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tips and tricks

The Best Way to Write… Is Just to Write | Five Writing Tips and Tricks

March 5, 2022 By Jess McGlothlin

Over the past few years, I’ve received a volley of emails from prospective photographers and writers, asking a variety of “how do I?” questions. I’m always happy to help, and love to see people taking the leap into the professional creative world. To that end I’ve penned a few articles and blog posts about in the past. This one, “So You Want to Be a Professional Fishing Photographer?” went from a casual late-night blog post to a requested magazine article in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to the advent of the internet and the burgeoning social media realm, we’re in a world of content generation. All those articles, listicles, and funny tidbits you’re reading? Someone, somewhere, wrote them. Quite possibly in their sweatpants on the couch. Or barricaded in a corner of the local coffee shop consuming one too many lattes.

Laptop, cup of coffee, and backpack writer working in a coffeeshop.Contrary to popular belief, writing isn’t always sexy. It’s not usually this moment of divine inspiration; the heated all-night writing sessions that Hollywood would have us believe. Oh, it happens, sure. I penned one of my favorite pieces in the back of a Mi-8 helicopter trundling over the Russian tundra years ago.

But the reality of most writing is remarkably unsexy. It’s grind-it-out work done to meet a deadline. Work done not in a perfectly-lit coffeeshop with rain falling softly outside; it’s late-night shifts at the desk and waking up in the middle of the night thinking I need to rephrase that one line. It’s not being able to let your brain rest until you get that line on paper, and then fiddling with it for two days when it won’t leave your conscious.

Sure, sometimes your fingers will start to tap, your mind race, and you’ve got to pen something NOW. When things flow… an hour disappears and suddenly you’ve got 1,500 words — good words — on what was a blank piece of paper.

But for the rest of the time, here are a few tips and tricks that have come hard-earned over the years.

Just Get Something on Paper. Write Drivel. Transcribe Russian. (I don’t care.) Write.

I’m notorious for just starting to write random things on a paper. Ever since I was in grade school, it’s been a way to distract myself, to let my brain process and think. I literally have shelves of notebooks filled with writing that will never see the light of day. If we’re ever in a meeting and you see me writing, I’m not ignoring you. I’m processing the project. It could be a to-do list, it could be the beginning of a historical essay. The lure of filling blank paper with words is just too tempting, and my brain’s working as those characters appear.

So, when you find yourself staring at the blank page, just get something on paper. Line out your workout for later in the evening. Write three sentences about your last trip — what you saw, felt, smelled. Pen a poem. Last week I was stuck on an advertising campaign for a client; I picked up my pen and paper and transcribed the Russian alphabet and basic words. Next thing I knew, my brain had churned over the campaign and I was ready to get it on paper. Just fill the page… I don’t care if it’s garbage or not.

Create an Outline.

This is one of my favorite content writing tricks. Especially if it’s a topic that requires research, I’ll do my homework and then organize my notes into a basic outline. From there, it’s far easier to create a coherent article. This builds off the point above… you’re just getting something on paper, and an outline makes a big project seem a little more “biteable.”

Move Yourself.

Sometimes you need to physically move. Leve the computer, abandon the notebook, and go for a walk. If you’re in an office, go get coffee. Squeeze in a workout if you can. In my days at Orvis headquarters, I’d go throw dries as brook trout in a nearby stream. This winter, the pool and the rowing machine are my go-to for mulling over new projects. Physically moving your body puts you in a different brain space, allowing your mind to subconsciously mull over creative projects while your body is occupied with something else. Keep a note-taking device nearby… I’ve definitely been that girl in the gym madly making notes on my phone as an idea crystalizes.

Choose Your Soundtrack. Consume Caffeine.

Good music helps. Coffee also helps. Not a coffee drinker? Pick your poison… tea, water, kombucha, whatever. Fuel up and get those words on paper. Stream your music so you’re not constantly having to flick through songs and interrupt your creative flow. My happy space this week? Too much black coffee, a big jug of water and the Atomic Blonde soundtrack on Spotify. Next week the music selection could be Mancini. Who knows.

Write More.

As cool as it sounds to say writing is truly divine inspiration, it’s not that sexy. Writing is a habit, and like all habits, it needs to be nurtured. Write often. Write a variety of content. Stuck on the commuter train? Pen a poem. Long flight? Give yourself a prompt and write a 2,500-word short story. Tired and just not feeling it today? Too bad. Write, dammit.

