writing without a dog - Alisa M. Libby

No offense to endings or beginnings, but I've got an ending of my own to contend with. My dog, Roxanne, died this past month. Back in April I wrote a post about my perfect writing day, in which Roxanne took a starring role: http://yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-perfect-writing-day.html.

Now I have to learn how to write without a dog. I haven't had to do this for twelve years. It's an adjustment. The desk is the same, the honeyed tea steaming in the mug. But the house feels different: quiet, without the clickety clack of nails or the soft snoring of a sleeping hound. People have asked "Are you getting another dog?" And while the thought of a new pet is tempting, the fact is that it wouldn't fulfill the need I have in me right now: the need for a specific dog, my dog. The smelly one-eyed basset hound who sang like Chewbacca and curled up beside me as I wrote both of my books.

I will need time to adjust. As writers, aren't we constantly adjusting to the circumstances that surround us, trying desperately not to let it adversely effect our work? But I am lucky that I had the benefit of that dog for as long as I did, and that she didn't mind napping through the clickety clack of my keys on the keyboard.

Comments

  1. Deepest condolences, Alisa. I have a canine writing partner myself--I've been away from him no more than four hours at a time since he came into my life eight years ago. Roxanne was lucky to have been with someone who loved her so much.

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  2. I'm so sorry. My dog is an intrinsic part of my writing life, so I can imagine what you're going through. Thinking of you.

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  3. I'm so sorry. I've had dogs all my life. It's never easy when one passes away.

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  4. Oh Alisa! You know, your favorite writing day post had been one of my favorites and I had thought a lot about your descriptions and imagined you walking your dog... So very sorry to hear about this loss.

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  5. I'm so sad for you, Alisa. Roxanne was a special dog.

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  6. Alisa, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine losing my cat, who is not just a member of the family but the one "person" who is always up for a hug. Hang in there and enjoy the memories of Roxanne. People who have special animals to love are lucky, there's nothing like it.

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  7. Thank you all so much for your kind comments, this really means a lot to me. I knew that this group would understand not only the emotional aspect of losing a pet, but the idea of a pet as writing companion! Thank you, all.

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