Muriel Spark writes:
If you want to concentrate deeply on some problem, and especially some piece of writing or paper-work, you should acquire a cat. Alone with the cat in the room where you work ... the cat will invariably get up on your desk and settle placidly under the desk lamp. The light from a lamp ... gives a cat great satisfaction. The cat will settle down and be serene, with a serenity that passes all understanding. And the tranquility of the cat will gradually come to affect you, sitting there at your desk, so that all the excitable qualities that impede your concentration compose themselves and give your mind back the self-command it has lost. You need not watch the cat all the time. Its presence alone is enough. The effect of a cat on your concentration is remarkable, very mysterious.So there you have it. The tranquility of a cat will help inspire you and improve your productivity. Sounds good! Honestly, though, my two cats are better at putting me to sleep. Especially when I sit down on the couch, notepad in hand, and they decide to climb on my lap. I start petting them and, the next thing I know, I've been asleep for an hour!
- Writing Advice From History's Fastest, Most Prolific Authors
Perhaps, though, you'll have success with this method. It's something worth trying.
I think my cat needs to read this. He usually gets on my desk and positions himself over the keyboard between me and the screen so I simply have to pet him. Not really good for productivity. ;-)
ReplyDeletelol Yes! I know exactly what you mean. My black cat does that all the time. Sometimes he'll even stand in front of the keyboard, put his paws on my chest and look me in the eyes. When I try and look around him, he'll lean so he's in front of me again!
ReplyDelete* Sigh * Sometimes it's hard to write with a cat around, but they're worth it. A few years ago I put a basket on my desk, and my cats love to sleep there. If I'm desperate for some writing time I sprinkle some catnip into the basket. :p
Yeeeah, as much as I love my cat, I can't say that "he helps me write" is one of the reasons why. In fact, he's one of the main reasons I tend to write at coffeeshops instead of at home ....
ReplyDeletelol I just about spilled my coffee when I read this. So true! There are times when having ones cat in the next room is far preferable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!