Comments for Ask the Locals http://askthelocals.co.za Knysna the Garden Route Western Cape South Africa Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:33:32 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Writers by Ron Mader http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1442 Ron Mader Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:33:32 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=70#comment-1442 I would like to challenge local writers to join us for Responsible Tourism Week (February 13-17). Background: Responsible Tourism Week is a free, five-day unconference exploring down-to-earth applications of noble concepts including responsible tourism, conscious travel, the local travel movement and ecotourism with effective and inexpensive social media and local events. (Bonus points if you can create a local photosafari get-together in Knysa!) Share your favorite travel experiences that benefit locals and visitors. Let us know what you've written by adding the link from our Facebook event -- https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135563616538509 -- or by tweeting and including the hashtag #rtweek2012 Details about Responsible Tourism Week are online http://planeta.wikispaces.com/rtweek2012 I would like to challenge local writers to join us for Responsible Tourism Week (February 13-17).

Background: Responsible Tourism Week is a free, five-day unconference exploring down-to-earth applications of noble concepts including responsible tourism, conscious travel, the local travel movement and ecotourism with effective and inexpensive social media and local events. (Bonus points if you can create a local photosafari get-together in Knysa!)

Share your favorite travel experiences that benefit locals and visitors. Let us know what you’ve written by adding the link from our Facebook event — https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135563616538509 — or by tweeting and including the hashtag #rtweek2012

Details about Responsible Tourism Week are online
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/rtweek2012

]]> Comment on Writers Workshop by James Fouche http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 James Fouche Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:40:47 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=59#comment-1146 Hi there! I'm an author from George, Garden Route. I co-hosted the Knysna Literary Festival in April 2011 and found that there is a need to create literary awareness. Please contact me with more information regarding your suggestions. I'm interested. James Fouche www.jackhanger.com domaingrp@yahoo.com Hi there!

I’m an author from George, Garden Route. I co-hosted the Knysna Literary Festival in April 2011 and found that there is a need to create literary awareness.

Please contact me with more information regarding your suggestions. I’m interested.

James Fouche
http://www.jackhanger.com
domaingrp@yahoo.com

]]> Comment on Writers Workshop by Lize http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Lize Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:09:44 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=59#comment-1083 Hi all, What a great idea, let's make it happen together! So many people from Europe etc. are bowled over when they visit our country - if we could get together articles in different languages, we could promote our town/area even more. I lived in France for a while, and I know we have many French and German expats in Knysna, many of them in the guesthouse industry - how about marketing our town using articles written or translated by them - we can reach more than just English-speakers! Also, local craft is another area of interest for me - I would love to submit articles about specific crafts/crafters (e.g. featuring a different craft each week/month) and blogging about that, plus "publishing" these articles so as to reach as wide an audience as possible. Hi all,

What a great idea, let’s make it happen together! So many people from Europe etc. are bowled over when they visit our country – if we could get together articles in different languages, we could promote our town/area even more. I lived in France for a while, and I know we have many French and German expats in Knysna, many of them in the guesthouse industry – how about marketing our town using articles written or translated by them – we can reach more than just English-speakers!

Also, local craft is another area of interest for me – I would love to submit articles about specific crafts/crafters (e.g. featuring a different craft each week/month) and blogging about that, plus “publishing” these articles so as to reach as wide an audience as possible.

]]> Comment on Writers Workshop by Admin http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-1061 Admin Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:47:34 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=59#comment-1061 Neat. I think the question we have to ask ourselves is how we can catch the eye of the professional consultancy services that are looking for writers who can write. The Garden Route is a brand we should be able to capitalise on. If we can persuade enough people that we all have very compelling reasons to work together and to promote ourselves as integral part of that brand, we might make it into our own league. What I want to see developing out of this is a cottage industry where those that can, recognise that they do want to mentor those that would like to start writing. Do you not think that is something that will attract attention? A village where everyone sitting in the coffee shops is busy writing and spending money that none us have to justify running our respective businesses right now? The difficulty here, is in breaking the ice and getting started? Neat. I think the question we have to ask ourselves is how we can catch the eye of the professional consultancy services that are looking for writers who can write.

The Garden Route is a brand we should be able to capitalise on. If we can persuade enough people that we all have very compelling reasons to work together and to promote ourselves as integral part of that brand, we might make it into our own league.

What I want to see developing out of this is a cottage industry where those that can, recognise that they do want to mentor those that would like to start writing. Do you not think that is something that will attract attention? A village where everyone sitting in the coffee shops is busy writing and spending money that none us have to justify running our respective businesses right now?

The difficulty here, is in breaking the ice and getting started?

