Pilfering from nature
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Family and I are on a wild and crazy trip to Yellowstone National Park this week. Having an absolutely spiffing time!
I keep noticing something, as we see these rather unearthly structures and vegetation and all-around ruggedity. “Wow!” I thinks to meself, “This should be in my next book.”
But the next thought is quite often this: “Hmm, doesn’t this remind me of something?” And in this context, something means some story…
Like the natural hot springs, steam vents and geysers reminded me a bit of the Bog of Eternal Stench from Labyrinth, while the strange fields of low-growing greyish shrubs are obviously snide fields from my favorite Dr. Seuss story.*
So, while I am perhaps not the first writer to want to include Yellowstone’s wonders in my fiction, I’m at least among good friends this week.
Truly, it’s all been done. But never by me, and so I guess I’m okay.**
Enjoy!
* “What was I scared of?” short inside The Sneetches.
** Dark secret about being a writer — you really must have a strong, healthy opinion of yourself to believe that anyone will want to pay money just for the privilege of hearing your lies. 