March 3, 2006

Hi Zach:    

I miss the show you and your dad put on.  I returned to Michigan 3 years ago after long absence so was able to see the two of you until things went down hill.  I am sorry it is gone.     I found your site from an article in Michigan Outdoor News.     A suggestion on your Blog (yes, I know critiques may not be welcome just yet, but...).  

• First, the CONTENT of your Blog is interesting.
• Your LAYOUT needs work. 
  • Break your text into short paragraphs - makes it easy to read.
  • Compose each paragraph so it could be a stand-alone quote - this makes you saleable.  Eventually you will be quoted.
  • The best sentences are short and easy to understand.
  • Have someone proof read your work before posting.  That person looks for run-on sentences, redundancies and wasted words.  Wives are good at that - mine is.
• Finally, NEVER complain about your dad.  In years to come those words will cause you severe regret.  Honorable men do not waste effort throwing stones at history.
  
  In addition I suggest you contribute regularly to the opinion pages of Outdoor magazines and newspapers.  Most are hungry for material to fill their pages and will print almost anything clearly written - they even print some of mine.      Pick any topic that seems hot or should be.  For example, deer management or gun control grabs lots of interest.     Your NAME is known.  People will read what you write as long is it is not boring.  If they like you or not, they will read what you write.  There is no such thing as bad publicity.
     
  Respectfully Outdoors whenever possible,
  
  Larry A. Nelson

March 9, 2006

Hi Larry Nelson:

As you know from looking over the Website, I also miss producing and hosting the show dad and I put on.  I'm glad that you were able to find the Outdoor-Michigan website.  It has been growing day by day and a few weeks ago we sent a press release to the Michigan Outdoor News along with other press outlets in hopes they may give us some much needed publicity.  You are right,  there is no such thing as bad publicity and we will take any we can get.

In regard to your suggestions and critique.  I am tickled you took the time to put together such an honest and well written letter.  I welcome everyone's suggestions and opinions and critiques, especially ones that have thought behind them.  I am also happy to hear you find my blog's interesting.  I also agree with you the layout needs work.  Writing was not ever my specialty in school and I actually did everything I could do to avoid it.  I think part of it had to do with the fact I was in grade school at the time it became politically incorrect to try to force children that favored their left hand into writing right handed. My handwriting was horrible, to the point it was almost intelligible and I feel most teachers gave up on me.  My parents and teachers tried about everything from having me try calligraphy to added lessons etc.  Finally by high school they gave up and I was able to bring a portable typewriter to class and was required to turn in all my work by that method.  In retrospect it actually helped because  I was ahead of the game once word processors and computers became mainstream.  Your also right that even though computers can do some spell checking and grammar correction, they still miss things.  After your email my wife and I discussed your letter and I found out that she was posting things I wrote verbatim.  This is one area that we will change in the future.  It was decided she will groom and look over my work and try to catch some of my mistakes.  We also came upon the revelation that when I am using the word processor it does not automatically look over my work like my email program so I am going to make that change as well.

Lastly on your suggestion about my complaining,  I do agree with you 100 percent.  However it was something that has been really been eating at me, not just now but for years. Also as I have grown in years, I realize that my position and situation is not much different than most people.  I think the Comedian Dennis Leary stated things to the effect several years ago, "We all come from a dysfunctional family so move on and get over it!"  When that posting was made I also decided at the time it would be my only one like it and I plan to stick to that! Lastly on your suggestion to contribute to other outlets.  Thank you for giving me the boost to do that. It will be something I plan to do more of in the future.

My last question to you as I do post most of my email along with my responses, do you have any objection to me posting this one as well.  Also feel free to contribute to Outdoor-Michigan at any time and we will post your opinions and writings as well.  Thanks for taking the time to making me think and also putting a big smile on my face.

Respectfully  Outdoors,

Zachary Trost