Some of the hardest writing I’ve done is on international assignments. When we’re in some remote corner of the world, it’s past midnight, I only have a headlamp, my body is screaming for rest and we have a 4AM wake-up to break camp, the last thing I want to do it take detailed notes in my notebook. But when we’re exhausted our brains do funny things, and I know that by the time I get on the plane ride home and feel like I have time to write notes down, I’ll have forgotten the visceral details that make stories truly compelling. You can look back over my notebooks from years past and you’ll see notes like “f-ing tired” “fishing sucked,” “peppermint-scented air,” “too many snakes,” “nurse provided antibiotics; not sure what they are,” and “this is f-ing awesome.” (These were all literally trip notes from the past several years.) Write what you feel, even if it’s in little phrases. Those comments will jolt you back into the moment later, and you can expound and get the article written on the long plane ride home. And, years later, you’ll be glad you did.

One more tip? Always, always jot down the names of place and people when you’re on location. Have the locals look at your list to ensure you’re getting the spelling right. Note nicknames, funny local terms, whatever. You’ll forget by the time you wish you remembered.

Now go forth and write, be it from the couch, the local coffeehouse, or the far corners of the globe.

Filed Under: Tips and Tricks, Writing Tagged With: how to, Jess McGlothlin, Jess McGlothlin Media, tips and tricks, travel writer, travel writing, writer, writing

So You Want to Be a Fishing Photographer or Writer…

September 5, 2020 By Jess McGlothlin

Image of photography equipment, notebook, sunglasses, bag and sandals waiting at airport on Anaa Atoll, French Polynesia.
Packing up after the job is done. French Polynesia, on assignment for Costa Sunglasses.

(Author’s note: This post was originally published August 14, 2017. In the spirit of continued queries and the turn to 2020, I’ve edited slightly and posted again.)

I get at least two emails or social media messages a week. “Hey, what you’re doing looks like a lot of fun. I’m A) about to graduate or B) looking to leave my corporate job and want to travel the world to shoot photographs of people fishing. How can I get your job?”

It’s always flattering to have the public view one as an expert in, well… anything. And I’m more than happy to share the path that lead to me to where I am now. It’s an ever-evolving proposition, and I’m sure as hell learning something new every day.

Every conversation, be it a phone call, in-person, or via email, however, beings with this simple warning: it’s not as glamorous as it looks. In between the monster fish, beautiful locations and far-flung locales, there’s plenty of sleeping on grimy airport floors, getting tested for tropical diseases and eating whatever food might be on hand (readily identifiable or not… when in Rome, and all that.).

Bandaged, cut and infected feet in sandals on the beach in French Polynesia.
On island time, even with an infected foot. French Polynesia.

There are also the 3AM work sessions, glazed eyes from photo editing days and exhausted writing stints where I stare vacantly at a blank sheet of paper until I just decide to start writing gibberish. Stability is a forgotten thing — I keep a “go bag” packed for last-minute trips (see some of my favorite gear here), and keeping a steady relationship is challenging to say the least. I pay rent even though I’m gone anywhere from four to six months of the year.

So, yes, while it may look glamorous and exciting — and it can be both, though glamorous isn’t often the adjective I’d use — realize there’s a cost to those good moments.

Two Canon DSLR cameras sitting in a camera bag.
On assignment for the Wall Street Journal, Bozeman, Montana.

Still thinking about becoming an outdoor / fishing photographer or writer? Read on; here are five tips to help you on your way.

1) Most important of all: be willing to put the work in. In my early years, I worked three jobs while teaching myself how to shoot. There’s no way to gain an instant skill set in this world… to be a professional, it takes long hours in the field, plenty of research and learning on your own and a willingness to set aside other aspects of your life in order to make it work.

Put the ego aside and realize you’ve got a lot to learn. We all do.

2) Develop your own style. The end goal is for someone to be flipping through the latest fishing magazine, lay eyes on one of your images and immediately know who shot it. A distinct shooting style sets you apart from your peers — and it’s something editors and commercial clients will look for. I’ve gotten some jobs because of my style, and had clients turn me down for others for the same reason. Sometimes it’s a good fit, other times it’s not, and that’s okay.

Your own style is a personal decision; don’t just copy how someone else shoots. Experiment, see what feels right, and make it your own.

3) Learn other aspects of the industry. This is especially true if you want to become fly-fishing-specific media. You need to know what life on the other side of the lens is like. Some of the best moves I made early on in my career were working in lodges internationally and fly shops around the U.S.. This helped me understand the challenges on the other side of the lens, and also helped establish credibility. Now, I can arrive at a lodge for a shoot and honestly say, “Hey, I’ve been in your shoes. We’re good.” Everyone relaxes.

