Influences and Inspiration-How Writing and the Outdoors Come Together
Over the years I have written a fair number of stories and articles . Some were completed, most were not. I even wrote a full 50,000 word novel in 30 days as part of National Novel Writing Month. This is not me taking an opportunity to brag. I'm not nearly good enough as a writer for that. I am using this information to illustrate that I enjoy writing and have spent a fair amount of time pursuing that particular hobby. My boss recently asked to read the novel I wrote and the commentary she offered got me thinking about what lead me to the world of writing and how I developed my personal style as well as how that ties into my love of the outdoors. First and foremost, my influences have always been quite varied. I enjoy authors from a variety of genres. Sci-fi, fantasy, westerns, thrillers, political intrigue, and humor all have a place on my bookshelf. But my two largest influences were Louis L'Amour and Pat McManus. These two men wrote the stories that helped shape my love of...