Here’s a photo of Missy, my loyal dog, and a writing companion. Her breed is a Havanese, and we brought her home nearly a year ago.
My life hasn’t been the same since.
I initially hoped that Missy would help me write faster by planting herself on my lap while I was at my desk, forcing me to keep at my task. But alas, the opposite has typically been the case.
She’d much rather play. She will often coax me into chasing her around the house or in the backyard as she tries to keep one of her toys away from me. And if that fails, she’ll find some trouble to get into, like chewing on a slipper or sneaker I’ve left on the floor.
Cats or dogs are a joy and can be lots of fun. I’ve never laughed so much as I have with her.
And in spite of the minor distractions, my writing has progressed nicely. So, I can’t complain. The draft of my third book, Elthea’s Paradox, is complete, and I’ve edited about half of it. I’ll provide sneak peeks of it soon.
Writing a novel can be a solitary endeavor, so a few distractions from Missy are not all that bad. And even though finishing a book can feel like running a marathon, it’s a process I enjoy.
In many ways, it’s an insanely complicated activity. Like every writer, I face an infinite number of decisions on each page, many of which will make or break a book. Every day I learn all sorts of things that help me improve.
I’m reminded of a famous quote by George Orwell, author of literary classics 1984 and Animal Farm. He once said,
“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
― George Orwell
In the end, my demon is the hope that you will love what I write. It’s the reason I continue.