I’ve been asked many times how I keep coming up with things to write about. My answer is always the same. I have an active mind, curious nature and I exercise my instrument (write) daily. There is no such thing as writer’s block. There is “afraid”, “lazy”, and even “distracted”, but there is never true writer’s block.
I just sit down and acknowledge that I am not Steinbeck, and write. Coming to terms with my own limitations early in any process makes everything easier and more free flowing. My results may be mediocre, and I may have to rework my piece many times to make it palatable, but it is a labor like any other. So whether I’m cooking a meal, building an irrigation dam on the ranch or writing a story or column, just doing it (then cleaning it up or plugging the leaks) is what matters most.
I jot down single sentences, references to jokes, articles, books or poems all the time as future ideas to write about. I also take pictures and put them in file. Anything that strikes me funny, interesting or thought provoking is potentially future fodder. Some days I come to my desk with an idea, but most days I just sit down and start. I commit an hour every day to the labor of writing. Sometimes it’s a joy and comes together easily, other times it is a puzzle to be crafted together, and some days it’s just work. I probably learn the most when it doesn’t come easily. I have to use my skill sets to reassess ideas, research facts, and play with different ways to present them. I might write four or five stories before I like one enough to send it in. The one thing I know for sure is that doing the work every day is key to keeping my mind and skills honed, flexible and easily accessible. The old adage, use it or lose it applies.
I think one of the BIG keys to being successful in life is just showing up. That means getting out of bed each morning, and having a plan for your day. That plan should include time devoted to survival (how you will secure the shelter, sustenance and security you require), the spiritual, and the physical/emotional connections every healthy human being requires.
For me, ranching is my road to survival. I know there are certain things I must accomplish each day/month/season in order for our end product to be produced and profitable. In agriculture, natural forces beyond our control also come into play. Learning to deal with and hedge against things like weather, natural disasters, and disease are skills and a knowledge base developed over time and hopefully improved generationally. I also believe that being meaningfully involved in civic affairs is key to not only my survival, but the survival of our community, industry, nation and society. So to that end, I stay involved, develop a knowledge base and understanding of public people, events and policy and I form opinions. From those opinions, I decide how to contribute my time, energy and resources.
As for the spiritual, I devote time each day to feeding my soul and my inner self. The added strength, vitality and energy that I get from prayer and meditation is easily as important as eating or sleep. This component is what keeps my batteries fully charged. Who doesn’t want more energy?
I also make sure to get up and move every day. That may sound silly, but the connection between mind and body is fundamental to good overall health. I’m not a gym kinda girl, but I go outside and work around the ranch, mow weeds or pick up fallen branches, or just go out and visit and play with our dogs or horses.
My emotional life is really easier than most would think. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate my adult daughter’s company and input at the ranch, and I make time to check in with friends and colleagues as regularly as I can. I also take time to visit my mom and family. I’m okay with being alone and just puttering around the ranch. I’m not a fan of drama, or stomach churning BS, so I generally don’t know or engage in the local gossip. That suits me fine. I have come to a place in my life where I simply focus on being better at what I do, and I tune out the noise. I focus on people and activities that make a difference to me.
You might have noticed that writing wasn’t included in any of the paragraphs I devoted to survival, spiritual, physical/emotional portions of my life. The truth is that for me, writing intersects all of those parts of my life. It’s something I’ve enjoyed doing since childhood, used to earn a living before moving to the ranch, used to educate and influence public officials about my primary profession and industry (agriculture and ranching in particular), and now, do mostly as a satisfying craft. I enjoy sharing parts of our increasingly rare way of life on a remote cattle ranch, my perspectives on peddling through life’s challenges, social issues and things that make me smile, cringe and laugh out loud. Hopefully, I at least sometimes deliver those messages to you in an artful, engaging and entertaining manner.
Kris Stewart is a rancher in Paradise Valley, Nevada.