Photo Credit: StockSnap. 

This is a special kind of break for a writer and one that warrants a blog post.

There are 5 stages:

1. Literary Turmoil. This stage is where the writer is in a creative mess. There are a number of reasons why a writer could be a little emotional over their work. So, for this post I have used the following scenario. The writer has just read some reviewer feedback on their beloved draft novel. In true writer style they have ignored all the positive comments and focused in on the negatives. Tears are streaming down the writer’s face as they over think the small piece of constructive criticism, relating to the start of chapter eight. After a good nose blow the writer will look up from their writing desk, in the hope that there will be a sympathetic loved one on hand, to give them a cuddle, a gentle hair ruffle and tell them that everything will be alright. Sigh!
2. The Disappearing Loved One. Sometimes I wonder whether a little alarm goes off inside a loved one’s brain, when their beloved writer is having a creative and emotional breakdown. As they always seem to disappear when a writing crisis occurs! I can’t think why a loved one would want to run for the hills, after catching sight of their tear-stained writer, rocking in the corner, clutching a crumpled email from their reviewer and muttering some bad stuff under their breath. So, the writer’s turmoil gets a lot worse, once they hear the slam of the front door and screeches of tyres on the drive. Its a sad state of affairs for any writer to know that a loved one will make a quick escape at the first sign of tears.
3. Call For Pet. With no-one to offer them some reassurance and comfort the writer will fire off some texts or emails to a couple of sympathetic writer friends. If the writer friends don’t respond, the writer will turn to the next best thing – their pet!  Cue the writer shrieking their pet’s name. Their pet will either come bounding over or groan, place a paw over its little furry face and go back to sleep.
4. Writer’s Pet Break. The writer’s pet break will start once there is sight of their pet. In some extreme cases, the pet will fail to respond to the distress call (comfy basket, too busy enjoying themselves outside or pet laziness) and will have to be woken up, scooped out of the basket and placed on the writer’s lap. The pet will then have to listen to the writer blubber about how upset they are, how their literary hopes and dreams have been dashed (by the criticism relating to chapter eight) and how they don’t think they should write anymore. The writer’s pet break is like a mini counselling session for the writer. After a stroke and a cuddle some writers will let their pet return to its basket. However, some pets will not be allowed to go about their pet business. Oh no! These poor animals will be gazing longingly out of the window and dreaming about frolicking in the sunshine, when their writer owner will announce…they are going to read aloud to them. Gasp! Their pet will let out an inner groan, as the writer starts to read out parts of their draft novel that they feel reviewers are struggling with. Forgetting that they are speaking to an animal the writer will fire off questions to their pet like “what do you think about that chapter…my reviewers thought the start was a little weak…thoughts?” and “what do you think about my foreshadowing?” and “do you think I will ever be an international best-selling author?”  If only a writer’s pet could talk! Ha!  Once all literary problem areas have been read and discussed, the poor little animal will finally be given back its freedom. It will stagger back to its basket, where it will collapse and spend some quality time recovering from its literary ordeal – lying on back with paws in the air and a dazed expression on face!
5. Hope. The writer will feel a lot better after their Writer’s Pet Break. Writing Land won’t feel so bleak and their gloom will have lifted. They will feel blessed for having such a supportive and understanding pet. Their pet, on the other hand, will be looking forward to the writer’s next episode of Writer’s Block.

Have a fabulous day and let us all spare a thought for our supportive pets!

Remember readers there are other types of writer’s breaks:

• The Writer’s Twitter Break.
• The Writer’s Bath Break
•  The Writer’s Pinterest Break