Paddling in adventure racing (article)

Yes, I do still write. Actually, I write a lot - just not always articles as I create all of the content for Vagabond Kayaks and my YOLO Compost Tumblers - FB, Instagram, websites and such.

In the new issue of The Paddle Mag, I have written an article on the discipline of paddling in the sport of adventure racing. Paddling is one of the four key disciplines of adventure racing with the other three being trekking, mountain biking and map-and-compass navigation. It felt good to stretch my fingers out.

You can read this piece on pages 66-69. The Paddle Mag is a free digital publication that you can read online or download.

My thanks to my friend Nicholas Mulder from Team Cyanosis Adventure Racing for his insightful comments that I included in the piece.

Rating the difficulty of a trail race

This is the theme that I built an article around for the website of the new trail running magazine  "TrailBlazing" that trail runner Linda Doke will be editing. The website goes live 1 March.

Linda describes the magazine as, "The first issue will be out in the first week of March. It’ll be an A3-size quarterly newspaper, nothing fancy at all, just 16 pages to start with, and hopefully with good growth prospects. It’ll be free, and will reach trail runners by being available at certain running stores around the country, and via race organisers at specific races."

The contents will also be available online. "So all those who don’t get their hands on a copy at a race or from a running shop will always be able to read it online. Easy peasy," she explains.

I have handed in my article to celebrate the website launch, which I hope the readers will enjoy. I'll post a link once the website is up.

Adventure activity and travel writing

I've recently been doing some writing for an old adventure racing friend at Dirty Boots, an outstanding adventure activity guide that has been around for more than a decade. It comes out as an annual print DL-book and over the years their website content has developed substantially to give people the option of a print or online reference.

Johan gave me a call last week to see whether I'd be available to do some writing for them as their writer has immigrated. Dirty Boots content is generally shorter pieces related to activities, operators and locations and for I'm writing content for their website. I look forward to copy editing and writing content for the 2018 edition of the book later this year.

Johan's first company and website, started some 23-years ago - long before Dirty Boots, was African Travel Gateway, which is managed by Howard. Johan connected me with Howard to write content for this website too and this morning I submitted my first piece, a 1300-word article on 'The best time to visit the Kruger National Park'.

I enjoyed putting this together as it meant time spent online researching different aspects of the park. I haven't been to Kruger in many, many years so I enjoyed reading up on the regions, animals, birds and flora.

If you're thinking about heading to Kruger, read my article on the African Travel Gateway blog.

Two weeks of awesome writing

These past two weeks have probably been my best of the whole year. I love writing and copyediting and I find it very rewarding. But, work has been slow. I've loved this loaded period and the mixed bag of writing assignments.

I wrote two blog posts for client A - one on activities for children over the festive season and another on choosing gifts for women. These were fun to write.

I wrote two informative articles for a new project that I'm working on with Celliers (more on this in a few weeks).

I wrote two product-focused media releases, also for client A, where I paired product content with activity content. I also wrote a lifestyle-themed release, also with a product focus. One of the most fun was re-working content written by someone else - I've done a few of these for them this year. I haven't dealt with this client contact for very long (she started there in June-ish) so when I got back the following from her, I was chuffed.

"How are you this amazing? Your writing abilities are incredible!"

I copy edited and re-wrote website content for a friend, pulling off the old content, which was informative and interesting but too wordy, and making it nice-nice. This was a super project to work on.

I had a blast writing a profile article on a farmer for an industry magazine. He won an award and the mag asked him for an article on himself. It is really difficult to write about yourself - I even find it challenging to write my own releases about my events; and so he gave me a call. I shot off a bunch of questions to him, he replied with bullet point notes and I turned it into an article. He sent a copy to an industry-involved friend to get feedback and the response was, "Kan nie beter nie". Nice.

On Wednesday afternoon client A sent me a note asking for "an emergency media release". Two hours later they had the first draft - I was waiting for comments from one other person, which needed to be included. Submitting the finished piece in the morning I received the following response, "Thank you. Such a lovey, touching piece. Felt like I was 100% part of the team".

I also wrote a couple of news stories for FEAT, certainly a blog or two and some quick copyediting of website content for a friend's new business venture.

Writing is a bit like being an artist. Here, on this blog, I write for myself. I write to record events and memories and to have a place to write. I'm not too fussy about the writing and I rarely copyedit - I just write and post. Writing for other people, for me, is very satisfying. I enjoy creating something that fulfills a need. It also requires greater concentration too. I can blank out for hours.

Writing is one of those things that people too often think they can do themselves. To type an email to a friend, that's fine. But for public content, having someone with better skills to look over it, really makes a big difference - not only to the quality of the content but to how the content makes you come across.

