Post #72 – Women’s Memoirs, Writing Prompt – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Sammy as a kitten.
Although, technically, Matilda and I wrapped up our memoir writing 11 in 11 yesterday, I have one bonus list for you today. As some of you know, I have cats. Three of them: Sabrina is my “first born” (yes, you can tell I don’t have kids). She’s a beautiful, sleek Bengal. Smart. Loving. Reliable. Athletic…even now as she closes in on 19. She loves water, which is not your typical cattly behavior. She loves to jump in the shower as I’m getting out and stomp around in the little puddles. Sabrina’s also a talker; I’m afraid she takes after her mother.
Samantha is a prim and proper British Blue Shorthair. Her tail is a little stub of a thing; quite embarrassing, really. But her plush, blue-gray coat makes up for her nothing of a tail. It’s thick and warm and doesn’t shed. Sammy usually keeps her thoughts to herself…except when she’s hungry. When I’m late to the feeding, she screams and carries on like a Boston fishwife. I’m glad I don’t understand everything she says; I’m sure I’d blush. Although she’s maintained her figure into her 18th year, it’s not by choice. I’m sure that if those little paws could open the refrigerator door or manage a can opener she’d be as wide as she is long.
Sabrina as a kitten, and, yes, she grew into those ears.
And then there’s Angus. We don’t know a lot about him except that he’s a rescue who came off the rough streets of New Britain, Connecticut. He’s at least 10; I’ve had him close to nine years, and he was fully mature then. His body tells a terrible story of abuse: His fractured spine and hip suggest that he’d been hit by a car and left to heal on his own. Bowel problems, possibly related to the accident, led to surgery once he was rescued and taken to a veterinarian. His large intestine has been almost completely removed. And he carries a form of feline AIDS that leaves his immune system compromised. His ears carry the nicks and scars of cat fights. All that aside, his friendly demeanor and willingness to be hugged and caressed suggest that once upon a time he had a home. I call him Angus because of his bright reddish-orange hair.
I begin most writing days around five in the morning, propped up in bed with laptop, yellow pad, two fountain pens on my tray table and a frothy cup of cappuccino steaming and within reach of my right hand. The cats, already fed, start to wander back to bed for their first of at least a dozen daily cat naps. In between dozing, they watch me type and scribble notes on my yellow pad. If I leave the pad untouched for long, someone will eventually commandeer it by sitting right on top.
With bright red hair, Angus just looked like a fighting Scot.
Apparently, years of this ritual has made them quite curious about the writing process. And although I was unaware, they’ve been practicing their craft because today they’ve submitted their own 11 in 11 and even included a writing prompt.
Realizing that their contribution throws off the nice, neat count of our 11 in 11, Sabrina suggests we call their list “The 12 Tails.” Now you shouldn’t be surprised that cats have composed a post of their own. As Samantha explains, Sneaky Pie Brown, Rita Mae’s feline co-author on the Mrs. Murphy mystery series, has long been their inspiration. Sabrina, ever attracted to the exotic, wants me to remind you of KoKo and YumYum–Siamese stars of The Cat Who… mystery series. If you follow those stories, you already know that cats are considered quite literary.
