Coastal Temperate Forest Dweller has been good to me. I'm a little sad to see it go. But the fact is that, even though I'll always love this wet west coast, and I'll always take it with me wherever I go, I'm moving on.

In fact I'm adventuring across Canada, and doing more photography, and writing, and book making, etc, so....

My new book: A long daytrip to Long Beach and back!

Like Sun and cloud, our creative struggles, challenges, and success, are all the better for the combination.



I live in a rainforest. Unlike many of my fellow temperate coastal forest people I readily acknowledge the fact that the weather patterns will continue to bring rain here off of the ocean as they have for millenia, and that I have a choice of living locations. I could live in a desert arid climate, or the prairies where the fields run off into the distance. I've spent a bit of time in both those climates and, while I can appreciate the differences and beauty to them, I love the giant green forest, plethora of plants and mosses, and deep goodness in the woods along the sea.

So we have sun, and we have rain, and we have many many clouds, often.

I can tell you from personal experience that the sun and blue sky look absolutely brilliant when they peek through the clouds after a few days of being overcast. And the colours!! At sunset and sunrise, or other random moments through the day, you can find all sorts of weird and wonderful light making it's way through those clouds.

As for creative struggles? Well.. they're very similar. The passion and inspiration to germinate an idea, like a flash of brilliant sunlight. The striding forth in that light to start creating, to take pictures, lay words on paper, or pluck strings to make tunes. And then the struggle of choosing how to display that, how to share it, how to arrange it, how to quantify it, how to risk making it real, and tangible, and putting it out there.

There is a challenge and a struggle in that darkness.



And then there is the sun. Rising once more over the waters, over the hills, through the fog. A new day dawns and we stand there with our completed work for all to see. We have succeeded. We celebrate, and then strike out to see what this new day will bring, how it will inspire, how it will make us muse.

So know that you're not alone in that struggle, in that journey, in that quest. Though it is uniquely unique to you, it is also a generally shared experience to many, and we're cheering you on even though you must walk the steps yourself, we're hooting and hollering and waving banners, though you must ache and strive to continue.

Please do, for in watching you struggle and succeed you also cheer me on. So thank you.
Thank you and go well :)

Jordan Oram
The Maplemusketeer

ps You never know how sharing your muse and action will inspire others. To you something may seem small, but the ripples it casts will go on into until at least lunch time, possibly eternity ;)

Thanks to Paulissa Kipp who's comments to me this morning on Google Plus inspired this post, and to Jake Easley for his sharing of awesome and timeliness. ;)

The sunset seen over Vancouver Island from Sechelt, British Columbia.


Sunsets are one of those things that makes photographers late for dinner. Good light will do that. Sunrise, sunset, sun being filtered through clouds, all set the photographic heart atizzy. Because in one picture is immortality. A connection and link is formed in that moment that will last for us as long as we live. In the focus of that impassioned moment, other commitments disappear and fade away behind the glory of that glowing goodness.

Some will understand. Some won't. It is a link between those who chase their passion and find themselves at the whim of their muse.

So what? What does this mean? Well..
A) Enjoy sunsets. They're awesome. ;)
B) Hopefully we can develop some compassion and understanding for others when they get caught up in their passions, even when they aren't OUR passions. Oh heck. Hopefully we can all relax a bit and realize that people get caught up in things, and if it's something they love and are passionate about, then that's awesome! I want to support people living passionately and powerfully, chasing dreams and discovering wonders. So be it reading, writing, playing an instrument, carving wood, knitting, or whatever, let me know that I may cheer you on!

Because what the world can use, is more people living passionate and purposeful lives of awesome ;)

Lets do it :D

I met a fellow on the ferry crossing who called it the world's cheapest/most scenic cruise. The 45minute sailing from Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal (on the outskirts of Vancouver) to the Langdale Ferry Terminal (on the Sunshine Coast) costs about $13 as a walk on passenger and you only have to pay the fare one way as the return trip back to Vancouver is free.

In the foreground is Gambier Island and in the background is the mainland en route up Howe Sound to Squamish and further still to Whistler. In the distance can be seen the top of Mt.Garabaldi.

I've been riding this route since I was in the womb. I still watch in awe during the voyage. :)

Today I was asked about what it takes to be a writer for a magazine. Ostensibly it's because I've been published in a magazine. So I guess when you're at a place where people are asking you for writing advice it must mean that you've got something to say. And some know a lot more than me. And some have said a whole lot more than me.

I never intended to write this post. It just happened. As a response to a question.

And for me.. that's a lot how writing can be. Just like a good photo. Waiting to be unearthed, waiting to be born and brought forth, waiting to be noticed and delivered.

yeah.. got a little deep there. It happens. ;)

So I was asked how one becomes a writer for a magazine. Lets now join my answer, already in progress.....
(the only thing I changed was a few parts the reference the town my friend and his daughter are in)



... Crazy! LOL All through connections I made sharing my photos on Google Plus, backed up by my body of work, through my blog, etc.

