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Miko, Oct. 2013
Meet Miko.
Besides eating, sleeping curled up next to me at night or hanging out on her hammock by the window, her next favorite thing to do is chase a laser light.
Miko and the laser light, 2014
I keep the laser light in my nightstand draw. When I open it, even if it’s just to get my Chapstick or a pen, she gets so excited. Her eyes widen and she sits up straight, at the ready. If I pick up the laser light and the small key chain links happen to clink together, she gets into position to pounce.
When I press the button and the light appears on the floor, Miko chases it with abandon. She hurls herself around the room so hard, I’m afraid she’ll hurt herself. She doesn’t hold back! Her sole purpose is to catch that laser light.
Thing is, I actually feel bad for her (after I think how cute she looks running around like that). All that effort and I know she’ll never catch it. It’s not real, not tangible. If she puts her paw on the light, it doesn’t get covered up like a captured bug. It hovers on her paw. She seems confused when that happens but it doesn’t matter because when the light moves again, she takes off after it. She doesn’t care that she’ll never catch it, she loves chasing that thing!
How do I know she loves it? Because when I put it back in my nightstand, she sits and stares waiting for me to get it out again. And if I happen to need to go into that draw again, her eyes widen and she gets into her pouncing position.
Is writing my laser light?
The other day as I watched her playing with the light, I though about my writing. All my efforts, my moments of excitement, of pouncing on a story idea and writing with abandon – am I chasing a dream I will never catch?
I guess it doesn’t really matter. I love writing. I enjoy the process and I’ll keep doing it. Just like Miko who sits by the nightstand at the ready, I sit with my pen and paper or my computer ready to write my ideas.
The fact that I may never catch that dream won’t stop me. The thrill of the chase and the belief, in Miko and in me that maybe one day … just maybe … we will catch the light is enough to keep us chasing it!
By the way, I can’t believe I wrote a blog post comparing myself to my cat … guess it was bound to happen 🙂
For those of you who read my last blog post, in case you are wondering, the conference was great! Almost 300 people and a lot of good feedback. Thanks for all the positive thoughts and energy you sent my way! Feels good to breathe again and to be back! If you’re interested in seeing a few pictures you can check out www.facebook.com/CTtechact.
So what about you — are you chasing a laser light of your own? I’d love to hear about it.
Writing Pieces of Me 
That laser light to your cat is what chocolate is to me. 😉
Loved the analogy to writing. I feel that way often myself. But so far, the joy I get from weaving together stories has kept the frustrations at bay. I hope it lasts…
Glad to hear the conference went well. Never doubted it for a second!
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Carrie, no doubt that you can keep the frustrations at bay. Just look at that last review you tweeted about. That must have felt awesome!!! 🙂
Thanks for your vote of confidence on the conference. It was great but glad to have it behind me now.
By the way if the laser light is like chocolate for you, I hope your husband or kids don’t make you chase it around the house first before letting you have some!
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Oh man, don’t give them any ideas. 😉
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Wow. Glad that conference turned out well for you! What a relief, huh!
I love your analogy. You bet it’s worth your time! Just like it’s always worth our time to meditate or take a walk or enjoy time with a friend. What soothes our souls must be done!
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Thanks Gina, it is a relief! Feels good that it was a success though.
“What soothes our souls must be done!” Well said and so very true! Thanks for stopping by.
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That’s a really great analogy. The chase can be valued for itself, and not just for its end.
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It’s about the journey, right? Funny that it took watching Miko running around after the light to remind me. But as soon as I acknowledged it, I relaxed and didn’t feel pressure to write. Guess we can learn a lot from our furry friends 🙂
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What a great comparison, and I think you’re right 🙂
Plus, the cutest cat ever! 😀
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Hi Harliqueen, Yeah, I totally agree she’s the cutest cat ever! This post was really an excuse to post more cute cat pictures, but don’t tell anyone 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
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Never give up the dream, Arlene! You are such a talented writer and perseverance and passion always wins the fight. 😉 BTW, Miko is so adorable.
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You are tooooooo kind! Thanks ladies and as always, thanks for the support! Nope, not giving up, no matter what! May take me longer to reach the dream and I know there’s a possibility I may not catch it, but definitely not giving up on it!