Also, do yourself a favor and learn how to cast. It’s hard to look like a professional in the industry — in any matter — if you can’t fish yourself. The first day out with a new guide on location, we’ll chat about the battle plan and expectations, and then I’ll casually pick up the rod for a little bit. I’m by no means a rock star caster, but I can get it done. When a guide sees that he’s with someone who knows what they’re doing, the day mellows indescribably. Learn to fish; you don’t have to be the best in the world but at least cover your basics. The effort will be respected.

Alaskan fishing guides hauling gear on a frame pack across marshy tundra.
Moving gear to the floatplane pickup. Shooting with Bristol Bay Lodge, Alaska.

4) Take notes. So, you only want to be a photographer… forget all that writing stuff. Okay. You should still pack a notebook and pen (or a phone with note-taking capabilities). Take notes — names, places, distances, fish habitat, funny phrases, etc. Good, complete captions are key — editors will appreciate if you have the correct information, and plenty of it.

5) Just shoot. So, you’re not flying halfway around the world to cover an exotic fishery. Grab a friend and head to your neighborhood river. Play with light, play with fish, play with moving your feet and capturing different angles. Just play. Shoot subjects other than just fishing. You’ll be amazed at some of the images that you come away with.

Photographs of camera gear, bags and computers in the field, at airports and at lodges around the world.
Make friends with your gear… you’re going to be spending a lot of time together.

Perhaps the biggest rule of all is to do what feels creatively right. I don’t know how many times I’ve been out shooting and see something spectacular through the lens, then just feel a goofy smile cross my lips. You’ll know when it feels right. And sometimes those shots take a lot of effort — technical set-up, lighting, hiking in long distances, wading deeper than your comfort level, ignoring that pesky little blacktip shark that keeps cruising by, etc. — while other times, it seems as easy as pie.

Pick up your camera, get on your feet and shoot. Learn how to use your camera — get it the hell off auto. Network within the industry. Don’t be afraid to work… it’ll take you far. And, at the end of the day if you decide being a professional is just too much, don’t let it dampen your creativity or your love of fishing. Everyone comes at this lifestyle differently, and that’s the beauty of it.


Want a peek at what happens behind the scenes? While I was on commercial and editorial assignments this past summer in Swedish Lapland, the Swedish Lapland Tourism team (who were rather savvy anglers themselves) shot this video. It’s quite candid — I was too busy focusing on my own assignments to do any kind of scripted… anything — but the team did a fantastic job of it. We filmed most of the audio at 2 or 3AM over the course of several mornings, so here’s a bit of tired honesty for you… and a look at life on location:

Filed Under: Jess McGlothlin Media, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: advice, fishing, fly fishing, Jess McGlothlin, Jess McGlothlin Media, outdoor, photographer, photography, professional, tips, tips and tricks, travel, tricks, writer, writing

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It’s always worth waking up before dawn when I’m on a lodge shoot. (Coffee tastes better when it’s still dark out, too.)

Last week in Belize for @elpescadorbelize.
I’ve got just one spot left to join me from Febr I’ve got just one spot left to join me from February 2-7, 2025 in Argentina on the @goldendoradorivercruiser! This mothership-based golden dorado program is a great winter break and offers some of ridiculously fun fishing, excellent cuisine, and comfortable quarters with good company. DM me for more info to grab this last spot; it’s well worth the $4,200.

📷: me and @martinanderssen, last season.
Grateful for wide open waters and the people who c Grateful for wide open waters and the people who choose to make their living on them. 

Image: Belize last week for @elpescadorbelize.
Despite the pretty massive challenges 2024 has bro Despite the pretty massive challenges 2024 has brought, I’ve been so damn grateful to have gotten to meet and work with incredible folks all over the world, in some pretty stellar fisheries. January and February were Argentina, visiting lodges I can’t wait to get back to in a few months to see friends. March was Baja and Las Vegas. April and May were the Darien Gap in Colombia. June brought me back here to Montana to shoot a friends wedding and a couple fishing jobs, and then it all came to a screeching halt with an injury. I canceled eight international shoots in all, spending August and September in Texas having surgery instead of abroad. But November’s brought me back to the road with a return trip to Belize, and I’m keenly looking toward to what 2025 brings. It’s going to be a sprint… and a marathon. A sprinting marathon? We’ll see.

I just know I can’t wait to be back on the water with both new and old friends, capturing stories and chasing fish. 

Thanks for following along, all. Grateful for you.

