I'm a writer and I'd love some help - big ask below

[JakeP]

Hey there! I'm not a wrancher, but I am a fiction writer and novelist. I'm looking for a generous and curious rancher who can help me prepare for my next novel.

I'm working on my new novel, and it's going to be a modern Western, most of it set on a family ranch probably in Wyoming (still working on the setting). Although I have visited the area before, and although my grandfather was a cowboy, I have zero first hand experience in operating a ranch. I'm a fan of Western movies and novels, of course, and I've heard endless stories from my granddad, but this novel can't be written from second-hand experience. I don't want it to read like a fantasy of ranch life. I want it to feel real and personal and honest.

So I am looking to spend several weeks this summer on a ranch, and I am looking for a host in Wyoming/Idaho/Montana (or really anywhere) who would be excited for something like this.

I only really need land to camp on. I am an experienced camper, so if all you have to offer is a patch of dirt for my tent and my car, that's perfect. Anything beyond that is a bonus. I can't pay anything, but I am a hard worker and a quick learner, and I would prefer to help as much as you'll let me, so long as I won't get in your way. I've worked plenty of jobs getting sweaty and working long hours, so if you want an extra hand to help you fix fences, spray weeds, or anything else, I'd love to help. I am a very tactile writer and I need to be in a place and in a lifestyle to write it accordingly, so I will never say no to a job you need help with (I mean that - I'll get dirty and tired if it means I can help). You may have to teach me a thing or two depending on the job, but I'm a quick learner and I can be an extra set of hands.

My timeline is roughly May 21st until roughly June 7th, or longer. I hope to spend at least ~2.5 weeks, but I may be able to stay out west until late June depending on a few things.

Oh, and if this all works out, you bet you'll be getting signed copies of the book if and when it is published!

If this interests anyone, please let me know. For the record, I'm a man, 26, originally from Tennessee but I'll be coming out west from Illinois. I hope this appeals to somebody. I appreciate all that y'all do to feed folks, and I'm jealous of all the open sky you get to do it in.

 

[Puzzled]

That's not much time. Good luck

 

[RAdmin]

Hopefully you find one. Best of luck @JakeP welcome to the forum!

 

[Older Whiskey]

@JakeP As a former rancher and lifelong living in ranch country in the western USA and also a former writer, I would advise writing about something you know and have experience. Even a novelist needs to write with some first hand experience and you can't get that in 2 or 3 weeks. You might have an idea if you spent 2 years on a ranch and lived through all the seasons., but still that is doubtful.

Even with that experience, writing a interesting and authentic but fictional novel is going to be tough, especially if you plan on selling it. You can always self publish and throw away hard earned money. My advice is to write about something you know and have known since childhood.

We have had several great writers on this forum that were life long ranchers. They were great because they could write from authenticity. Search this site for stories by Soapweed. He is deceased but his wife, Peach, has a book of his stories that would be worth your time to read. Also a well known cowboy poet, Leanin H was on this site. Cowboy poetry tells a lot of stories.

I condensed one of my novels into a mini novelette and it is published here with a cover made from a family ranch photo. Search for - Dust In The Wind. The thing is very few read it and even less liked it. I am 75 and as I said been in western ranch country my entire life. If I wanted to write a novel set in New York City, I can't imagine I would learn much in a 3 weeks visit.

 

[JakeP]

Hey! Thank you for your thoughts on it. I'll definitely check out Soapweed, that sounds fantastic.

I do appreciate your input, however, I am an experienced writer and I do know what I am doing. I'm not expecting to gain a whole life's worth of experience in just a few short weeks. I'm a speculative fiction writer, and I'm used to writing things that stretch my own experience. Also, the main character in the story is going to be someone who is new to the world of the West and is just experienced it for the first time.

I understand where you're coming from, and I do appreciate it, but I hope you can understand the feeling of chasing after a story that won't let you go.

Take care!

 

[Older Whiskey]

Hey! Thank you for your thoughts on it. I'll definitely check out Soapweed, that sounds fantastic.

I do appreciate your input, however, I am an experienced writer and I do know what I am doing. I'm not expecting to gain a whole life's worth of experience in just a few short weeks. I'm a speculative fiction writer, and I'm used to writing things that stretch my own experience. Also, the main character in the story is going to be someone who is new to the world of the West and is just experienced it for the first time.

I understand where you're coming from, and I do appreciate it, but I hope you can understand the feeling of chasing after a story that won't let you go.

Take care!

The words of Tom T. Hall come to mind.

"He was an old-time cowboy, don't you understand his eyes were sharp as razor blades his face was leather tan .......

I said I was a writer, my soul was all on fire ..."

 

[Faster horses]

I was going to suggest looking up Soapweed's past posts.
There is a wealth of knowledge there.
Good luck!

 

[webfoot]

Interesting concept and I see several issues. Mainly relate to what Old Whiskey said. There is a constant change occurring on a ranch based on the time of the year. What is happening now is different than what happened last month and different than what will happen next month. If there is ever a slack time on a ranch you picked one of them for your visit. Calves have been branded and turn out has happened. Haying hasn't started yet. Depending on the ranch irrigation might have started.
Important things you miss by being here late May to early June. Making hay, feeding, calving, branding, gathering, sorting, selling, and there are other things which go along all of those.
You might be better off to make a list of things that happen. Put together this list the order in which they occur, Then interview a number of ranchers going over the list.

 

[Puzzled]

Hey there! I'm not a wrancher, but I am a fiction writer and novelist. I'm looking for a generous and curious rancher who can help me prepare for my next novel.

I'm working on my new novel, and it's going to be a modern Western, most of it set on a family ranch probably in Wyoming (still working on the setting). Although I have visited the area before, and although my grandfather was a cowboy, I have zero first hand experience in operating a ranch. I'm a fan of Western movies and novels, of course, and I've heard endless stories from my granddad, but this novel can't be written from second-hand experience. I don't want it to read like a fantasy of ranch life. I want it to feel real and personal and honest.

So I am looking to spend several weeks this summer on a ranch, and I am looking for a host in Wyoming/Idaho/Montana (or really anywhere) who would be excited for something like this.

I only really need land to camp on. I am an experienced camper, so if all you have to offer is a patch of dirt for my tent and my car, that's perfect. Anything beyond that is a bonus. I can't pay anything, but I am a hard worker and a quick learner, and I would prefer to help as much as you'll let me, so long as I won't get in your way. I've worked plenty of jobs getting sweaty and working long hours, so if you want an extra hand to help you fix fences, spray weeds, or anything else, I'd love to help. I am a very tactile writer and I need to be in a place and in a lifestyle to write it accordingly, so I will never say no to a job you need help with (I mean that - I'll get dirty and tired if it means I can help). You may have to teach me a thing or two depending on the job, but I'm a quick learner and I can be an extra set of hands.

My timeline is roughly May 21st until roughly June 7th, or longer. I hope to spend at least ~2.5 weeks, but I may be able to stay out west until late June depending on a few things. ?

Oh, and if this all works out, you bet you'll be getting signed copies of the book if and when it is published!

If this interests anyone, please let me know. For the record, I'm a man, 26, originally from Tennessee but I'll be coming out west from Illinois. I hope this appeals to somebody. I appreciate all that y'all do to feed folks, and I'm jealous of all the open sky you get to do it in.

What are the titles of some the books you have written ?