It's no Hemmingway but...

...I'm proud!

I recently picked up a regular job as a feature writer or a month rural magazine.  A friend of mine had the job but life just got on top of her and she kindly suggested me as her replacement.  I've had a few bits and pieces published prior to having my little darlings and being low on the incoming workload (the paid stuff anyway) I jumped at the opportunity.

It all hit me full in the face however when I realised how long it had been since I'd writen anything other than to please myself.  Another blow of self realisation was that the features revolve around horses and mine have been sitting in their paddocks eating for the past five years!

Luckily though I have kept them regularly trimmed and my lovely trimmer - of the barefoot variety (simply because to begin with I didn't want the hassle of a farrier convincing me I needed shoes when I wasn't riding them and then because she was so reliable compared to EVERY farrier I've ever had) - was due out that day.  I rushed down to see her and ask if she would be the subject of my article and not only was she thrilled she also came up with a few ideas for future article bless her.

I'm particularly good at leaving things until the last minute and then super stressing about it - even if I leave myself with plenty of time I freak out.  So I planned to be more consistent about writing this and get in as early as possible.  I had NO idea how the article was going to be formed so I just started by asking her a few background questions via email.  And then I did what I always do - I put it off and put it off LOL.  Last week I jotted down a few things and got the gist of the article and sent some more questions through and waited, and waited - she'd gotten busy and didn't get back to me until Friday and then without the most important details.  So on Saturday I sat down at my pc and researched Barefoot Trimming and learned SO MUCH I was blown away.  I now know my horses will never be shod again.

I wrote my article and sent it off for Peta's approval but her answer to my prior questions crossed paths with my article and I realised there was a little bit more I wanted to include from her answers.  Today I put it all together and then had to shave close to 200 words (the version I sent to her had 900 - 100 less than the maximum).  It's taken me a bit of work this morning but I actually really enjoyed it and I'm feeling very confident about the outcome.

Now I just have to start work on the next one!!!