Member Spotlight: Becky Lomax

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Writing forces me to put words to my experiences, which in turn puts them in perspective. Since national parks, hiking, and nature are essential to me, writing aids me in processing these elements. I’m hoping my work can help others to do the same. Reading what others have written helps me slow down the warp-drive of daily input of sound bites, social media, and rapid-fire news. The world needs more thoughtful words shared with a pace and duration that yields more depth.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? An impending deadline always gets me writing! But as a precursor to that, I take loads of photos…some just reminders of fungi on trees or grizzly bear footprints in mud rather than photos I shoot for use in my books. When I scan through the pics, they connect with my memory of the experience, remind me of what I need to convey to my readers, and help inspire my words.

What is your favorite time to write? Unfortunately, my travel schedule is so erratic, I must write whenever I’m home. But if time and opportunity arise when I’m in the woods, on a lakeshore, or tenting in the mountains, I like to sink into putting words to what surrounds me and describing my relationship to nature. I can focus on the vivid and subtle sights, sounds, smells, temperatures, and tastes and mull over the exact words to convey to the senses.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? A writing instructor once told me, “Just write.” And often, if I just start putting words to something trivial, even if what comes out is off-topic, just the writing itself will coax me back into the rhythm and flow of the words and where I need to go. What was not mentioned? As writers, we need to be on own best editors. Not every word that goes on the page should remain.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? Pointing people in the right direction so they have a successful, safe, and fulfilling trip in the national parks charges me up. The parks are seeing so many new visitors…especially a large number that are new to the outdoors and unaware of our responsibilities in public lands. One of my writing priorities is helping them learn trail and travel etiquette as well as Leave No Trace principles that gird our ability to preserve outdoor spaces for all of us and future generations.

Becky Lomax’s Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 63 Parks is out now with Avalon Publishing.