You know, I used to rope steers in rodeos: I’m always reminded of this big moment when you’re on your horse and you back it into the box, and the steer is there, and then the gate goes up and the steer goes out and you gotta rope it. It’s a moment of fear. I mean, you ride up and you got all these people watching you getting ready to maybe make a fool of yourself, and you back your horse into the box. And then the only time the panic goes away is when the steer goes and you’re on your way down the arena. So I was talking to an old cowboy and I said, “God it’s such a tense time.” And he said, “Remember this. When you back your horse into the box, there’s about five hundred million people who don’t care whether you catch the steer or not.” I always think of that when I’m writing.
— Téa Obreht interviewing Thomas McGuane on “Not Living the Writer’s Life,” Lithub