Do you know what I love about her writing? The honesty.
She has a knack for writing, like a young friend of mine has a natural riding seat. Both are innate talents. In the case of her writing, it’s not overstated or pressured, or overridden by custom or overthinking; it’s simply laid down in words on a page in the natural Order that comes to her.
(“Her” could be Kathy or Beca or Anne McCaffery or Elizabeth Moon, but today, I’m talking about Kathy.)
Have you read any of the blog posts at Horse Listening?
I don’t doubt that she sweats over every word, or that every post is carefully edited and proofread.
But the initial honesty of the thought and expression remains. Each post addresses something that she has faced, or is facing, in her relationship with horses, but because of the honesty of her writing, each concept is just as easily translated to living. So you don’t have to be a horse person to really enjoy her posts!
My painting instructor taught me to stop when the painting was done. She taught me that, at some point, you just have to put the brush down. One more brush stroke would change the painting completely; would ruin the concept. Usually, it was my instructor who told me when to stop! But eventually, I began to listen to my heart, and I learned to stop at the critical point.
As writers, we must remember that at some point – at THE point – we must put down the pen and be done. When it’s done. Not too soon, not too late.
That’s writing. That’s riding. That’s painting. That’s art.
That’s honesty.