When work is slow, it is so easy to doubt your ability. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting my head around these diverse writing projects. I'm feeling a lot more positive and upbeat and stimulated, enriched by the reward that comes from creating, completing challenging projects and gaining happy clients, who have had a weight lifted from their shoulders.

My copyediting gig on fiverr

A few weeks ago I used the website fiverr to commission a logo design. fiverr hosts 'gigs', service offerings, from thousands of people across the spectrum from logo design to writing, translation, music, video, animation, and a whole host more. I paid $5 and was very pleased with the experience. Although I didn't use the two logos I received (I did like them both), they did give me inspiration and I used part of the one, plus the colour hue that he selected, with my own addition.

Considering that I'm looking to expanding my writing and that I am very much enjoying copyediting, I have just set up my own copyediting gig on fiverr.

Yip, for only $5 I'll improve 500 words of your writing.

Writing doesn't come naturally to everyone. Sometimes you may just need a little assistance to improve what you have written; I'm here to do just that.

Without changing your voice, I'll improve the quality of your writing. Whether what you send to me is a love letter, blog post, web content, business document or formal letter, I'll help you to come across clearly with writing that is error free.

You can trust in my integrity to keep the content of your material in confidence.

Aside from the delight I get from tweaking other people's writing (a challenge for me) - and researching grammar for the elements that I know are not correct but I don't know why - I enjoy learning from the content that I'm editing, which is often on unfamiliar topics.

Good writing is not fancy writing and with services like this so accessible, more people should send their content to a copyeditor for a once over.

If you've got anything you'd like me to look at, book me on fiverr.

Writing job websites

In looking to expand my client base and also diversity of writing projects, I turned to the internet. I read a bunch for websites referring me to this or that platform and I registered with three of them.

Registration is time consuming because it also involved creating a profile and adding examples of your work to build up a portfolio for a prospective client to look at.

Two of the sites are of the 'Don't call us, we'll call you' format where they'll connect you with jobs that match your skills. I've heard from neither of them in six weeks.

The third came with many recommendations, Guru.com. Here 'employers' looking for people to create content put out job descriptions for which writers can bid and apply. What I like about this is that I can look through a list, see whether my skills match the employer's requirements and then I can apply.

A nice feature is that you can see if there is feedback from writers who have previously done work for the job poster, how much in total they have paid to writers, how many jobs they have paid for and whether they have any unpaid invoices. I've seen very few posters with a history - most of the numbers are at zero.

Aside from this, the site has two major problems.

The first is that very few employers know what they want. Job descriptions rarely mention the theme of the writing, even fewer offer a reasonable rate and many want a ridiculous amount of content; but they all want high-quality writing by experienced writers who are native English speakers. They want content that is original and free from plagiarism. They also regularly mention 'long-term work' or 'ongoing work'.Take this example that came through today:

"I am looking for an article writer to join my team of writers for a long term job. I need someone who can produce quality articles with a great speed of writing. The applicant should be able to produce 5,080 words in a day with grammar error free, therefore we need mostly native speakers as well as the Philipinos and anyone who can only write an article without grammar errors. Samples should be attached. Thanks"

They are offering +6 months work at around 30hrs/week and $20-$47/hour.

I did a search on Google to find out how many words a day well-known authors write. The result came up with: "Jack London wrote between 1,000 and 1,500 words each day. Stephen King writes 2,000 words a day".

There are many posts looking for super-high wordcounts from writers.

Their numbers are set at zero. I don't know whether they've posted any jobs before but they certainly haven't hired anyone and they have paid nothing.

And this brings me to the second problem with the site.

Most jobs stay open for a few weeks and they receive between 10 to 50 quotes from applicants. Most of the job posters have never employed anyone on the site and not all jobs that are posted end up hiring people.

Of the nine jobs that I've applied for two haven't hired anyone (this goes back six weeks). One job was deleted. One hired an agency that has a profile, not an individual. One hired a retired doctor who specialises in medical writing (at $50/hr) to write blogs on inspiring senior citizens (huh?). One that needs "hundreds of articles in a short time" for a unique online magazine has hired an agency (makes sense). The last three jobs are recent postings.

Of interest, jobs posted vary greatly - from needing people to write ebooks, grant applications, sponsorship letters and reviews. How's this one... An establishment that pays people to write good reviews and to post these online (they have clearly done this before because their status reflects how much they have paid in total thus far):

"Hi, we would like professional reviews posted for our establishment. This can be done per hour or in bulk. Reviews to be posted to trip advisor."

These platforms can work and there are some genuine and interesting jobs posted. Sifting through the non-genuine content to get to these gems is the challenge and when you find them there's no guarantee that you'll land the job.

