Thirty Four Days

A picture a day.

Walking in Estrella

Now that I have some time on my hands, I will post a few pics and videos of the trip. This one is from Estrella, seven days into our walk.

Under Review

Yesterday I finished the fourth edit, cutting the manuscript down to 103,499 words and 295 pages. The editor says it should be in the 80,000 range, but I can't see doing that without leaving some key parts out.

I have put the document down for a few weeks while my writer friends review it. I highly value their opinions, and it will be nice to have some thoughts from the two of them.

In the meantime, here is a short clip of the summit before you head downhill towards Ponferrada. Our group took a few injuries on this leg.

Things Are Starting to Move Along

After spinning my wheels for a while, the past two weeks have been ones of great progress. The second draft is now complete, with all the missing pieces filled in. I have asked two good friends, both of whom are writers, to read the draft and provide me feedback in whatever way suits. They both accepted enthusiastically, and I will be sending them the document next week. I look forward to their input, they tell it the way they see it, which is why I asked them in the first place. I learned on the Camino that " to give, you have to be willing to receive." That is still not easy for me to do.

Had a conversation with a cousin of Mary Lou, who has published two books, with the best advice being " there is no hurry to publish." It was most helpful, giving me pause as to my original plan. After a bit of back track, I decided to focus on finishing the manuscript, and then worry about the editor and publishing. Then the universe kicked in, and on the weekend I attended The Word on the Street festival, sitting in on a presentation on how to get published in Canada. The advice was invaluable, and I connected with a number of individuals, groups and companies that will end up saving me a month or more of legwork. 

So, this is going to happen, though I am not sure if it will be out before or after Christmas. Before would be nice.

The Morning View From Orisson 

First Draft - Complete

It took quite a bit longer than I imagined, and was a lot more work than expected, but I have completed the first draft of The Two Caminos, and am about half way through the first edit. Should be finished with a second edit next month and will send it out to my editor, all 110,000 words of it.

I was worried memories would fade between the time of the walk and completion of the book, but that was not the case. In fact just the opposite. I remember  with greater clarity now than a year ago; locations, people and conversations. And with the research and reflections required to write this,  I am far more knowledgeable of both the Camino and what this walk meant to me.

Looking forward to getting this published in the coming months.