Which brings me to advice for your daughter who wants to write for a magazine. How often does she write? The more the better. Stephen King's book "On Writing" was one of the best writing books I've ever read. I think that makes sense. LOL Basically he shares the story of his journey.. and how it all lead him to be the writer that he is. It's worth reading. He doesn't get all freaky, but he speaks deeply. So write! Write write write. Read online stuff about it.. delve into it. But write. A huge part of the battle is grappling with the fears. What if I'm not good? What if people don't like it? What do I need to do to be a writer? If you write, you're a writer. And the more you do it, the better you get. Yeah yeah the question was about writing FOR a magazine. lol I haven't forgotten ;) In this day and age I'm going to go with... write write write. There are so many different ways that people are discovered. I think a blog is a great idea. And honestly I partly got the original magazine writing offer because she'd seen my blog a number of times. Of course she'd also met me, we almost went on a date, and I'm a good fit for the magazine they were developing. So.. I guess that boils down to who you know and being in the right place at the right time. Which may seem like luck... but really it's more statistics ;) It's odds. The more you write, the more you share, the more you meet and engage with people, the closer you get to that position you're looking for.

Has she approached the LOCAL NEWSPAPER? What other magazines are based out of YOUR TOWN? TOWN NEARBY? Etc? Some people write articles they're passionate about, or think are interesting etc, and then shop them around. They'll keep them on file and send them out to places they think would be interested. That's probably a way to get in the door. As well as asking magazine editors etc if you can interview them for a project ;) Is she still in High School? Cause if so I think that'd be a pretty smart plan ;) hehe. She might not directly get a job but she'll get more networking, advice, etc. And if she has a twitter account etc she can make those connections, interact, etc. These are all just suggestions. Date an editor? Some suggestions are better than others ;)

I'd like to say "here are 5 steps to writing for a Magazine" but really life only shows you the steps when you look backwards. Looking ahead it's basically picking what looks like the best way through the woods and striking forwards. Hopefully with wise counsel, and some more honed skills. Of course the great thing about being a writer? All of those mistakes are more material ;) Like my awesome story about being ill for 2 weeks in Guatemala culminating in my realization that it can always get worse as I'm squatting in the bushes behind the houses we're constructing and fire ants are biting my legs as I hop across the path trying to find a safe spot to be ill. Yes. Fun times? Not so much. But an awesome story!!! :D And a valuable lesson! It can always get worse, no one caught it on camera and it didn't therefore go viral on Youtube. ;)

So another example of being a writer? Write! This started out as an FB response to your question but now it's something more. Something that I'm going to cut, and paste, and share as a post. I so didn't see that coming.

The internet is so much more smarter than me ;) It's like a giant jungle of teachings and zany and collections of mistakes and learnings. And I'm willing to point out a few options/directions, just like others did a bit for me.

If she really wants it. She'll keep chasing it, and writing, and dreaming, and learning, and grinding it out, and all of a sudden she'll find herself standing in a place with a cheque in her hand and she'll say.. I'm where I thought I wanted to be. There'll be a moment of 'OH HECK YES" followed by the feeling that.. one mountain has been surmounted and found to be a hill, and there's a bigger mountain next on the path. It's an awesome goodness that many have felt and I look forward to her getting there. I did a bit ago.. and it was awesome. And then I raised my gaze and saw a bigger mountain. Also awesome. ;)

Tell you what.. I'm going to go post this part that pertains to her on my blog right now. And then I'll drop the link here for you to share with her. And she's free to contact me, ask questions, comment, follow me on twitter, or whatever. :D Follow dreams and pursue passion. You will change the world. And that goes for you too buddy ;) I hope you're exercising your dreams when you can ;)

Love you broski! I'll hopefully see you when I'm next up that way in what looks to be January.

J

PS You're an awesome Dad! ;)

Life is better when you head for where the rainforest meets the sea. At least that's always been my experience. One February morning in 2009 a classmate and I left our school work behind us in Victoria BC and, heading west, made for the solace of nature.

Until 1996 China Beach was a Provincial Park. The Juan de Fuca Provincial Park was established to collect and connect the various Provincial Parks (China Beach Park, Loss Creek Park, Parkinson Creek Park, and Botanical Beach Park) along the Juan de Fuca trail as a contiguous park of temperate coastal rainforesty awesomeness.

So we'll start in the parking lot ;)

I'm over half-way through my September 2011 Ramble based out of Hope BC (hence the spotty updating). Here are a few images and videos to satiate your curiosity (or stoke it more ;) ) Enjoy :) Frog and Leaf

Having arrived in Hope on Tuesday, I volunteered and helped out around my old camp on Wednesday.

and Chef Yoshi and I rescued a frog.

Greetings from the road! I know it's only been a day but I'm going to use the internet when I have access to it and share my travels when I find the time.

Yesterday I stepped out the door in Sechelt BC and caught a few buses, a ferry, and a skytrain to get through Vancouver and the Fraser Valley to end up in Hope BC.

Approximately 217km and 7hrs travel. With some great conversations and people met on the way :)

Let us begin!

Thanks for all of the recent support and encouragement :D