I wrote this while traveling a few years ago. My cats back home were on my mind. Today, however, I have one on my lap and another waiting in the wings for his turn. Here’s why I think pets are good for writers. Maybe you can add to this list. Leave a comment here.
• Having a pet is supposed to be good for us at such a deep level that their presence can have a positive effect on our heart health. It is proven, for example, that our blood pressure drops when we’re around plants or animals.
• Pets can make us feel good about ourselves. They may be the only beings on earth that can give unconditional love, after all.
• A pet prompts us to move. Dogs need walking. Cats require feeding, grooming, playtime, being let in/out, etc.
• Animals can be inspiring. I know many writers who write books, stories, articles, poems about their pets. And they can evoke thoughts and emotions that lead to new stories, poems, etc. (Since I wrote this bit, I have produced a charming book of cat stories: Catscapades, True Cat Tales, by Patricia Fry.)
• Pets teach us new things about ourselves. A cat, dog, horse, for example, can bring adventure, laughter, joy and, unfortunately, sorrow, into our lives—all emotions and experiences we can learn from.
Even the wild birds you feed outside our office windows, the interesting spider that has taken up residence on your ceiling or the quick lizard that scurries across your path each time you step outside can cause you to chuckle or marvel for brief moments throughout the work day. And any distraction or shift in mindset has the potential to affect your writing.