Writing for Anglers – Part 1

Mark spent seven years on ‘Angling Times’, was editor of ‘Sea Angling Handbook’, deputy editor of ‘Salmon, Trout and Sea-Trout’, deputy launch editor of the defunct ‘Practical Coarse Fishing’, and has done freelance for a number of fishing titles.

Some of us have actually got to the stage of writing the whole story, and a few of us have had enough self-belief to then send the story to a fishing magazine or website. That is how, 25 years ago, I started my journalism career on Sea Angler magazine.

I thought then, aged 21, that I had some special gift, and that the job I was offered as a consequence of writing to the editor was going to be a cinch; after four years of training, I realised that writing is neither easy nor a gift. Once I’d graduated to Angling Times, I found myself writing upwards of 5,000 words a week – sometimes 10,000. That kind of output requires practise, knowledge and sheer stamina.

Having experienced life closer to the top (I now edit a business magazine) I can tell everyone that journalism is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you want to earn a good salary, do something else. If you want to get home for tea, don’t bother. If you want to enjoy more fishing, better to become a plumber than a fishing writer.

On the other hand, you may be someone who has some great fishing experiences you want to share, and just fancy seeing your name in print. At fishing publications, it’s not unusual to get half a dozen articles a month from first-time writers. Sadly, most of their efforts are rejected. I will tell you why.

First of all, the magazines need great pictures; not good pictures, you understand, but great pictures. Modern camera technology has improved amateur efforts in the last decade, and you can now guarantee a well-exposed shot – even on the sensitive slide film magazines prefer – nine times out of ten. The difference between you and the pro will be the tenth picture, and that is what earns these boys £ 250 a day.

Nonetheless, buy some Fuji Velvia or any big-name slide film in 100ASA speed plus an SLR camera, or invest in a 6 megapixel digital camera, and you have every chance of turning in a respectable result. Take your picture ideas from what you see printed in the magazine. Be honest with yourself; can you REALLY take pictures as good as those? Try to learn a bit about photography. Until you can produce a few pictures (or know someone who can), you are, quite frankly, sunk.

It is an absolute fact that, if you don’t read very much, you’ll be a crap writer. If you can’t get through a novel in a week or think reading the Telegraph/ Guardian/ Independent is too much like hard work, best not to attempt writing. Honestly.

Good writing is in the eye (or mind) of the beholder, but there is a massive difference between writing style and grammar! Yes, your words will be ‘subbed’ – hack slang for ‘edited’ – but if you want to make a good impression, think before you write, and take your time to check what you’ve written, or get someone more literate to check it.

Most of the budding writers I’ve given the bum’s rush have, frankly, overstretched their ability. Good writing can be very simple, so don’t set out to impress, just use the phrases and words you would use if you were telling your story down the pub (then remove the expletives!). If you have to refer to the dictionary more than half a dozen times, you’re trying too hard.

Try to make your story interesting within the first 25 words. That’s the attention span of the average editor/reader. Waffle and piffle and other stuff ending in ‘ffle’ will have your words inching towards his waste bin. Get straight to the point.

Try to maintain a logical progression of fact. Make a few ‘bullet point’ notes before writing if that helps. Don’t leave any detail out, but don’t clutter your writing with it. Provide illustrations and sketches to explain complex things, and provide lists and tables if these are appropriate.

It goes without saying that you’ll need to produce your story on a computer, and make the files available to the editor. But don’t trust everything to email. With the rise of the email has come a dearth of snail mail; a piece of printed paper is more likely to get read these days. And don’t forget to call the publication before sending anything so your story goes to the right person.

Above all, don’t be put off if you get a rejection. Do more reading, try to understand what sets a professional writer’s words apart from yours, and try again.

Writing for Anglers – Part 2