outdoor writing Archives - Outdoor Writers Association of America

Hueco State Park entrance in El Paso, Texas

Who knew? Six awesome things about El Paso (You’ll salivate at #5!)

With contributions by Chez Chesak When I first learned that El Paso was the site of the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s 2024 conference, I was pretty excited. My excitement was driven mainly, I admit, because Cormack McCarthy—author of one of the greatest and most devastating post-apocalyptic stories of all time, IMO—lived there for decades. […]

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El Paso, Texas: 10 story leads for outdoor media

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

Get ready to mix business with pleasure at the annual OWAA conference in sunny El Paso, Texas, happening Sept. 20-22! While you’re not busy conferencing, spice up your downtime by diving into some exciting story leads. Explore the vibrant outdoor scene of El Paso and turn your adventures into cash by highlighting the best of

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View of a slot canyon in El Paso, Texas Guadalupe Mountains

Outdoor Media Story Leads: Discover El Paso’s Franklin Mountains & Surrounding National Parks

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

Located at the corner of two countries and three states, El Paso is a popular destination for outdoor adventures. Within its city limits alone, El Paso is home to the majestic Franklin Mountains State Park, 27,000 acres of rugged desert land and vegetation, miles of hiking trails, and curious species. A short car ride away

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View overlooking Johnson City, Tennessee where the Outdoor Writers Association will hold the 2024 July Field Fest for Outdoor Media

Explore Johnson City, Tennessee at OWAA’s July 2024 Field Fest for Outdoor Media

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

Visit Johnson City Tennessee staff is gearing up to host the inaugural OWAA Field Fest this summer, July 7-11, 2024 at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee. OWAA’s Field Fest is a “mash-up” of a mini-conference, marketplace for outdoor communicators and various small group press trips. (It’s also an opportunity for OWAA to work with

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Meet OWAA Member Candace Dantes

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

Candace Dantes is a fourth-generation cowgirl and award-winning communicator based in the Georgia Black Belt Region. From rural America, she has collaborated with global brands like London’s M&C Saatchi and Black Beauty & Hair Magazine. Back home, she has served as an agriculture marketer, media consultant, and feature writer for brands like Wrangler, Justin Boots, Cotopaxi,

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Enhance your birding experience with the Merlin Bird ID app

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

Herons. Condors. Falcons. Birds known for their majesty, their abilities and impressive stature. And then there are pigeons. Sky Rats. City Doves. Rats with Wings. Perhaps the bird most in need of a new press agent. It is unusual that this bird, often considered a pesky annoyance, would be the one to spark my interest

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A male OWAA member stands outside in front of a mountain and lake

Meet OWAA member Ethan Gallogly

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

Ethan Gallogly, PhD, has been a leader in the Sierra Club, the Cal Hiking and Outdoors Society (CHAOS) at UC Berkeley, and the Outdoors Club of Southern California. His boots have covered countless miles, including the John Muir Trail, the High Sierra Trail, the Oregon Section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Theodore Solomons

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This one thing: How to use a read-aloud feature to help edit your work

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

I have a confession to make: whenever I read a book by Ken Keffer, Matt Miller, or Kris Millgate — or any book, for that matter — I speed read. You might have used the word “the” or “and” but I didn’t read it. I tend to skip words with less than three-letters. My brain

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Photographer outdoors in a field with mountains in the background

Youth writing and photography contests aim to inspire the next generation

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

OWAA leadership, staff, and outdoor media professionals continue to be inspired by the quality of outdoor writing and photography submitted by budding outdoor communicators. And it’s more than just words and images on a page. “The contest isn’t just about the writing or photography,” said OWAA’s Executive Director Chez Chesak. “It’s about inspiration. It’s about

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A rock climber at sunset climbing rocks near a lake

What you may not know about sustainable writing and inclusive outdoor language

OWAA Outdoor Voices Blog

Language is alive. All humans depend on ever-evolving languages and their ability to grow and change to better reflect our cultural contexts. Language, like our natural world, has been tended to and curated by people for millennia. Much like natural resources, there are sustainable and unsustainable practices. Knowing the histories of the words and terms

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