‘Horsin’ Around’
Don Coldsmith
Originally published 01:57 p.m., January 21, 2008
Updated 01:57 p.m., January 21, 2008
From time to time somebody will ask something like “Why is your column called ‘Horsin’ Around? You rarely write about horses.”
The most recent inquiry about this came from a horseman, with a daughter who is involved in horsemanship programs in 4-H. They read the column in the weekly ranch paper, Grass and Grain. He was actually looking for an early book of mine, “Moon of Thunder.” It describes in detail the training of a horse, using Indian methods. I had to look it up, because it was nearly 25 years ago that it was published. I had written dozens of books since then. Fortunately, with the help of our local book store, the “Town Crier,” we found the book for her, on the Internet.
That’s a long way around the barn to refer to the fact that we’re sometimes asked about the column and why it is called “Horsin’ Around.”
In the beginning, it was to have been purely about horses. We were raising horses and exhibiting them, partly through our five girls’ participation in 4-H programs. I was asked by a good friend, editor of the Emporia Times, a struggling weekly paper, to write about that.
“Horsin’ Around” seemed a logical title. I was doing a little “stringer” work for The Emporia Gazette and the editor and friend, Ray Call, urged me to try it. Ray was my mentor as I blundered into the world of creative writing. “It will improve your writing and there’s no way to tell what it might lead to.”
Prophetic words — The Emporia Times folded within a year or two, but by that time there were a couple of papers in Missouri, and one in Colorado, carrying the column. When I was on the lecture circuit, I’d send the column to their local paper for a few weeks and then offer it as a regular weekly feature, moderately priced. About 1,800 columns, at this time.
It’s rarely horse-oriented anymore, but horsin’ around doesn’t actually require horses, does it? We have only one horse on the ranch now. (No more daughters to take care of them).
Gradually, the column had fewer horse stories and more of general interest. The lecture circuit strategy still worked. Sometimes, I’d send a column or two to one of the horse magazines and that became a fairly good place for Horsin’ Around. Magazine length articles are usually much longer than the newspaper column and I had to adjust, but that’s part of the game.
All of this was going on while I was still practicing medicine. I delivered about 3,000 babies and sometimes I’d be at the hospital all night, waiting. No point in trying to sleep, so I’d write. Some of my early books were partly written on the back of hospital order sheets, in the middle of the night. Whatever works!
But, by lengthening the columns, or sometimes linking two or three together, some of my writing evolved into magazine articles. Horse magazines, of course. That expanded to the point that magazine editors would call and ASK for an article on a specific horse topic. Most of them didn’t even know about my “day job” as a physician.
The climax to that came with a phone call while I was still in the practice of medicine. I was just finishing an exam when a magazine editor called. My office manager/secretary told him that I could be on the phone in a minute or two, when I’d finished an exam.
When I picked up the phone, the editor gasped, “My gawd, you’re a doctor?”
I’ve mentioned that in the column before, I’m sure. But I think it’s a great help to a columnist to have worked at a variety of jobs.
And, I’m still not certain what I want to be when I grow up.
See you down the road.
Author and columnist Don Coldsmith lives in Emporia.
CAFEmporia (anonymous) says...
Last week, Don wrote an article with which I took some exception and noted it in this forum. A couple of other people were offended or at least irked by what I said and I took it seriously. I like Dr Coldsmith, have read a number of his books and look forward to his weekly column in the paper. It bothers me that as he ages it is more difficult for him to achieve the consistency I know he wants and his readers expect of him.
Sometimes, venturing out into the world of personal opinion does that to a writer - all writers, not just professionals. We overstate ourselves on some topics, get our facts slightly wrong without realizing it because it is our opinion that is the meat of what we're writing, not the supporting stuff. But the reader, even here on these informal forums, demands high quality and is not always kind when it fails.
This week, Don wrote one of the articles I enjoy most from him: personal tales of his own life experiences. At this stage in his life, these articles are probably the best things he can give to us. It is what he knows best, too, so his sincerity and clarity shine through.
I sheepishly admit - I'm glad his hat isn't up on that peg yet.
CAF
January 21, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )