A good friend of mine travels all over the world with his band. So far, he’s been in 36 countries - most recently New Zealand and Australia. And he’s fished in nearly every one of them.
I keep telling him that he really needs to write a column or articles for a fishing magazine or web site. I can’t imagine there are too many people who have been to all these same places.
Anyone here have a connection to one, or suggestions on contacting one?
Thanks!
You could try messaging this guy if he isn’t too ornery.
The Fly Tapes is a podcast about writing about fly fishing. Each episode is an in depth interview with a writer and often discusses how they got started. It is fly fishing specific, but a good place to start. Episode 00--Welcome to The Fly Tapes Podcast — SYZYGY FLY FISHING
No offense, I hope, but unless your friend is already writing things regularly that other people read, this probably isn’t a great idea. I’m assuming you don’t think some random writer could just hop in your friend’s band, and play along at the same level, right? Why do you think your friend could do a good job writing? The most important thing about writing a column for a magazine isn’t experience in the subject; it’s being able to write something that people want to read (on a deadline, again and again, in the right format/tone, accepting whatever the editor does to it). I don’t know, but I’m guessing your friend doesn’t have the writing experience/skills, time, and desire to actually write a good column every month or two.
Now, he might be a good candidate for a fishing magazine to interview (especially if he’s even slightly famous enough for generic fishermen to recognize his name), which would be a good way to share stories and experience. He can tell his stories, but leave the writing to the pros.
I have had a couple things published but back then I was actually in the industry and a slightly-known-name. His best bet is to start locally with something like a state Trout or BASS council publication and then use that as a sort of calling card for the more national magazines. That or skip articles and go right more for the book/video/movie type of thing combining several years together. Something like the “Fish & Sheep & Rock & Roll” thing that was done by/about Ian Anderson. OK ------ that was farming. But its a similar thought.
He’s written a regular newspaper column before. He’s produced 36 podcasts without a sponsor as of yet, which I think demonstrates enough stick-to-itiveness.
The “pros” are not necessarily traveling and fishing all around the world, which is the most interesting thing.
Is he finally going to address the question of what kind of dynamite is best for stunning the fish? That would be something people would want to read.
You’re thinking of Gil Fisher on The Fishin’ Musician on SCTV.
As I understand the magazine industry, nearly all material is written in house. If anything like this would ever get into print, I would expect it to be a collaboration between the peregrine fisherman and one of the magazine editors, who would interview him and then ghost write it according to the magazine’s style guide. Mail them a query, and with luck, you’ll see what a terse rejection letter l,ooks like.
I think there are specialty magazine publishers who put out dozens if not hundreds of mostly industrial mags, like “The American Strip Miner” or “Styrofoam Today”, with all the articles written by pretty much the same 9-5 writers with deadlines. Next time you’re having your windshield replaced, look on the coffee table in the waiting room, for the retail auto glass magazines, and page through them.
I wouldn’t imagine the staff writers are capable of actually traveling all these different countries, catching fish, and taking pictures of doing so. He and the band just got back from a tour of New Zealand and Australia, and caught a Murray Cod, went beach fishing with a uniquely Australian type of “side cast” reel, were interviewed on the ABC, and the host spontaneously invited them onto his fishing show the next day.
Seriously, they are going places and doing things people who love to fish want to hear about.
I don’t know about your industry, but I get many different sound engineering magazines - Mix, Front of House, Live Sound International - and almost all of the articles are written by working sound engineers, probably during the seasonal downtime the business is known for.