(Photo credit on the final shot goes to the awesome @highpeaksrep, who caught me on the other side of the camera this past May in Colombia.)
Posted @withregram • @elpescadorbelize Well, tha Posted @withregram • @elpescadorbelize Well, that’s all from me, folks! About to board my flight back to the States. Thanks for following along this week as I’ve been shooting and fishing at @elpescadorbelize. If you’re looking for a fishing getaway this winter, put Belize on your list. This crew will take good care of you. 

If you’re seeking more on fishing, travel, and what happens when the two combine, follow along at @jess_mcglothlin_media. Thanks for joining me this week, and I hope to run into you all down in Belize one of these days!
Ten weeks ago I was learning how to walk normally Ten weeks ago I was learning how to walk normally again after endoscopic spine surgery at @texasback. Four weeks ago I started to slowly add weight workouts back into my PT and training routine. Today, I am on the tail end of my first trip back on the road, on a shoot down in Belize for @elpescadorbelize. Though I’m still a bit limited on my activity, I’ve grateful to have snuck in a few days fishing with friends. This tarpon, caught while fishing today with @jrflyhighbaby and @portillomariano7, isn’t my biggest by a long stretch, but it’s going to forever be a memorable fish as it marks a (still slow) return back to work. 

Some things are meant to be. We were about to reel up and check another spot, and I asked Junior to wait a moment; I wanted to throw one more cast… something just told me it might not hurt. And you know what? It didn’t. This tarpon came up out of nowhere and smashed my home-tied purple-and-white tarpon toad. 

Thanks @jrflyhighbaby for the picture and the day, to @peterdermanmd and his team for a surgery very well done, to @epicflyfish for making a very fun fiberglass rod for tarpon, and to the entire @elpescadorbelize team for welcoming me back… always feels a bit like coming home.
I’ve learned it’s best to embrace and work wit I’ve learned it’s best to embrace and work with the conditions on any given day—with the cameras, fishing, and just about everything else. So when the light is bright, hazy, and full of glare, we adjust and work with it. 

@elpescadorbelize manager @ebenschaefer hooked into a snook a few days ago here in Belize.
Awesome to be back to work, back on the water, and Awesome to be back to work, back on the water, and back in Belize. I’m down at @elpescadorlodge this week doing a bit of photo work and an Instagram takeover for the lodge. 

Yesterday was my first day fishing since injuring my spine in June, which led to surgery September 10. I’m incredibly grateful I’m able to be back on the water (saltwater flats, no less) at 10 weeks post-op—we had this snook (and a lot of his buddies) in the first hour on the water! I’m still on very modified duties (careful of fast boat runs on choppy water, twisting while casting, and bending awkwardly), but being back on the water is good for the soul. 

Y’all know me… I’m usually behind the lens, not in front of it—and I’m happiest there. But consider this post proof of life. 😆 I’m slowly getting back into the field once again. 

Big thanks to guide @mikey_so_fly and Shawn for a good first couple days back on the water. Working at the lodge tomorrow for an architectural shoot, and then have a few more days of fishing. All’s well here in Belize.
And off we go again. I’m finally (and very car And off we go again. 

I’m finally (and very carefully) back on the road, (slowly) resuming work after a summer / fall of injury-surgery-recovery. I’m still somewhat limited in my activities, but am thrilled to be heading to familiar waters at @elpescadorbelize for a week of photography and fishing. The fishing program won’t be quiet my usual—no targeting the big tarpon this trip—but I’ll be plenty happy to play around with other critters. Belize just had Tropical Storm Sara pass through last night, so we’ll see what the conditions hold. Stay tuned this week here on IG for daily IG trip report stories as I get back to work on the flats of Belize.

And if you’re in an airport and see a tall girl with a tan @pelican case covered in fishing stickers, say hello! I have a day of flying and five airports to hurdle through before I hit the dock at the lodge.
Getting close to final call on this trip! If you’re looking for a winter escape or feeling a bit celebratory, come fish Argentina in January. I’ll be at @estancialagunaverde on Lago Strobel January 25 - February 1, 2025, and have a few spots open for anglers. (I’ll also be offering basic photo instruction for those who are interested.) Join me as we fish for massive rainbow trout, enjoy the stunning scenery and epic fishing, and relax with excellent food and lodging. 

Pricing is $7,500 (7 nights / 6.5 days fishing); private room and shared guide. DM for more info.
Cheer on your people. And if the air temp’s belo Cheer on your people. And if the air temp’s below freezing, it just means your beer stays cold longer.

Image: @katmai_sky toasts to a fun, frigid girls’ day on the Missouri River. Montana, March 2023.
Happy 135th birthday, Montana. Image: Missouri Ri Happy 135th birthday, Montana.

Image: Missouri River, Montana. Summer 2013.
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