How Writing is Like Milking my Goat

About me

One facet of my identity is Goat Rancher. My husband and I live on thirty acres in the Texas panhandle and are small livestock ranchers. Technically, we raise goats and sheep, but I don’t really like sheep. The sheep are his. The goats are mine. He has a flock of hair sheep and I have a herd of meat goats.

I also have a milk goat. Until we moved here, I never knew how delicious goat’s milk could be. According to many experts, it is also more healthy than cow’s milk.

I love milk. I could happily survive on milk and the occasional chocolate bar. I used to buy two gallons of (cow’s) milk at a time and used it all before it could go bad. My husband spoiled commercial cow’s milk for me by getting a job as general manager of a dairy and bringing home horror stories about the American dairy industry. I quit drinking milk altogether.

When we moved out here, my first thought was to buy a milk cow. But cows are expensive. They eat a lot. Milk cows take quite a bit of additional maintenance. Since we already had goats, the most logical choice was for me to milk a goat.

Turns out there are different types of goats for different purposes. Meat goats aren’t ideal for milking. I had to learn this through trial and error, by reading (so much reading), and by listening to other goat owners. It was a huge learning curve. It still is.

Vision

My vision of going out to milk a glass or two any old time I was thirsty made for a pretty picture in my brain but doesn’t work in the harsh light of cold, hard, reality.

In order to produce well, goats need to be milked every day, on a set schedule, at least once per day, but sometimes twice. As with many mammals, the more you milk, the more milk is produced.

Preparation

A lot of preparation goes into milking. The very first step is to get a goat. Second, you have to get her pregnant and wait five months until her kid is born. Third, you have to wait a couple of months for the kid goat to get its share. Finally, finally, your girl is ready to be milked!

Steps

There are daily steps to be taken, as well. Every morning I must Prepare a cleaning bucket, grab a milk pail, prepare a funnel with a milk filter, and set it inside a mason jar before I can walk out to the barn.

Once in the milk barn, I set up a feed bucket in order to get her up on the stanchion and locked into the headstall. I’ve got to clean and dry her teats. Now I can milk.

Once, I’ve milked her, there is still clean-up to be done. I must filter the milk into a jar and put it in the fridge until it is cold enough to drink. I must wash all the tools for the next morning's use. Once the milk is cold, I must decide what to do with it. Do I drink it, make cheese, make ice cream, or freeze it for a rainy day?

Are you seeing the parallels to writing, yet?

Vision

My vision of sitting down any old time to write the next great American novel or pop out paid work anytime the mood hit made for a pretty picture in my brain but doesn’t work in the harsh light of cold, hard, reality.

In order to write well most writers need to write every day, on a set schedule, at least once per day, but sometimes twice. As with many writers, the more you write, the more you want to write.

In order to write well, you’ve got to find your voice, which most likely means figuring out your writing style. I learned this through trial and error, reading (so much reading), and by listening to other writers. It was a huge learning curve. It still is.

Preparation

A lot of preparation goes into Writing. The very first step is to have a desire to write. Second, you have to get equipment; a writing implement of some kind (I’ve used bright blue eyeliner when I couldn’t find anything else), paper, a typewriter, or a computer. Third, you have to find space in which to write; an office or niche with plenty of privacy. Finally, finally, your story is ready to be written!

Steps

There are daily steps to be taken, as well. Every morning I write in my journal and free-write for thirty minutes before I sit down to draft anything at all. Once I’ve drafted a story, there is still clean-up to be done. I must edit my writing and transcribe it to the computer. I must clean up all the typos, spelling, and grammar errors. Once the piece is edited, I must decide what to do with it. Do I submit it to a publication, put it on a platform, make it a blog entry, or save it for a rainy day?

I love milking my goat. There are days when it feels like a chore and I wish I could skip “just this one time.” On those days I milk anyway. I love writing. There are days when writing feels like a chore and I wish I could skip “just this one time.” On those days I write anyway.

Writing really is like milking my goat. Both are a labor of love.