Bill Heavey: Breaking Down the Hype

Anyone with a keyboard and some Wi-Fi- even as spotty as mine - can discover whom the internet deems to be the "greatest outdoor writer" today: Bill Heavey. His name pops up under every category; Bill Heavey articles, Bill Heavey books, Bill Heavey Blog. A few clicks later and Field and Stream delivers all of his articles in one urn. Perfect. I grab another cup of Joe and settle in my seat, ready to dissect the writing of the man who's got anglers and hunters alike buzzing.

Fifteen minutes into my digging, my assignment discontinues to be so as I click the "next" button "one last time" for seven or eight more articles. Fishing, hunting and other coveted activities by outdoorsmen are fleshed out in his mighty resume. Bill Heavey, simply put by Outdoorzmen338 is "an absolute riot!" I couldn't agree more.

It's not his obvious knowledge of fishing techniques or his classic outlook on hunting that sticks; it’s his writing style. Not unlike that of Hemingway, Heavey delivers his story in downright simple language. With each article at less than 500 words, it's short and to the point. Sure, he spends time on fluff, like when he takes a paragraph to describe the ingredient content in hand warmers, but it is only to encapsulate the full picture further in the piece. Other times he truncates the important stuff of the story into two or three sentences. Overall, his articles only take a few minutes to read, but they pack a mighty punch.

Heavey masterfully lays his stories out to fit his frame of short-and-simple writing. His dry humor and undeniable wittiness makes for a light-hearted read, yet his vivid detail grips readers' attention. By the second paragraph, readers forget the medium; the website is forgotten, keyboard obscured and flashing of the router dampened. His storytelling elicits the feel of a campfire, with a good friend or slightly intoxicated uncle describing a recent adventure. A quick joke or self-deprecating comment makes for humor in its simplest form.

For someone who aspires to become an outdoor writer someday, I can learn a thing or two from Bill Heavey. First, he certainly understands his audience. He omits the words that could throw off readers of any level, which appeals to a wider audience. After all, few outdoorsmen keep a dictionary in the gun safe. I will parallel that writing strategy of his, though I daresay he would claim it not a tactic but his nature.

Secondly, I aim to bring the same level of humor into my works that he puts in his. He brings the comedy club outside, a combination that is unique. I find this element lacks when it comes to other outdoor pieces. Humor is typically seen as humanly, an aspect not found in the wild. Heavey dispels that notion and realizes that humor certainly exists in the outdoors, especially when a human is interjected into it.

While I lay out plans to copy Heavey's genius writing methods, I will bring my own style as well. Bill wrote interesting stories, but not fascinating ones. I believe the things he did in his life could be considered fascinating, but he did not depict them in that manner. I hope to move readers. I wish to go past the surface and grapple the souls of any who come across my works. Hooked till the end, the adventurers in all will sit on edge, yearning for the lifestyle I will lay out. Instead of closing out the web browser and resuming normality, I wish to push readers from the monotony of everyday life and immerse them into the wild. Mountains, rivers and everything green I shall deliver on a silver platter; All the readers have to do is open their minds. There is a primitive side to each and every one of us, and I hope to reach out and touch it.