My dogs have surprising insights about writing. Granted, I never approach them for advice on developing a character. I wouldn’t consider asking their opinion on my latest plot twist either, and they are far from experts on word choice since “woof”, “bark”, “whine”, and “Give me a treat now you ridiculous human” are rarely options. Still my dogs are wise in the ways of writing, and here is why.
Cleo with her ball of the day
Once upon a time I was working on questions for beta readers (the generous folks who are kind enough to read over my completed manuscript and tell me where, from a reader’s perspective, it could use more work). Things were not going well. I had been sitting there for hours wording and rewording and really getting nowhere, when I heard a whine from behind me. I turned around to see, laying on the floor behind me, my littlest pooch Cleo.
“Just a minute sweetheart,” I said to her. Turning back toward my computer produced another, even more mournful sounding whine. So I sighed, rose from my chair, and made my way to the back door.
She did not go outside.
“Do you need to go potty?” I asked. The tail started wagging and she hopped out onto the porch. When I closed the door she turned around, cocked her head at me as though confused, and sat down to stare. Shaking my head at the weirdness of dogs I started to return to my computer, only to be halted by a perturbed bark. I looked to see her sitting at the door staring in at me. When I opened it she ran inside, tail wagging, made a lap around the kitchen table and darted back out.
“Oookay,” I said, closing the door again. The entire scenario repeated itself until I gave up trying to figure out what she wanted, left her inside and returned to my computer.
Not ten minutes later, there was that whine again. I turned around to see Cleo looking up at me with her face resting on her paws and seeming very put upon.
“What? I just tried to let you out, you didn’t need to go potty,” I said. She got up and left and I once again went back to work, wondering at the fathomless mind of insistent puppies. Guess what happened less than a minute later?
This time when I looked there was a tennis ball in her mouth.
Dutifully I went to the backyard for a vigorous game of fetch. That day was one of the last very hot days we’re likely to see this year and so she was tuckered out and panting before too long, ready to take a dip in her kiddy pool and then nap in the bark under the trees. I could have kept playing, finding that the game eased my mind and helped me regain my focus, but called it a game and went back inside. Everything was much easier from that point, with words coming more smoothly and progress being made. The project which had stretched on quite a bit longer than I’d hoped was in short order finally completed.
Who knew my dogs were so wise in the ways of writing and productivity? Maybe I should ask them for advice more often.
Canine Writing Lesson #1: Sometimes all you need is a good game of fetch.
Human Translation: When you’re having trouble, take ten minutes to do something else and then come back to it.
Dogs are often sensitive to our needs and seem to be able to help if we pay attention.
Indeed they are. One of many reasons to love them!