The post Letter to the Editor appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

The post Letters to the Editor appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

The post Letter to the Editor appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Thank you for reviewing the paperback version of my newest book, Bears in the Backyard. While reading Bookshelf, it occurred to me that there seems to be no distinction made between books that were published by traditional publishers and those that were self published. Granted, as a long-time traditional author, I will admit bias against self-published writers being considered in the same light as authors who have been contracted to write books. This is not the reason for my suggestion. One of my reasons for reading reviews is to see what type of ideas publishers are buying. When I see a publisher’s name that is unfamiliar to me, I have to research it to determine if the book involved was indeed contracted by a publisher or printed by a vanity press. Knowing in advance would save me time. I wonder if other members have the same issue.
— Ed Ricciuti, Killingworth, Connecticut
Feedback guidelines
Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Letters are not edited for grammar, spelling or style. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.
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— King Montgomery, Kennebunkport, Maine

Feedback guidelines

Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.

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The post KEER IS A GREAT BOARD ADDITION appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Thanks for efforts with Forest Service fees

Dear Editor,
Let’s hope the final wording reflects Chief Thomas Tidwell’s stated resolve to protect working journalists’ reporting on USFS lands. But we’re only half way home on this issue. Similar objectionable restrictions continue on other federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. We should insist these agencies take a cue from Mr. Tidwell and re-write their commercial photography and recording policies to ensure uniformity and fairness for reporters working on these lands as well.
— Dave Carlson, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

A step beyond the Michigan R.A.P program

Dear Editor,
We all detest game law violators who are essentially stealing from us all! Although we as outdoors-persons don’t all agree on the current policies enacted by our politically pressured DNR, we all agree that sound science-based wildlife and environment management should be our ultimate goal. Currently our DNR falls short of this objective. We have a viable suggestion for our DNR and our legislators that could be a step in the right direction!
Those individuals who blatantly and knowingly violate and steal from the rest of us should assume a larger responsibility for funding what they choose to destroy! We propose that we be compensated for helping to “police our own ranks” as the current R.A.P program only starts to do! Our legislature is good at interfering with our DNR’s sound science-based wildlife professional’s proposed action plans by coming up with purely financialbased directives and regulations. A prime example is the “over the top” license increases for resident and non-resident hunters and fishermen that should have been imposed incrementally if at all! The results of these actions were predictable by those of us who consider the “big picture” before we act. The facts are clear. We continue to have low new hunter recruitment, in 2013-14 had lower hunter participation and satisfaction, reduced license sales, and more violations for unlicensed hunting and fishing and poaching! This trend needs to be turned around NOW!
HERE IS OUR PROPOSAL: Have our legislators initiate yet another financially based regulation that does more than just generate money. This will relieve the financial burdens of law abiding outdoor users at the expense of violators. Along with continuing to raise the fines for game law and environmental violations, put a “bounty” on the heads of violators! Expand the R.A.P program to include a reward of 25% of the fines imposed on successfully prosecuted violators to be paid to the tipster(s) that initiated the violation investigation. Current R.A.P anonymity can be maintained. Financial gains always motivate action. The best way to curb violations and protect our wild resources is to hit violators where it really hurts…their wallets! An added incentive for adoption of this new policy will be more enjoyable wild outdoor experiences for all that will encourage ethical and legal activities, sportsmanship, and set good examples for potential new recruits as well as the non-hunting public! This could be a win-win proposition for everyone…except violators!
— Joe Lunkas, Mesick, Michigan

Feedback guidelines

Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.

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Standing by thoughts on self-publishing

I realize that there are some outdoor writing pros, with serious track records, who have set up their own self-publishing operations. They are, in effect, “publishers.” The fact remains, however, the most self-published books are of low quality and by people who cannot sell their writing to a traditional publisher. I suspect most of them know it in their hearts. As proof of my assertion, there is an independent bookstore near me, with an international reputation, that will not stock self-published works nor allow the people who wrote them to appear there. If they want to call themselves “authors,” use the prefix “self-published.”
— Ed Ricciuti, Killingworth, Connecticut

Scholarship gives important opportunities

To OWAA & Sponsors of the Bodie McDowell scholarship,
As one of the recipients of this year’s scholarship, I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to all of those at OWAA & the McDowell family for their support in making opportunities like this possible for young writers & outdoor enthusiasts. Being able to spend my days in the mountains, writing stories, watching wildlife & interviewing key stakeholders is my favorite way to spend time and scholarships like this allow me to keep telling these stories & pursuing my dreams. Please extend my thanks to all relevant OWAA members & donors.
— Gloria Dickie, Boulder, Colorado

Feedback guidelines

Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.

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Remembering William Barbee

In Kevin Costner’s movie Dances with Wolves, there is a scene in which the mule-team driver pokes around at an old skeleton found along the trail. It has an arrow sticking out of it. The mule-team driver says in jest, “Now, why don’t he
write?”
I thought of that scene often this past year-or-so whenever I’d try to contact OWAA member and graduate student of the North American School of Outdoor Writing William H. Barbee.
Bill joined NASOW in 2008. He was 88 years old. A retired anathesiologist, he lived in Surpise, Arizona.
His main writing was about fly-fishing the rugged rivers of the american west — many of his trips invloved hikes and overnight camps, sometimes on horseback.
He also published articles on Olympic-level shooting, including what it took to reach that level of expertise. He liked to pass on tips from the experts that the average shooter could benefit from by incorporating them into their own shooting.
When he began the writing course, he sent me a snapshot of himself when he won a gold medal in 2007 for shooting at the Arizona Senior Olympics. “There were only two of us in my age bracket” he wrote on the back with his usual wry sense of humor.
Bill also wrote about the history of the outdoor sports, including one particularly fine article about some of the old gunsmiths who had relocated to the USA — craftsmen who had worked for the likes of Purdy in England.
Bill Barbee was a fine man. Polite, professional, interested in many things, sharp as a ten-penny nail. It was a pleasure to work with him and he had good success, published in the outdoor press many times, which was one of his goals. He  still holds the record as the oldest student in the school — he was certainly as succcesssful as many other students a quarter his age.
I’ll miss you, Bill. I can picture you wading out into the Yellowstone with clouds of mayflies glowing in the morning light. Your horses graze, and raise their heads to nicker and watch, as you play a big one.
Way to go, Bill. Way to go!
— Roger Brunt, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada

