Before beginning The Cabins of Wilsonia, I had to answer some basic and somewhat complex questions. Those were covered in Chapters 1-5.

Once those questions were answered satisfactorily, I had to figure out how to tackle this monumental project.

1. Learn your subject first.

I visited Wilsonia, staying with friends in the Masonic Tract. They left after the first night, and then I was on my own. For a week, I walked daily through the streets with my camera, learning the names of the streets, meeting people, learning shortcuts, trying to understand the layout. I learned that many of the cabin folks don’t know all of Wilsonia. I learned that parallel streets confuse me. I learned that I’d better have a map, lists and charts.

2. Make a plan.

After asking several people if they had an opinion or an idea of how to organize the book into chapters and getting no clear answer, I knew I was on my own.

That’s good – it is my book, after all! Can’t expect other people to solve my problems. But, it was good to ask for opinions to make sure I wasn’t overlooking something obvious to a seasoned citizen of the community.

By street in alphabetical order. That’s how the chapters will be organized.

3. Gather your information.

In my book, this means taking zillions of photos. Every day, looking for different angles, different lights at different times of day, more details, the settings of each cabin, the best possible views – photograph, photograph and photograph some more. And don’t forget to mark down which photos are on which street! Don’t mix them up! Don’t get confused, no matter how many photos of cabins with chimneys on the gable end you see in one day.

The chimneys are all different and I DO know where each one of these cabins is located!