Reasons # 38: Why writing takes so long
#38 Cat Naps
People ask all the time, how long does it take to write a book. I always reply it depends on a great deal of things like how much research needs to be done, how active the muse is, what’s going on with the family and the cats…
Always the cats.
Ever notice how it seems cats are always napping. Seriously all the time, every day. At least until the invisible goblins come for their souls at 2AM and they race around the place like mindless maniacs. Until then, they are sleeping.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m in favor of a good nap as much as the next writer, probably even more so. I’d love to take on now, truth be told, but I digress. The issue really isn’t that they are napping so much as it is the way, the fuzzy little darlings manage to do it.
And where they nap? Not in the cat beds and baskets conveniently located in nearly every room of the house. No, no, that would be far to easy and convenient.
Any cat companion is fully aware that the cat will nap in precisely the least convenient place possible at any given moment. So, when a nasty thunderstorm is coming and my poor, storm phobic dog wants to hide in her crate, where do we find a cat? Yep, the black cat is curled up in the back of the crate so you only see the green eyes shining out. The poor dog just gives me this look like ‘Really? Mom! Make him get out of my room!”
It’s not just the dog they do this to though. When I have a writing deadline is coming up, or the muse has revved into high gear, they must nap near or on the keyboard.
Because that’s what they do.
Why? Because they are cats.
Very funny! One time I bought my little darlings some ‘Cosmic Catnip’, thinking that if I could get the cats to race around and act crazy during the day, they would sleep through the night and I would get a full night of rem sleep. Bad idea. At 3:00 AM they were pounding on my bedroom door because they had the munchies.
Oh goodness, that’s hysterical!
I once had two cats. The big guy slept anywhere and everywhere. The little girl would jump up on the bed and from there to the dresser in the master bedroom, and from there would leap to the top of the bookcase, and curl up on the doll bed that was up there. She did that for three years until she finally outgrew it. After that she would search me out and sleep near me or on me. Prior to that, when she was very small, she would stretch out in the palm of my hand and go to sleep! That was usually when I was trying to read. Now we have birds, and they like to sleep in their cages at night. During the day, if they want a snooze they curl up on our chairs with us, or on a spare body part; generally a shoulder, an arm, or a leg. I discourage them from dozing on my head!
I’ve always wanted birds, but with 5 cats, it doesn’t seem like such a good idea!
My biggest problem with writing isn’t pets (I don’t have any) but with my day job.
I say ‘day job’, but with shift work, it’s any hour of the day or night. I work twelve days out of fourteen, and the other two days are taken up with housework, sleep, appointments and everything else that I need to do during the week. Seriously, my time both at home and conscious is measured in the span of hours, most weeks.
While I can write on breaks or during lull periods, actually finding the time to transcribe from my pocket notebook to my laptop is another story. And, of course, nothing ruins the ability to really sink into a research binge like knowing you have to be somewhere else in an hour or so. Getting into the zone to write isn’t easy when you know that you’ll only be there a few minutes before a co-worker or patient demands your attention, either.
Seriously, bless whoever invented pocket notebooks, and double blessings on manufacturers who make comfortable women’s pants WITH POCKETS!
What is it with women’s clothes that don’t have decent pockets?
The cats nap precisely where they will be closer to you. If you spend your time in front of the computer, they will join you and keep you company while they nap. They do not want you to be lonely. ?
A lot of times I’ll look around and discover ALL of the animals have managed to find a place to sleep in the office with me!
They’re only helping you to find inspiration! They’re muses, can’t you see ;).
Muses that shed…
Cat naps are literally the only reason I never end up writing either…. well… other than always playing with Beau cause he’s such a cute kitty ! 😛
The are pretty distracting, aren’t they?