Finding a Writing Style and Dissatisfaction

It's been weeks since I've had time to work on News from Dead Mule Swamp. Meanwhile, I've discovered a new mystery author, J. S. Borthwick. I'm enjoying Down East Murders, which is set in Port Clyde, Maine, and on a fictional island just off the coast.

Part of what I love about the book is that I know Port Clyde and the area. But, I also have to admit that Borthwick's book is a lot more interesting than mine. She's given the characters more depth, and sprinkled in lots of little red herrings- the kinds of silly things that make perfect sense to small-town life.

So, now I'm dissatisfied with my work. I wonder if I can go back through the book and work in more "stuff." I wonder if I should. I also adore "The Cat Who..." books, and they have about the same level of detail as I now have, and yet I think they also capture a small town really well.

My book is too linear. I need to introduce some bunny trails. Most of all, I need to find some time to work on it.

Successful Program for Dunes Audubon

Last night I gave a brand new program, "The North Country Trail in Michigan" to the Sable Dunes Audubon. This program is the first in a series that will focus on a particular state of the NCT. They wanted a program of 30 minutes. I wasn't sure, until I gave it in front of an audience, if I had produced the right length, but it was just fine. Then they asked me questions for another 30 minutes after that!

I added video to this program. Some of the slides are the same as from my longer program about the whole trail, but I want each program to be fairly unique, so that people won't think that if they've seen one they've seen them all. I had a video of my friends and I singing "The Happy Wanderer" from my final hike in August of last year. I took the sound track from that and added video clips of nature scenes that I've shot along the trail over the last couple of years, since I went digital. I want to tweak it a little more, but it isn't too bad for a first effort.

Using such a familiar song had just the opposite effect from what I expected. I thought it would be trite and people might be bored. I guess most people don't go around singing that all the time, because they were delighted, and some even sang along. Now that is audience participation!

They want me back next year to talk about local trails. That's not quite as good as a solid booking, but pretty close. I'm trying hard to work on the idea that you shouldn't leave a program without having a booking for another one, somewhere.

I had a pile of my brochures, about the programs I offer, and several of those were picked up.

There were about 35 people there, which they said was a really good turnout. I also sold one book. That's not too bad for a non-trail group, where I know that several of the members already have a copy.

Successful Program in Marquette

Marquette is a beautiful city. And they have a lot of beautiful miles of North Country Trail.

On Tuesday I hiked 8 miles with a trail group that was visiting the area. It was fun seeing some miles that I hadn't hiked for several years.

That evening about 30 people came to the Peter White Library to see "The North Country Trail and the Kitchen Sink." Most of them were already trail folks, and I hope that I was able to give them more of a vision for the whole trail. They do a great job of keeping their section in good condition.

I sold six copies of North Country Cache! I was actually surprised, because the Marquette area is where I have sold more books than any other place. I'm not complaining!

Working on New Media

This coming week is just crazy-nuts. I drive to Marquette tomorrow (7-8 hours). I'll be hiking with a group on Tuesday and giving my primary program, "The North Country Trail and the Kitchen Sink" at the Peter White Library in the evening. On Wednesday I'll drive home.

On Thursday evening, I have to have a new media program done that focuses just on Michigan. I worked on it all afternoon. Of course, I have this new computer. So Windows Movie Maker is still free, but it's an all-new version, and I have to figure out how to do all the things that I previously understood pretty well. Oh yes, before I could do that I had to redownload my software to convert MOV files to WMV, and that turned out to be a test. I had to work really hard to recover my license number because I had archived those emails. Well, I've now noted that information somewhere else!

I'm in pretty good shape with it, but the BIG QUESTION is whether I will have work assignments from my part-time job this week. If I do, I'll almost have to do them on Thursday, leaving me no time to work more on the program. I am supposed to be given assignments on Fridays, but in practice, that doesn't always happen.

Hope I can get everything done on time!

If you want to see my program schedule, just click on the "Program Schedule" tab.

Two Done for North Star

Better late than never? This has been my motto for life, I think. I finally got the second article done for North Star, the magazine of the North Country Trail Association.

It's about the practice of stealth camping (illegal camping), and why it's a bad idea, even though it may seem like it hurts no one.

Here's an excerpt:

Bragging about stealth camping to our friends should not result in smirks and knowing nods in commiseration of the difficulty, at this point in time, of backpacking along the entire NCT. It should result in worried looks and admonitions. People who are friends of the North Country Trail for the future will not stealth camp, or encourage it in others.

I won't tell you how many other things I'm behind on!

One Done for North Star

I have two articles due tomorrow for North Star, the magazine of the North Country Trail Association. The longest one is about the recent conference in Dayton, Ohio. I have that done, and am starting on the second one.

Finally back to some writing.

Textbroker Assignment

I haven't written for Textbroker in months. They want things too perfect for too little money. However, I just got a direct order, and since I get a slightly better price on those, I agreed to do it.

At least I hope I have an assignment. The client sent me a message about it, and I said I'd do it, but he hasn't actually put the order in the system in a way that commits me to write it and him to pay for it.

Do I trust that he really will do that, and start doing the research? I'm not interesting in spending the time on this and then have the client say he changed his mind or something stupid.

Ah, well. I guess I'd better stop griping and start working on it.