Category Archives: One Writer’s Life Blog

The Christmas Journey and a Writer’s Mind

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I’m a sucker for moments that touch the heart. They make me cry, they make me smile, they make me want to write! I’m not sure of the connection, but there is something about good things that makes me happy… and when I’m happy the creative juices flow!

It was a commercial – of all things – that lead to this latest burst of emotion and desire to pen a few words. A simple, elegant commercial about the joy of giving. Watch “The Journey” for yourself.

There is something magical about the joy that comes from go above and beyond to give from the heart. This Christmas season, I plan to keep it going with random acts of kindness – from shovelling my neighbour’s walks, to donating a few of my children’s books to the local library, to sharing tips for helping, as yet, unpublished travel writers break into the market. I’m going to give from the heart.

Care to join me? How are you going to spread the magic this holiday season?

Maintaining Freelance Writing Focus

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Travel is good for the soul, but hard on a freelancer’s focus. Take my recent trip to Turkey.  I came home inspired and bursting with stories to share. Reality hit when I had to sit down and decide if I wanted to try and find homes for these ideas in traditional markets (newspapers and magazines), or take a financial hit and send them to online markets, or put them up on my own blogs.

So many options for the same journey! (Photo: M.Kopp)

So many options for the same journey! (Photo: M.Kopp)

In the meantime, I’m now back in the office with two children’s book deadlines breathing down my neck. Most of the work has been done, but they need to be wrapped up, pronto! Travel stories and ideas – back burner.

A few days later… deadlines met. Where was I? Marketing travel stories, right. Before I can go there, I need to carefully sort through my ideas. Which ones have enough substance to be a magazine or newspaper article? Which slants are time-sensitive and better suited to online markets? And which story ideas are leftover for my blogs? Do I have sufficient, distinctly different, good quality photos to support each idea?

Off to market
Traditional markets – I’ll start there and try to get paid for my prose. It’s going to take time to find the right market, draft a strong query, and wait for a response, but as a freelance writer who makes a career from words, it’s worth the effort. Query #1 sent.

At the same time, I have lots of story ideas running around in my head. I think I’ll send one off to an online market I’ve worked with before. It helps keep me motivated by seeing something published with my byline. As with print, I need to find the right market, draft a strong query, and wait for the response – but online markets have a faster turnaround.

Query #2 sent. Response back in less than a day. The editor kindly passed on the idea… sigh. She’s going to be travelling back to the same area one day soon and doesn’t want to have similar material already up on the website. Fair enough, but now I’ve got to find another market for the idea.

Focus, focus, focus
Searching for potential markets – whether online or print – is an entertaining challenge. Unfortunately, it can also be a huge time suck as I find myself getting pulled off-track again and again and before I know it I’m reading blogs about Turkish food rather than finding a market for my own ideas.

Turkish mezes - a tasteful delight!

Turkish mezes – choices, choices! (Photo: M.Kopp)

Four more children’s books… again most of the work complete… deadlines approaching… It is hard to stay focused at times. Maybe I should give up travel writing altogether. Or maybe the time has come to stop writing children’s non-fiction and focus solely on travel writing. My problem is that I love both genres.

Perhaps it as simple as just getting to work. Send off another online market query, work on the kid’s books some more and then send off another query. Keep moving forward, stay committed to getting things done rather than stressing about it all being hard on my freelance focus. Take one step at a time and accomplish something concrete every day. That’s the ticket.

Query #3… sent. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Find your path and follow it through. (Photo: M.Kopp)

Find your path and follow it through. (Photo: M.Kopp)

How do you stay focused when you have multiple writing projects and story ideas buzzing around your brain?

Children’s Book Award

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Just heard that a non-fiction series I was involved with tied for Silver in the Moonbeam Children’ Book Awards! The series – Exploring Countries – was published by AV2 Weigl and won a Silver Award in the Best Book Series: Non-fiction (see entry #43).

My work in this series included Exploring Countries: United States, Exploring Countries: Saudi Arabia and Exploring Countries: Mexico.

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Hiking Black Rock in the Ghost Wilderness

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I hadn’t been up Black Rock in the Ghost for over 10 years. And I probably wouldn’t have been this past weekend if fate – and Twitter – hadn’t intervened.

Let me explain.

As a writer, I’m always trying to keep up on social media – making sure I have a presence, build a brand, ya-da ya-da – you know, all those things a writer needs to do in order to stay current. Building up a following means following others and I’ve been selectively finding like-minded people/groups to follow.

Friends of the Ghost was just such a group. I followed them; they followed me back. And then they sent me a note:

Hike? Black Rock? With the Ghost Watershed Alliance Society? On a day with no looming deadlines? I’m in!

Crossing the Ghost! (Credit: M. Kopp)

Crossing the Ghost! (Credit: M. Kopp)

Oh boy, was I in! Beyond a rough gravel road and steep hill to the river valley, access includes glacial river crossings (don’t forget to pack water shoes). The hike itself is a strenous, 900-metre elevation climb with plenty of scree.

(Credit: M. Kopp)

Up, up… oh yeah… and up! (Credit: M. Kopp)

But the views just keep getting better!

