hard to break into magazine writing cold with full-size articles, though it can be done.

Usually people break in by writing "front of book" short items, establishing a relationship with editors and then work into longer things.

I used to write for BC Outdoors now and again and once got an article into Outdoor Life.

Look up magazine writing on the 'net. There is tons of advice there. Learn how to write a query, select your market and send it off.
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I've had a couple of short hunting stories published in Alberta Outdoorsmen Magazine. As stated above it's tough to get into an actual paid writing gig but I'm sure perseverance mixed with some good luck might do it if the OP is persistent enough. I'm content with submitting a short story or two each year for a free subscription, a hat and t-shirt and a bunch of copies my story is featured in. I don't recall if I sent a copy to CGN member Doug but his big grinning face is in print of a pic of him holding up his first Snow Goose and first Specklebelly from a story I submitted on a hunt we had when he passed through.
 
Ardent said:
Say what you will about TJ, he’s made a full time living at it, doing what many here would aspire to for a living. And few manage to. And therein lies the rub, most of these professions aren’t what people envision, there’s a heavily commercial element to it all you have to embrace if you want to go the distance like TJ. I didn’t always agree with TJ, but I accept he understood many things I don’t about selling stories for a living.
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I know an extremely prevalent writer along the same lines at TJ and can attest to the heavy commercial element. Iv been on the odd hunt with him and every aspect of the gear is being assessed and photographed to the highest degree. Any chance for good photos is taken as who knows when a sunset goose pic is needed. Even with the added "commercial element" he is an amazing outdoorsman and the hunts are always just as fun and productive as normal.
 
I have a friend that’s an outdoors and wildlife photographer and he’s all over the world doing photo ops for writers, magazines and commercial hunting and fishing companies. Now that he’s established and has a reputation, he’s never out of work and he gets to go on some amazing hunting and fishing adventures with great clients.

Some of the outings that he’s had to decline because he’s to busy would be the trip of a lifetime for a fishing and hunting enthusiast…
 
Ardent said:
Say what you will about TJ, he’s made a full time living at it, doing what many here would aspire to for a living. And few manage to. And therein lies the rub, most of these professions aren’t what people envision, there’s a heavily commercial element to it all you have to embrace if you want to go the distance like TJ. I didn’t always agree with TJ, but I accept he understood many things I don’t about selling stories for a living.
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well he endorsed two outfitters caught many times breaking the laws while operating outfitting/hunting operations in canada ... maybe a good person but not wise in the decisions of support commercialy wrong outfits ... my personal interactions with him was troughout his lawyer after a discussion here ... but he ended to be banned ...

i guided few tv shows and i will keep my comments for me about being jealous of them or him ...
 
I’m surprised admittedly it went that far, and wasn’t aware of the endorsements of ####heels. Never went afield with TJ, though it was discussed on the phone, and over the phone he seemed much more reasonable than many of the forum arguments made him appear.

Not a friend of the guy, but having spoken to him on a couple occasions at reasonable length he seemed much different than the forum persona. It was my interpretation he received a lot of flack due to his profile, and then handled his public interactions poorly online. He probably should have stuck to just print and video, and stayed off the forums.
 
Turd J is a scab. Spent a lifetime riding on someone else’s dime, weather it was fishing or hunting. Only rag writer to ever have a 7mm Rem Mag “rechambered” to .264 Win Mag.
 
Ardent said:
I’m surprised admittedly it went that far, and wasn’t aware of the endorsements of ####heels. Never went afield with TJ, though it was discussed on the phone, and over the phone he seemed much more reasonable than many of the forum arguments made him appear.

Not a friend of the guy, but having spoken to him on a couple occasions at reasonable length he seemed much different than the forum persona. It was my interpretation he received a lot of flack due to his profile, and then handled his public interactions poorly online. He probably should have stuck to just print and video, and stayed off the forums.
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look up the story he posted here in the yukon (no he or his partner were not involved in the case but he made a lot trying to defend the outfitter) and look for brian martin in bc now in asia ....

dealing with a lawyer is not the end of the world ... what worries me is that some individual here had no problem to disclose my personal information to him and his lawyer ... at the end nothing happened of course ...
 
I have published a few articles, and it is a tough go these days to get an unsolicited piece into print by an unknown writer. Possible, but tough. Most pieces are now commissioned, or at least pre-approved by vetted, well-known writers.
 
stubblejumper said:
He was banned , and I certainly don't consider him to be one of the better outdoor writers.



It's not just you.
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Its funny because as i was reading replies this guy came to mind. If he is what it takes to be a writer, i guess one needs to be an arrogant and argumentative turd.

Couldn't stand him. Definitely one of the good bans fron CGN....
 
billdick said:
T.J. Schwanky is on gunnutz here somewhere but I can't remember his handle right now. I think it has some to do with sheep.
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He writes for Alberta Outdoorsmen, they are always looking for hunting related articles, just a T shirt, but it gets you published. I've got a couple. :redface:

Grizz
 
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