Pets: An Invaluable Presence In A Writer's Life

Last week, I blogged about a new presence in our lives, our new dog, Roxy.  Since this is a writing blog, you might have wondered why I chose to talk about something unrelated to writing.

© Barbara V. Evers,
All rights reserved.

Au contraire!

Pets enhance the writer’s life.  Most, not all, but most, of the writers I know have pets. If you think about it, this makes sense.  A writer spends hours alone with their keyboard.  That doesn’t mean they don’t crave companionship.  They do, but it’s best if the companionship isn’t trying to talk to them or run the TV or radio while the writer writes…unless of course, the writer wants them to interrupt.

You see, pets provide the presence of another living being in the writer’s domain. They accept what the writer is doing and, occasionally, remind the writer to take a much-needed break.  How many breakthroughs have occurred while running one’s fingers through the fur of a beloved pet?  Plus, studies show pets reduce blood pressure and stress.  We need them in our lives.

But, let’s not stop there.

I write fantasy, a genre, where animals play key parts.  Look at Eragon, for instance, or The Dragon Riders of Pern.  The animals in question are dragons, but they help define the people in the story. One of my favorite authors, Faith Hunter, writes the Jane Yellowrock series.  Her character accidentally absorbed the soul of a mountain lion. She is Jane AND she is Beast.  (FYI, her next book, Dark Heir, will be out on April 7.)

And, yes, the fantasy series I write relies on the relationship between the protagonist and a giraffe. (I know, some of you are not surprised by my animal choice!) This relationship provides a deeper dimension to who she is and her choices and actions.

Animals, whether they be real dogs and cats, or fictional dragons or giraffes, accept us for who we are, and they add a streak of wildness and adventure to our writing. We need them.

Do you have pets? What does your pet’s presence do for you?