Last month I went out of town to research a field trip article for Rock&Gem magazine that I am writing on speculation. (internal link) My visit was to a BLM mineral collecting site some hours north of Las Vegas. Here’s the problem: I didn’t find much of what I was looking for, in fact, I found so little that I needed a macro lens on my camera to photograph my largest find. Picture something smaller than your smallest fingernail.
Although I was essentially skunked, I still didn’t want to scratch the experience I had going to the site. I learned some things I think would help people who would have more time to look and better weather conditions to collect under. Here’s the problem: how do I write a compelling article when I really didn’t find anything? Or would a realistic field trip article be refreshing, with local color substituting somewhat for the lack of a find? Stay tuned. It may be days or another week before I can think through how to turn my lemons into lemonade.
June 12, 2016 Update: I submitted the article. Don’t tell anyone but it has been tentatively accepted for their August issue.
One reply on “Lemons Into Lemonade”
Maybe the experience of finding out what to write/how to write about very little could be what you write about? Anyways, good luck! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!