I recently paid $5 on Fiverr for a logo design. Although I liked the logos the guy I chose designed for me, I'm not using them as they are. His designs gave  me was the creative kick I needed to develop my own ideas and to modify his logos for my purpose. This was a good online job-commissioning experience.

The legend that was Karl-Heinz Jost

Through running and adventure sports I have met many incredible 'mature athletes'. The first of these amazing senior citizens was German legend Karl-Heinz Jost, who, at the age of 67, ran the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon with me in 2001. 

News just received from the event is that Karl-Heinz passed away last week after a long illness. Co-incidentally I was thinking of him yesterday. 

Karl-Heinz has never been far from my mind and I still get uncontrollable giggles when recounting how he 'turned turtle' after tripping and falling on the way up the Molopo River on the way to Riemvasmaak. He ended up with his head downhill and, with his weighted backpack underneath him, his arms and legs were flailing like that of a tortoise turned upsidedown. And he couldn't get up. I was paraletic with laughter so I wasn't much help. This is one of my fondest memories from my first KAEM where I spent quite a bit of time with Karl-Heinz. He left an impression on me that is still positive, inspiring and strong 15 years later.

"It is never too late to start. Everyone can start, beginning with a little bit more. Soon it will begin to feel good and you desire to get more of this good feeling the next time. You look happier, stronger, younger, healthier… To make sport is a thing of the mind."

I wrote this article on Karl-Heinz in 2004 for Good Taste magazine (three and a half pages). It was my first feature article for a non-running publication. Karl-Heinz was an interesting and inspiring character who I was fortunate to have met.

It's easier to edit than create

I've recently been doing some copy editing for a friend - and I love it! There are so many things in writing that I innately know, but I don't know why it is as it is. I'm enjoying the challenge of editing copy together with researching appropriate explanations of why I've made a certain change to the text.

I've also been writing website content for a client. Although I know what his business is about, I don't know all the technical details. I was also given free reign to create the content for all of the pages. We'd brainstormed a bit so I knew what we needed. Then, I wrote content that I would find interesting to read if I landed on his page. Once the copy was written, I handed it over to him to alter.

It is definitely far easier to get cracking and to make additions and alterations when you have something - anything - to start with. For him, altering my copy triggered ideas and it was far easier for him to have something to get him started than to face a blank page.

This applies to so many things - not just writing.

It is easier to take over something and improve on what exists than to create something new from scratch.

And it is also easier to critique what someone else had created, rather than to create it yourself.

For the person that has created something from scratch, there is always room for improvement over time and with experience.

It really is just to make that first step - to create something and get it off the ground. That is the hard part.

A writing adventure

Writing just happened to me. Looking back writing was always in my veins. When my post-graduate supervisor, Professor Kramer, used to say, “Your papers are very well written”, I didn’t think anything of it. A few years later, writing became my work.

I've generally written for magazines and clients in the adventure / running / outdoor industries but I'm keen for new challenges - writing content on other topics.

I'd never considered myself a 'ghostwriter', yet writing media releases for clients is very much ghostwriting because my name rarely appears on published releases, whether in print or online. 

I recently wrote a number of blog posts for a client. These appear under their name, not mine. And I love it! There's a satisfaction in looking through their blog and picking out the pieces that I've written. 

At the moment, I'm changing my focus and putting out feelers for writing-only and copy editing commissions. If you're in the market for a writer, please drop me a note.

You'll find examples of my writing as well as services, rates and contact details on my 'writing stash' website - adventurelisa.wordpress.com (note the wordpress address).

Looking back - over a 20-year period, I have written:

• Scientific papers (cell and developmental biology)
• Voice-over scripts (for Drifter Adventure Zone on Supersport)
• This AdventureLisa blog (over 1,100 posts!)
• Blog content for clients
• Website content – news stories for www.AR.co.za and FEAT (www.featsa.co.za) (hundreds and hundreds of posts)
• Newspaper articles
• Newsletters – hundreds of them!
• Product specifications and descriptions
• Product reviews
• Magazine columns (for GoMulti and Runner’s World SA magazines)
• Magazine features
• Gear Editor for Runner's World SA
• Magazine supplements – for Runner’s World as well as the running section of the Men’s Health Buyer’s Guide
• Book co-author with Jacques Marais of ‘Adventure Racing’
• Content contributor for Jacques Marais' book, ‘Trail Runner’s Guide’
• Text content for Wouter Kingma's large-format, coffee-table book, ‘2008 Abu Dhabi Adventure Race’
• Event reporting – website content and media releases in the role as media director of the event and visiting media
• Media releases – products, events, athletes and brands
• Website editor and designer (I am proficient in HTML, CSS and WordPress)

Expedition Africa article in Do It Now

Writing about a race from inside the race is easy. The content is all around you. Writing about a race after the race, especially when you're written thousands of words about it the week before, is considerably more tricky. In the days after an incredible week there is so much to process - even if you're media, and not racing. But, with a tight deadline, I had to decide what to say, what not to say, and to get the article out.