]]> Comment on Writers Workshop by Jon http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 Jon Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:06:50 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=59#comment-1060 I am an experienced (mainly travel) writer and editor formerly at Independent Newspapers. I am also struggling, though I still have contacts at IN. I have tried the international online service Elance.com and though I did do some work for a client in Australia, I find the competition for jobs overwhelming, from all over the world. So it's not easy! My blog jonvdhwritings.blogspot.com gives me a lot of satisfaction and is widely read. Happy to help and share ideas. I am an experienced (mainly travel) writer and editor formerly at Independent Newspapers. I am also struggling, though I still have contacts at IN. I have tried the international online service Elance.com and though I did do some work for a client in Australia, I find the competition for jobs overwhelming, from all over the world. So it’s not easy!

My blog jonvdhwritings.blogspot.com gives me a lot of satisfaction and is widely read. Happy to help and share ideas.

]]> Comment on Writers by Bev Moodie http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/writers/comment-page-1/#comment-1059 Bev Moodie Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:16:06 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=70#comment-1059 Hi Mark This is a great idea. I'm a professional writer (also Personal/Business Consultant), self-publishing author (hard copy and ebooks) and have written business articles for Succeed Mag and have a regular column (New Beginnings) in the Edge. I also write brochures/marketing/business materials for companies and with training experience - education/training courses and support materials (have been through the SETA accreditation process too). Hi Mark

This is a great idea.

I’m a professional writer (also Personal/Business Consultant), self-publishing author (hard copy and ebooks) and have written business articles for Succeed Mag and have a regular column (New Beginnings) in the Edge. I also write brochures/marketing/business materials for companies and with training experience – education/training courses and support materials (have been through the SETA accreditation process too).

]]> Comment on Writers Workshop by Admin http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-1056 Admin Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:19:52 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=59#comment-1056 There is no money in town. It is drying up and the local businesses are all battling. This town is dying and we have to do something to stop that. We believe, possibly naively, that this could be done very simply by giving our local writers the incentive they need to write about the area, to then pool their work and promote it to an international market that is constantly looking for web content and those people who can write content for the web. It should be that simple. But the question is whether we as a community make it work? There is no money in town. It is drying up and the local businesses are all battling. This town is dying and we have to do something to stop that. We believe, possibly naively, that this could be done very simply by giving our local writers the incentive they need to write about the area, to then pool their work and promote it to an international market that is constantly looking for web content and those people who can write content for the web.

It should be that simple. But the question is whether we as a community make it work?

]]> Comment on Writers Workshop by Brenda http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/comment-page-1/#comment-1054 Brenda Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:55:49 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=59#comment-1054 Hi, I would like to know more about this project as it sounds very interesting indeed, please send me details. We moved to Knysna from Durban almost 4 years ago and have grown to love this town, it's amazing history, the different people who live here and last, but certainly not least, the beauty of nature that surrounds us here. Sometimes I think we should just keep quiet about Knysna and not "share" our town, but then that would be extremely short sighted and not good for our local economy. We need to promote all aspects of Knysna, from the festivals to the bike rides, our crafters to our shopping malls, these along with the sea, lagoon and forests are what make Knysna such a special place to visit. Thank you for having such a good idea. Regards Brenda Hi,
I would like to know more about this project as it sounds very interesting indeed, please send me details. We moved to Knysna from Durban almost 4 years ago and have grown to love this town, it’s amazing history, the different people who live here and last, but certainly not least, the beauty of nature that surrounds us here. Sometimes I think we should just keep quiet about Knysna and not “share” our town, but then that would be extremely short sighted and not good for our local economy. We need to promote all aspects of Knysna, from the festivals to the bike rides, our crafters to our shopping malls, these along with the sea, lagoon and forests are what make Knysna such a special place to visit.

Thank you for having such a good idea.
Regards
Brenda

]]> Comment on Find It by Admin http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/sponsors/find-it-sa/comment-page-1/#comment-1053 Admin Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:44:26 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=83#comment-1053 Do you believe you could benefit by promoting other writers who are quite possibly charging less than you do? This is where it gets difficult. Contacts and clients are hard to come by and in a competitive market surely these are assets one wants to guard jealously? Do you believe you could benefit by promoting other writers who are quite possibly charging less than you do? This is where it gets difficult. Contacts and clients are hard to come by and in a competitive market surely these are assets one wants to guard jealously?

]]> Comment on Find It by Jeremy http://askthelocals.co.za/writers_workshop/sponsors/find-it-sa/comment-page-1/#comment-1052 Jeremy Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:05:03 +0000 http://askthelocals.co.za/?page_id=83#comment-1052 Hey, what an excellent idea. There are all sorts of people with all kinds of talent out there who just can't wait to be heard. There is also a flurry in the advertising industry to find writers. I worked with these people and now I employ myself full time with nothing but a laptop and a modem. I have managed to create a viable portfolio as a professional freelance writer. Hey, what an excellent idea. There are all sorts of people with all kinds of talent out there who just can’t wait to be heard. There is also a flurry in the advertising industry to find writers. I worked with these people and now I employ myself full time with nothing but a laptop and a modem. I have managed to create a viable portfolio as a professional freelance writer.

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