Writers Need To Use Best Science

As a scientist and a writer, I take exception to Mary Nickum’s assessment of peer review in “Covering science like an expert” (August-September 2014). Ms. Nickum states that “The burden of proof rests with researchers seeking to change scientific conclusions. Science is never accepted until confirmed by additional studies. Science writers should look for consensus among studies.” First, these statements have little to do with peer review and are ambiguous. The peer review is done prior to the publication of the scientists’ papers. The second sentence is ambiguous at best and not true at worst. What does she mean by “[s]cience”? Not all studies require additional studies for confirmation. If done properly, peer review can be all that is needed for readers to accept a study’s results (such as a study conducted by multi-institutional scientific teams and peer-reviewed by many highly qualified experts). And finally, science writers should look for the best conducted and best peer-reviewed studies, not necessarily for consensus (consensus among whom?).
— Susan Jewell, Springfield, Virginia

Standing Up For Self-Publishing

I second Dave Carlson’s admonition not to look down on self-publishing. Doing so can only diminish our appeal to potential new members, not to mention OWAA’s relevance in the evolving marketplace of ideas.
— Jim Low, Jefferson City, Missouri

Feedback guidelines

Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.

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Don’t Look Down on Self-publishing

Ed Ricciuti has come down hard on self-publish book authors being eligible for OWAA membership. Does his “real author” standard include an author whose work first appeared as a self-published book? It takes “talent and persistence” to learn the ins and outs of today’s book industry.
Ricciuti’s questioning self-published book authors being eligible for OWAA membership is a bit harsh. Let’s not race off to disqualify these budding writers. What’s the standard with OWAA full-timers in other outdoor communication fields who devote a comparatively little but certainly rewarding time to writing and marketing self-published books? One day, that might be their only qualifying work. Besides, some of this self-published work might rise to publishers’ acceptance. Exposure to OWAA will help some get there. There’s always the chance …
— Dave Carlson, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Feedback guidelines

Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.

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Glenn Sapir Retires from NSSF

After nearly 11 years as Editorial Director and then Director of Editorial Services for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and 44 years after landing my first job out of college as Assistant Editor at Outdoor Life Magazine, I have decided to write the next chapter of my life.
In retirement, I look forward to doing a lot more fishing and hunting, traveling with my wife, Nancy, and visiting my children and grandchildren.
Of course, a writer/editor never really retires, and that goes for me when I leave NSSF on April 25. I will continue to edit The Range Report and write the Annual Review for NSSF, and you might even see me representing the foundation at a writers’ conference, as I have been asked to do at this year’s OWAA Conference. I retain my outdoor column for Gannett’s Journal News in suburban New York and, additionally, envision authoring freelance articles of my choosing. One of my most immediate goals is publishing a book of my favorite writings to serve as a legacy for my children and grandchildren.
I look forward to seeing what professional opportunities might present themselves. Though I am not seeking anything resembling full-time work, I do hope that interesting challenges will continue to come my way.
Writing and editing may appear to be independent jobs, but, truth is, the success of a writer and editor is dependent upon the support of many others. I would like to thank the many writers, editors, photographers, designers, colleagues, information sources, industry members, destination hosts and friends who have played an important role in my career thus far.
— Glenn Sapir, Argyle, N.Y.

OU Headline Misleading

I just read the OU Supporter Spotlight titled THE INS AND OUTS OF EPUBLISHING by Rodney Smith. I am sure the Little Pond Publishing does a fantastic job publishing writers’ books; I have been looking at them myself. I am also sure they understand the Ins and outs of Epublishing, but no such information was forthcoming.
When I started I truly expected to learn, the ins and outs of Epublishing. But such was not the case. I do understand that under this sub banner supporters may say what they wish to promote their Jams and Jellies. But, after reading through the short piece several times I still didn’t have a clue about Epublishing.
I do believe the title was deceiving and in future spots would suggest a more commercial title. If you are only using this as filler then assign titles more to promote a product and not under the impression of a craft improvement piece.
Thanks.
— Jim Foster, Salmon, Idaho

New Members Shouldn’t Be a Concern

I recently received my Feb/Mar issue of OU and was impressed as usual with the content. The one thing that caught my attention though was the Letter to the Editor and I felt I needed to respond as a new member of OWAA. I was invited to join OWAA by Chris Hunt who offered to be my sponsor. Let me be clear I am a blogger and a fledgling writer who wants to become a truly professional writer. I joined the OWAA to learn to become a better writer from some of the best writers in the industry. Because of the OWAA I finally had an article published in a Tenkara magazine and am currently working to get a few more published. I am also working on a book that I hope to have published here soon.
Have I published a book by earning a “legitimate book contract”? No, not yet, but with the help of the staff and members of OWAA that is my goal! I will continue to work to do that very soon.
— Graham Moran, Aurora, Colo.

Feedback guidelines

Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.

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