Bushtrackers in Caravan Magazines

Hi Neil,
Writing is not hard, you just need to string facts together in a readable style... just about anyone could do it if they try. Go into any news agents and look at the plethora of monthly mags on display. Most of them are busting for well written articles with good photographs.

To keep me sane while recuperating from a bad fall (off the roof of the new d/storey house on the farm) I did a short course with the Writing School " Writing articles for publication and profit" I paid for the $500 fee with two artcles sold before I finished the course.

Since then there have been many articles published and I have yet to have a knock-back. If you are interested, then doing such a course will be of great benifit - you get a personal tutor - mine was a crusty old editor from the british dailies who was a stickler for getting it write (sorry for the pun). It will provide you the basics of 'how to' as well as how to approach publishers and many other tricks of the trade.

Good photo's will sell an average article and poor photo's will kill a good article. If you want to write - first pick the magazine, study their style e.g. what type of articles, how long etc. Always contact the publishers and get their 'Contributor Guidelines' so you will get a better understanding of their needs and work on your photographic skills.

A professionally presented article with a suitable cover note and lots of photo's on CD (highest quality you can produce) so that the editorial team have plenty to pick from. Just because you like the photographs does not mean they will - so give them plenty to choose from.

Currently, in addition to the Caravan World article there is another in Fishing WA on the fishing opportunities in to top of WA, and a further one coming up in the Spring Edition of Town and Country Farmer on a 'tree hhange' - about getting out of the commercial cherry growing business and into aquaculture - basically about a mates place who now exports marron all over the world.

It brings in a bit of pocket money and more importantly keeps the brain active. Typically mags like caravan World pay $500 per article, other base the $ on length and photographs published, other per page. My best cheque from CW was $1750 - not to be sniffed at ..... about $500 per hour.

Cheers John Mack

ps who'e is this 'Tate' bloke :-)

Hi John,

On the strength of the endorsement, subject matter and the response here I rushed out and bought the mag this lunchtime. I whole heartedly agree with Neil it is a most enjoyable read and brings back some fond memories of our Kimberley trip. I also liked the photos (and the Barra) and your approach to doing these articles. Like Neil I wish I could write as well - maybe travel is a good excuse to learn!

I like the BT picture at Silent Grove as we spent some time there as well. You have probably already mentioned this elsewhere but did you do the whole trip with the BT in tow? Just planning (a couple of years away) but I thought we would take our BT to Kalumburu, we stayed at McGowans last trip and reckon it would be possible.

Kind regards

Theo

Hi Theo,

Yes, we took the Bt the whole way, when we went through ther King Edward river is was 800mm deep plus a few holes and flowing fairly quickly. It was fun watching the spectators on the opposite bank gawking at this mad bastard who was gpoing to take his caravan through when they were 'umming and arring' about whether to risk taking their camper trailers through. Not a drop of water in the van:-)

We were warned against trying to get up to Kalumburu by one of these intrepid travellers....it took him 2.5 hours to do 20 kms the other side of Theda Station before he had to turn back because of "horrendous road conditions and massive bog holes". He did not go to the falls either because he was worried about drowning the Prado at the King Edward.

The road was still closed but as there had not been any rain for some weeks we figured it was just because the grader had not been through and the Shire were bjust covering their backsides. Just took it steady and did not have a problem.

Only problems were a puncture (nail) and I managed to 'crush' the steps twice on successive days. The last creek crossing before the Mitchell Plateau camp was pretty short and steep- I guess I should have taken it at a bit of an angle.

I backed up to a suitable protruding rock and with the aid of a jack and the back of the axe and a tyre lever I managed to get it straightened on both occassions - it still works well.

Cheers John