I have been far too busy writing and gathering photos for the next "Mac and Mark" book; 49 Trout Streams of Southern Colorado with University of New Mexico Press. It'll be more of a coffee table pictorial than our previously published destination guide... full-color photos on every page, and only 150 words to write for each of the 49 streams. It's going to sell like hot bread. But it isn't all that fun to write.
I challenge any one of you to write up one of your favorite places in the world in only 150 words and do the place justice at the same time. Plus the directions need to be included in that 150 words, so really we get 100 words or less to describe a killer stream, all of it's unique characteristics, insect info, terrain, flies that work well there, and make each stream seem one of a kind, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
Here is one of those pieces:
See what I mean... nothing funny, dark, literary, or profound. Just 150 banged out words doing their damnedest to do what the pictures in the book will hopefully do without the words. Writing isn't always so damn cool.
You would probably like to see a few pics of Willow Creek, wouldn't you? Well, here they are.
I challenge any one of you to write up one of your favorite places in the world in only 150 words and do the place justice at the same time. Plus the directions need to be included in that 150 words, so really we get 100 words or less to describe a killer stream, all of it's unique characteristics, insect info, terrain, flies that work well there, and make each stream seem one of a kind, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
Here is one of those pieces:
Willow Creek
West of the Collegiate Peaks, beginning simply as several
trickles of water converging near the wee town of Tincup, Willow Creek abruptly
forms into one of Taylor Park’s unsung fisheries. A gold miner named Jim Taylor (for
whom many area landmarks are named) harvested gold nuggets from Willow Creek
in a tin cup, spurring a short-lived rush and bringing notoriety to the region.
Today Taylor Reservoir’s tailwater brings the valley its
notoriety. But when anglers tire of world-class fishing for huge trout, the
quiet and numerous bendpools, beaverponds and cutbanks of Willow Creek come as quiet relief. Williams and I adored it so much, we chose a picture of Willow Creek
for the cover of another of our books.
From Almont, travel north on FR 742 along the famed Taylor
River until the road hooks right just past the Taylor Park Trading Post,
crossing over Willow Creek and skirting it for several miles.
See what I mean... nothing funny, dark, literary, or profound. Just 150 banged out words doing their damnedest to do what the pictures in the book will hopefully do without the words. Writing isn't always so damn cool.
You would probably like to see a few pics of Willow Creek, wouldn't you? Well, here they are.
I'm in agreement and mostly because I'm your doppelganger and I'm also having to write only 150 words about my favorite streams. Sucks but it's cool.
ReplyDelete150 words is only cool when you're a high school kid and your final writing assignment reads: "Tell your favorite teacher (me) how badass they (I) are (am) in 150 words or less."
ReplyDeleteWell although you don't enjoy the 150 word limitation. I think you did this piece justice. Yes there is little room for commentary but I still like the info you provided for this stream.
ReplyDeleteThanks, honey! : ) This one is one of my favorites, but it's terribly difficult to leave out certain details I feel are essential, but obviously are not. I'm trying to let the pictures be the details. Tough work. Toiling now as we speak (type).
ReplyDelete