My friend Basel the Bull Snake will help me make an important point about writing. I recently went to an event here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, my home town, called the Mountain Man Fair. There was all sorts of cool things on display and for sale pertaining to the early mountain man period of our history.

My wife is a volunteer for the local Wildlife Center and they were displaying some of the birds they have saved and are rehabilitating. And they were displaying a five-foot-long Bull Snake. The person who was to be handling the snake was late in arriving and I was asked if I’d stand-in until she arrived.

My instant answer was, “Yes!” and it’s Yes that I think is an important component to a writer’s mindset.

I believe we should say “Yes!” to as many things as possible as we pass through this life. We’ll become better writers for it.

In 1990 I moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and spent the next ten years there, leading writing workshops, writing, and learning about the fascinating country of Mexico. I decided on day one that I’d say “Yes!” to every invitation.

Did I want to go to a “watch the sunset party” at Mariana’s house on the hill? Yes.
Did I want to drive out into the campo to visit the old man who carves three-legged wooden stools? Yes.
Did I want to walk out to the lake and look at the old church steeple that sticks up in the middle of the water, from a long ago time before the lake took over that stretch of land? Yes.
And on and on. This lasted for several months until I’d been to one too many “watch the sunset parties.” Then I became a bit more selective.

But with all those “yeses” I met lots of cool people, saw amazing sights, and had great experiences.

So, if you’re a fellow writer or not, I strongly advise that you to sprinkle as many yeses as you can into your life. You’ll know, of course, when “no” is the right answer, but become a yes-woman or a yes-man.

You might even get a chance to make friends with a great big friendly Bull Snake!