(Credit: M. Kopp)

Nearing the summit. (Credit: M. Kopp)

At the summit, the old fire lookout dating back to 1930s stands as a weathered testament to the will of hikers. It’s a little beaten, a little ragged – but still standing!

(Credit: M. Kopp)

Black Rock Fire Lookout. (Credit: M. Kopp)

Thanks Friends of the Ghost, GWAS and Ghost Hikers for the carpool, conversation and company. Brilliant day!

Late day sun turns Black Rock golden. (Credit: M. Kopp)

Late day sun turns Black Rock golden. (Credit: M. Kopp)

New Kid’s Books

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Between travel, hiking and writing kid’s books, there’s been little time for updating blogs. But I’m sure that will all change now that fall is here. Well…

Maybe it will change once hiking is done for the season… or after a trip to Turkey… or just before the snow flies and ski season is upon us… or…

Okay, maybe I’ll just share what I can when I can. These treasures poured out of the big box that arrived in the mail today – proof positive that I do work hard when not out on another adventure!

New books

Hiking Kananaskis Country: Mustang Hills

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Named for the feral horses that roam the front ranges and foothills along the Elbow River, Mustang Hills is a hidden hiking area with spectacular views. Open, grassy slopes offer a panorama of Quirk Ridge, Forgetmenot Ridge, Banded Peak, Outlaw Peak, Mount Cornwall and Mount Glasgow.

Panoramic views from the Mustang Hills. (Photo: M.Kopp)

Panoramic views from the Mustang Hills. (Photo: M.Kopp)

Starting at the parking lot at Cobble Flats, we followed the old highway as it meandered steadily uphill to a cairned path leading through the forest to a large open grassy meadow. At the top end of the meadow, the path continued up through the trees to another old road and a spot that matched the guidebook description.

Quirk Creek behind the hiking hound. (Photo: M.Kopp)

Quirk Creek behind the hiking hound. (Photo: M.Kopp)

From the tattered strip of flagging tape and fallen down cairn, it was easy uphill on a well-defined trail to West, Centre and East Hills. Calypso orchids bloomed in the duff of a pine forest floor. Early blue violets, Jacob’s Ladder, Rock jasmine, and Wild strawberry were in full glory. No visuals on the mustangs, but tracks and droppings everywhere.

Jacob's Ladder in full bloom. (Photo: M. Kopp)

Jacob’s Ladder in full bloom. (Photo: M. Kopp)

The descent to the Elbow River off East Hill is not well used and it is easy to lose the route. We followed flagging tape, blazes and occasional cairns until they disappeared and then just worked our way down the hill until we hit the trail again near a small creek. From here, the route is once again well defined – even with the flood damage of last year.

For a trail description and map, check out the Kanananskis Trails blog.

Marketing Your Blog

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I love starting new projects because the learning curve is steep and challenging. Starting a new blog means coming up with the idea, writing the posts, and watching the visitors roll in to read your words of wisdom.

Writing life on the road!

Writing is the easy part! (Photo: B. Kopp)

Stop right there! If nobody knows you’re there in the blogosphere, nobody is going to come to visit. Marketing your blog is critical. I’m picking up the pace in our marketing plan in a couple of ways.

Step #1: Go Back to School
I started a guest blogging course with master blogger Jon Morrow. Guest blogging allows you to get your name out there, get recognized, and draw visitors to your site. This course is serious schoolwork and not recommended for casual bloggers who write to share news of their lives with family and friends. It’s for bloggers who want to learn how best to market their efforts in order to make money.

Step #2: Read and Learn
There’s always more than one way to do anything. I’ve checked out a few books from the library (Blogging for Dummies, WordPress for Dummies, etc.) and have been trolling top sites online (Problogger, Copyblogger, Blogging Tips, etc.). Read and absorb. Read and learn how best to market your work.

Step #3: Share Your Work
Social media sites are perfect for writers to get the word out, but sharing your latest blog means more than Facebook. I’m posting links on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+. Note to self: look into sharing via StumbleUpon, Digg, and Reddit.

Step #4: Google Analytics
Using this tool helps you keep track of the number visitors coming to your blog. You can follow which days see the most traffic and time your posts accordingly. Spoiler: it can be a fun time suck!

It’s a lot of work, but I’m keeping track of the numbers and will let you know how it goes. Do you have a marketing plan for your blog? Feel free to share.

New Blog: Actively Looking Into the Past

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After much debate about how best to handle the split career personality of being an active outdoor writer with a passion for history, as well as a children’s non-fiction writer and someone who enjoys blogging about writing topics, I’ve decided to make a break for it!

My new blog is a partnership with my hiking, biking, canoeing, travelling and life partner, Brad. Check it out at: www.timetraveltrek.com. It’s about active travel with a historical slant. Join us hiking into Utah’s Grand Gulch Primitive Area to see ancient ruins, following the paddlestrokes of the fur traders canoeing the Athabasca River, or driving down a dirt road only to serendipitously discover an abandoned homestead begging to be explored. I’ve started shifting over a little material from here to there, with dozens of adventures waiting in the wings for their spotlight post.

This blog will continue to highlight “One Writer’s Life” with the trials, tribulations and treats that come with being a freelance writer. It will continue to include writing news and tips as well as the ups and downs of diving into the blogosphere. Enjoy!