Scruff is my writing partner. Kind of an unusual name for a writing partner unless you realize he’s a dog, a Shih Tzu to be exact. I’ve mentioned Scruff’s role in my writing process before.
Such as how he waits for me to get in the office to start writing (mostly because he wants a treat—he knows I keep some in there) or how he gets me out of the chair to stretch and play for a while when I need a break.
But there are other lessons I’ve learned about writing, and enjoying life in general from Scruff.
Make Time for Naps
Scuff naps a lot. Pretty much a large portion of his day is spending
Although most of these things would still be there if I took a little break now and then to stretch and rest my eyes.
My body would probably thank me for the reprieve. Writers, and anyone else who spends a lot of time sitting, benefits from taking care of their body.
Forgive and Forget
No matter what Scruff may have gotten in trouble for, or how
Most of us tend to linger on past wrongdoings or wallow in guilt or anger over regrets from time to time.
We are often our harshest critics, and the time we spend doubting ourselves, and others, from things that happened in our past don’t usually provide any benefits. As much as I’d love to find one, so far, a magical “do-over” button has eluded me. If the story isn’t working out, I either push on or work on something else. Focusing on one tiny piece for too long makes me lose track of the big picture.
Eat Dessert First
If Scruff gets a little bit of “people food” he waits to see if he’s going to get something better and eats that first.
We often hold our rewards until we meet a goal, or do all the things we “should” do, but sometimes it’s better to treat ourselves first and celebrate the little triumphs to inspire us to keep moving.
Don’t wait to read that book you’re looking forward to until you get a large block of uninterrupted time.
Why not enjoy a chapter now?
Size Doesn’t Matter
Scruff is a big dog—in his mind. If the door is open a crack—that he can easily fit through—he waits until we open it more to pass through. If he’s safe on the deck, he fears nothing. He trots around
As a reader, I’m not usually concerned about the length of a story. I’m more concerned about how much I enjoy the characters and the storyline.
The only time I might be a little upset is if it’s so good that it ends too soon. As a writer, I have my eye on the word count as I’m writing, but I also know when the story is “done”, and it doesn’t usually follow the rules about word count and chapter length.
Have You Learned Any Lessons from Your Pets?
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Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four
8 comments:
What a delightful post, Maureen. We are pet-less right now, but when we had dogs, they taught us much as yours has. Breaks, stretches, etc. We always had bigger dogs who would lie across my feet, ever alert for "intruders"--like the mail carrier, UPS guy, kids walking down the street. Scruff seems like a good writing partner.
Thank you, Diane. Lol at the 'intruders'- they're just protecting our writing time I guess.
Great post and very good read! Scruff looks so familiar to me?
Thank you and lol Jamie- Scruff does have one of those adorable, memorable faces, doesn't he? ;)
Forgive and forget. That’s what I need to do more of both with myself as well as others. I had to train some very tough cookies today, well at least my mind told me they were going to be harsh, I was going to be unprepared, and the whole thing would be a disaster. I was so worked up before hand I was a mess. Well as it turned out it went just fine. Nobody bit my head off and they actually learned a thing or two. I needed Scruff’s advice—forgive myself and forget the worry and I would be felt a lot more calm and collected.
I'm glad it went better than expected, Michele. It seems we always tend to think the worst about a situation. Scruff does give good advice. ;) Thanks for reading!
The love we have for our "furry sons and daughters" knows no bounds because theirs is unconditional. They are loyal, entertaining, add to our mental health and are devoted companions when all others are too preoccupied with their own lives. Most of all, they love us. Isn't it wonderful to love them back?
Thanks for your wonderful fun peek into your writing partner!
Francesca Q.
So true Francesca! Thanks for stopping by. :)
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