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I was smiling the instant I saw the first picture of your adorable kitty! My kitty loves her laser light too, and I know how fun it is to see her run after that red dot. She doesn’t hold back in her efforts and gives that light everything she’s got.
What a great lesson that is for us as writers.
You know, I think cats love to chase because they believe it’s practice for the real hunt–they know that a crumpled up piece of paper isn’t meat, but they toss it around like crazy anyway.
Maybe that’s why I love your analogy so much. It reassures me that, even though the words I write today might not end up in my novel, or much of anywhere, they are practice for the day my writing counts.
Wonderful post! 🙂
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Hi Kirsten, she’s a cutie huh? 🙂
Thanks so much. I’m so glad you can relate to the laser light and the dream chasing! I think having this little epiphany reminded me how much I enjoy the process and it’s not all about the end point. I like the way you worded it as well, “… even though the words I write today might not end up in my novel, or much of anywhere, they are practice for the day my writing counts.” So true! And they will count!
Thanks for stopping by, especially while your in the middle of the A-Z challenge. Not sure where your finding the time 🙂
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I’m not sure either! Did you see my badge? It says: The month my blog ate my novel!
And it’s true, my novel writing has slowed down, but it’s worth it. I do enjoy blogging. 🙂
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Vanessa phrased it so well! Sometimes a destination isn’t what we expect or we find ourselves somewhere we didn’t intend. But if the journey was fun and exciting, then the outcome isn’t important. And that’s the mindset I need to find again. Maybe I should compare myself to a cat…. Minus the coughing up the hairballs bit…. 😉
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Oh yeah, you definitely want to avoid coughing up hairballs — looks painful. But the laser light chasing looks like fun. I’d be happy to send one over to you to give it a try 😉
JM, I think I was feeling a little too much pressure about my WIP #1. The rewrites, the edits, never feeling like it was anywhere near good enough to even let betas read. I could feel myself falling back into my old habits of procrastinating and avoiding it.
This little epiphany reminded me of the joy of the journey and this weekend and today, I spent most a lot of time writing and working on my WIP#2. Let’s face it, writing is the fun part so it was easy to divert my attention. I’m not saying I’m giving up completely on WIP #1. I made a lot of progress with it and got further than any other story I’ve ever worked on but for now I want to focus on what I enjoy. Maybe when I finish the draft of WIP #2, I can take a break from it by going back to #1. I don’t know yet … but I’m throwing myself into this new story as much as possible and I’ll chase the dream with this one and see how that goes. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind at any point on this journey too 😉
Hope you’re right is going great!!!
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Sometimes, writing indeed feels like a laser light that I’m trying to catch. I really like your analogy. When that happens, I try to set smaller goals or more accessible goals so I can get a win. That helps a lot.
I’m glad your conference went well. Bet you’re relieved that’s off your plate!
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Setting smaller goals with a greater chance of achieving them is an excellent idea! I can see how adding up a few wins would be a confidence builder and can help to get you back on track. I’ll have to try that. Thanks Kate and yes, definitely relieved that the conference is behind me and I can focus on all the other things I’d put aside, including writing! 🙂
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Writing definitely feels like that some (most?) of the time. But, as they say, it’s all about the journey. And I love that part, too. (Happy to meet you, Arlene. I see you followed me a while back, and I’ve taken a while to respond due to real life matters detaining me. Sorry for the delay!)
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No apologies necessary. I know how busy we all can be … it’s part of the journey! 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by and checking out my blog and thanks for taking the time to comment. Nice to meet you too!
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Dear Arlene,
I LOVE this analogy! A wonderful post that will stick with me for a long time!
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I think sometimes the fun of something is what makes it worth it. I loved writing for the 7 years I wasn’t published. Sure, the querying frustrated the heck out of me, but the writing was always pleasurable. All that time spent doing what you love matters. 🙂 Same with Miko and the light. Chasing a light is a fun play time for her. She enjoy it. Catching the light would also mean the game was over. 😉
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I hadn’t thought about the game being over if she caught the light. Miko wouldn’t want that and we wouldn’t either when it comes to our writing. I see it in all the effort you put forth in marketing your book. Writing it and publishing were huge accomplishments, but the game’s not over yet 🙂 Thanks for the new perspective. 🙂
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Arlene – The joy we receive from our pets is unmeasurable. They love us in spite of whatever funny ideas we might come up with them in mind.
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