On writing and new opportunities

I have been writing this blog for about four years now.  In that time, I have gained a lot of outdoor friends and lost a couple outdoor friends (I'm better off without the drama.) I have learned about hunting issues in Maine and looked beyond deer hunting to bear, coyote and turkey. I have been able to reconnect with friends who are now working for Inland Fisheries & Wildlife as well as meet new friends who helped me get a better idea of what was going on and what the impact was, as I sat in on legislative hearings regarding new potential laws to the Maine outdoors.

In my writing, I have always strive to be unique, honest and to the point.  I don't always do a good job of editing (I am working on that, I promise!) but I am improving and growing as an outdoors woman and as a writer.

In this process, I had the opportunity to blog for a state-wide newspaper.  My excitement and willingness was short lived as I (and others) were bounced from one editor to another to another.  I would inquire about getting more promotion for my posts and try to have timely and interesting materials that would be worthy of a Facebook post or a retweet.  But after a staff writer copied three of my blogs topics and posted and promoted his work, usually done within a week of my original posts, I decided that enough was enough.  I went back and forth with my editor and was told that because we write about hunting and the Maine woods, that we were bound to have similar articles.  I struggled about how I felt about the situation and my writing integrity.  I asked friends and fellow bloggers about it.  I wanted people to read my work because it was a reflection on my thoughts, experiences and feeling towards hunting and Maine. One week later, I gave my notice.

But, when one door closes...

I had been contacted by the editor of a hunting magazine back in January about writing for him because he wanted more women's voices.  I couldn't follow through then because I was four months pregnant and trying to stay awake past 5pm and function as a human was a daily challenge. 

Fast forward ten months and at a sportsman's show in October, I reconnected with the editor and we once again started talking about me writing for him.  After a few emails and an official query, I am the newest writer for the Northwoods Sporting Journal!

Beginning with the January issue, I will write a monthly column called "Woman in the Woods."  I am excited to reach a new group of outdoor folks and look forward to them stopping by Coffee to join in on our conversations!

I want to send a huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you who read this blog and comment on my adventures.  I really appreciate you supporting me as I grow as a writer and as an outdoors woman.  I hope you will keep reading and sharing this adventure with me!