Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Back to Writing with a Toddler...


...Only this one is feline.

When my kids were little, writing with them present was impossible. First drafting, at least, is something I must do without distractions.

To all who have done it with babies on their knee, my virtual hat is off to you.


When they got older and I was more experienced, I still wrote first drafts when they were at school. One of my kiddos, in particular, had the habit of bursting in with frequent non-emergencies, and for me— managing to stay in “the zone” was not doable.


The empty nest brought three new felines. I missed my kids’ interruptions most of the time, so the cats took over. But the cats respected writing time. They had their things to do, and we all got our work done.


Until now. Enter our newest resident, Miss Nougat.




It’s quieter than ever, with my kids off to peruse their lives far away, and I miss them terribly. But I should be relishing the freedom to first draft with guaranteed quiet.

Nougat has other ideas.


She talks all the time. Not typical meows of her species, but short and long sentences, punctuated with exclamations and question marks. I swear, her vocabulary is very rich.


She also insists I pay attention, resorting to performing tricks, playing ball games, attacking the furniture and if that doesn’t get me to stop what I’m doing and join her, she resorts to folding her ear back so I can gape incredulously.


How is one supposed to write a first draft that isn’t punctuated by #@!~*&^%.......?


G-d love her, every bit. And help me.
J

That’s about where we are. All suggestions welcome.

22 comments:

Vijaya said...

Aw, what a sweetie. So fun that she's vocal. All my cats have interesting conversations. And I have to confess, I like kitty interruptions far more than kiddie ones. I told me kids, if they could purr...maybe I wouldn't mind so much. You have a good writing life Mirka!

Mirka Breen said...

"... You have a good writing life Mirka!"

Don't I know it :)

Evelyn said...

Sweet kitties! And especially sweet Nougat! She knows it's not good for you to sit glued to the computer for too long. Bad for your health.

Mirka Breen said...

"... Bad for your health."


And so, she's my nurse, also. ;)

Barbara Etlin said...

She's doing her job, being your muse. I sense a future picture book about a talkative cat in your future. :-)

Mirka Breen said...

Miss Nougat: "Meow-weow-weow?"

Marcia Strykowski said...

What a pretty kitty. I love that last picture. She definitely looks like she's got the upper hand.

Mirka Breen said...

Yup, and she knows it. She thinks she is also my alarm clock. I have tried to tell her that we are now on Standard Time, but she pretends she doesn't understand.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

It's amazing how "kids" are the same, no matter what the species. Dogs and cats really think they are people. These pictures were so cute.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

I tried to comment on your post and got the notice that my email subscription was cancelled for this post.

Mirka Breen said...

Rather odd, as this comment went through. I never could figure out the proprietary algorithms of Blogger, but I'm glad you made it in. I promise it was not my doing, though I can't be sure about Ms. Nougat ;)

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

Yes, it is odd. The first comment didn't go through. The "reply" one did. Blogger has me pulling my hair sometimes! Loved your comment about Ms. Nougat.

Mirka Breen said...

Well, when they live with us, their notion that they are not "other" may be closer to the truth.

Mirka Breen said...

Lookie here! They're coming through now...

Johnell said...

Oh my, I'm in love. I feel your 'pain.' My cat doesn't 'help' me write as much as she did when she was a kitten, but some of my foster kitties tried to fill in when she couldn't be bothered, but it's definitely a thing. I don't have much advice, my little beastie just outgrew it eventually. Maybe some catnip in a toy while you work? And mazel tov on your new sweetie.

Mirka Breen said...

It's good to feel understood :)

Sherry Ellis said...

Hmmm. That one is cute and challenging! You might have to put her in a room with lots of toys and close the door while you get your work done.

Mirka Breen said...

I asked Ms. Nougat about that, and she had a lot to say in an unquestionable protest mode. It amounted to "do you think toys can replace YOU? Wahhh-nahh-mahhh!"

Kelly Hashway said...

Aw, she's so cute. What about a baby carrier so she's with you but not in the way?

Mirka Breen said...

I suspect you are not a cat person, Kelly. I mentioned it to her, and Nougat just laughed at the idea of a baby carrier.

Katie L. Carroll said...

Does she nap...that's when I get most of my work done. ;)

Mirka Breen said...

Miss Nougat does more than nap; she sleeps quietly all night, bless her. But at the crack of first light IT'S PLAYTIME all day long...