Here it is, in the May 2013 digital edition of Do It Now's dinFO publication.

Read the magazine-view option online for the best experience, with beautiful images from the race by Bruce Viaene. Low-res images below just to give you a feel for the beautiful imagery.

Article on Namib Desert Challenge in Do It Now

I indirectly wrote this article on the Namib Desert Challenge, which I ran at the end of March 2013. It's in DoItNow magazine (May 2013 issue) and the article is available online. The article was compiled by Sarah Kobal from my daily stage posts. The magnificent photos were taken by Hannisze. 

You can read the article online - I just love the digital magazine look. Super layout.

Published! January bonanza

I hit the sweepstakes with a bunch of stuff coming out at the beginning of January in Go Multi and TRAIL magazines.

I think this one came about when TRAIL magazine received a reader question. TRAIL passed the email on to me for my comments; Carine added some comments too. And here - in the new issue (Jan/Feb 2013) of TRAIL - you've got some trail loo etiquette.

A review on the Salomon Mission XR trail shoe in the new (Jan/Feb 2013) issue of TRAIL magazine.

An advert for this year's Fish River Canyon Ultra (Namibia). I spotted it in the Jan/Feb 2013 issues of TRAIL and Go Multi magazines. Yes, that's me in the photo - making my way into the canyon. I ran in the inaugural event in August 2011 - my first time in the Canyon. And I had an absolutely fantastic day. I'm away when this event takes place this year (it's four days after my birthday!) but I can recommend it highly. Great way to see the Canyon - in one day. My race report is here, on this blog.

My new column, "What makes tough?" in the new (Jan/Feb 2013) issue of Go Multi magazine.

I write A LOT of stuff

I've been thinking about how much stuff I write and it is A LOT!

FEAT website: 56 news posts and 8 newsletters

Media releases for clients: 16 so far this year

Magazine articles: 12 to 15 a year

www.AR.co.za: 26 news items and 4 FAQ entries plus 20 race reports placed online (not written by me; often minor editing/checking)

Blog: 141 posts already this year (including this one)

Orienteering website: 22 news articles

Emails: I probably reply to and send 800 - 1000 emails a month!

And then there are the posts and newsy stuff on the AR Club website, writing up event information, four trail contributions to Trail Runner's Guide, a manual and lesson plans (and game designs) for two levels of school orienteering programmes (just finished level 2 and busy on a mapping course), Metrogaine newsletters... and probably a bunch of other stuff I've already forgotten about.

It's no wonder that I sometimes don't feel like stringing another sentence together!

Amazon, I wrote it

Hahaha - got this 'thoughtful' email book suggestion from Amazon this afternoon, obviously based on my purchase history.

Article: All routes lead to the finish

This is my new column in the current (Nov/Dec 2012) issue of Go Multi magazine. It looks at the issues, reasons and value behind short coursing.

And this is a valued and treasured Letter to the Editor, from adventure racing-ultra-rogaining-everything champ Ryno Griesel. Also in Nov/Dec issue. He's commenting on my column in the previous issue. Very cool ;) Comments like this from Ryno... very special indeed.

The Efficient Racer - Go Multi Magazine

The new Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Go Multi magazine is out. In it is my most recent article - "The Efficient Racer". Yay!

Article: A Fairer View

My article in the new issue (Jul/Aug 2012) of Go Multi magazine. It's on women in teams - specifically all-girls and 3+1 women's teams. Thanks to my girls for their comments: Lauren, Debbie, Nadine, Jackie, Vix, Lizelle and the guy (+1) who raced with the Russians, Francois.

11 Truths of Endurance Running - Article

My new column in the May-June edition of Go Multi magazine. I got the idea for this one when I was trawling through the web looking for thoughts / messages to use as fortune cookie 'fortunes' for my Metrogaine event. There were so many gems and so I'll pulled out my favourites for this article.

If you come to Metrogaine Jo'burg on Thurs, 21 June, you can pick your own fortune (I used a whole bunch so there's a lot more where these in the article came from). Pre-entry only. Limited entry numbers.

Chafing article in MarApr 2012 issue of Go Multi

I rarely post my published articles - but I should. Nice to keep track of 'em. I generally do post the ones I write for Go Multi on www.AR.co.za in the Articles section. One issue's article goes up when the next issue comes out.

In the March/April 2012 issue of Go Multi magazine.