The 12 Tails
Tail #1: Demand the Best of Yourself and Everyone Around You. I believe we all have a streak of genius that’s exclusively our own. Our goal in life should be to find what makes us special and hone that skill. In my youth, I could leap from the floor to the top of the refrigerator in one bound. I assure you, I practiced every day…and one day the most amazing thing happened. I leaped from the floor to the top of the cabinets above the counter. It was thrilling. – Sabrina
Tail #2: Be Observant. While I have a reputation for incessant talking–I actually got laryngitis once, but that’s another story–I do take time to listen and observe. It was only by being very silent and listening that I figured out there was a mouse in the guest room. If you want to improve your storytelling, pay attention to the stories and activities going on around you. So draw breath and just listen. – Sabrina
Tail #3: Stake Out a Place of Your Own. Everyone in the house knows that the gray cat-shaped pillow on the hearth next to the fireplace is mine. I have another special spot where I sit to watch the ravens in the backyard and a third where I go to groom myself in private. When I sit on my gray pillow, it’s to hold court. You can pat my head while I’m in the mood. And on snowy winter nights, I have the warmest spot in the living room. Every writer needs a space of her own where she can stretch out, surround herself with photos, mementos and writer’s paraphernalia. A place of your own, dedicated exclusively to your writing, signals the brain that it’s time to focus on work. – Samantha
Tail #4: Give Yourself a Treat Every Day. I know I do. Sometimes it’s what Mom calls my salmon cookies. Other times I get special cat milk; I can’t digest cow’s milk. Writing, as I’m learning, is not easy. It requires concentration and a good vocabulary, not to mention style…I simply exude style (I was going to say “reek of style;” see how important vocabulary is!). After a good day’s writing, even if you’ve only written one perfect sentence, treat yourself to a glass of Merlot and an extra chapter of the memoir you’re reading. – Samantha
Tail #5: Don’t Show that You NEED Attention. We cats are often called aloof. It’s a ridiculous notion, and you know this if you have cats. Go sit in any room in your house and within 20 minutes your pets will all be there with you…no matter where they were or what they were doing. The trick is to not appear needy. I glory in having my tummy rubbed, but if Mama pets me too long, I must assert my independence. I pretend to nip her hand then I run away. But within two minutes I’m back for more…but always on my terms. – Angus
Tail #6: Make Yourself the Center of Attention. All right, I admit that it’s easier for a cat or a child to get away with this kind of behavior, but sometimes we all need to give in to our inner kitten and make the moment all about us. As long as you know what you’re doing and don’t make a practice of it, I say go for it. It’ll do your ego good. – Samantha
Tail #7: Stay Out of Snowdrifts. I guess you could say that I’m a reformed alley cat. Once upon a time, I ate out of garbage cans, fought for my turf and took my share of hard knocks. Having lived on the streets of New Britain, Connecticut, I’ve seen my share of snow. When you stand just 11 inches tall, you have to be very careful about getting in over your head. Fall in a snowdrift that’s 20 inches deep, and you’re bound to panic. I know from experience that as fear takes over and you begin to struggle, you’re going to sink deeper and deeper in the snow. It’s best to relax and call for help. It’s best to stay out of the snowdrift in the first place. So think before you leap. – Angus
Tail #8: Don’t Make Enemies on a Cold Night. As I said, I’m a reformed alley cat. Mama was determined that I was going to become an indoor cat. For the first two years that I lived with her, I took every opportunity to slip out the door to freedom. In maturity, however, I’ve found wisdom. It’s a lot better inside where it’s warm and I don’t have to fight or scrounge for my food and there’s always a warm lap for sitting. They say, dogs have owners and cats have staff. It’s true. Just don’t take advantage of your attendants. The last thing you want is to end up on the back porch on some snowy winter night just because you pushed the envelope too far. I’ve come close…like the time I got a little over-excited and sprayed Mama in bed. I thought for sure I’d be tossed in a snowdrift for that trick. – Angus
Tail #9: Speak up…it’s All About the Dialogue. I’m often teased for my vocal proclivities, but the way I see it God gave me a voice for a reason, and I intend to use it. And speaking of talking, dialogue is so important in your writing. It’s not just the words, it’s the tone of voice, the tension that you can express. Try an experiment. Try taking a chapter or vignette you’ve already written and rewriting it exclusively in dialogue. You’ll be surprised at the difference in tone, emotion and pacing…what I call tension. Be sure to add a yowl or two for good measure. – Sabrina
Tail #10: Read Every Day. I’ve never been a good reader, largely because it’s hard to turn pages with my paw. I’m more adept at flipping through screens on Mommy’s iPad. But what I love are audiobooks. I can listen for hours. While you need to write–to practice–to develop your style, you also need to learn from the work of others. Study how other authors develop their characters. Take a paragraph of vivid description and analyze it. What makes it work? Then try to duplicate what you’ve learned. At first you may be copying the styles and techniques of others, but over time you’ll develop your own unique voice. – Sabrina
Tail #11: Get Plenty of Sleep. I’m thinking this should have been at the top of the list. If you want to be at your writing best, give your body and brain the rest it requires. I read recently that you should sleep in a dark room without the distractions of radio or TV. You’ll enjoy deeper, more restorative sleep and remember more of your dreams. Who knows, there might be a story in your dreams just waiting to be put down on paper. For me, I can sleep any where, any time. One bit of advice, in winter curl up next to someone you love to conserve body heat. – Angus
Tail #12: When All Else Fails, Look Cute. I’ve been around long enough to learn that it pays to behave. I no longer rip the back of the sofa. And I know that Mom is not thrilled when I kill something and bring it to her. There was that time that the bat flew into the ceiling fan, and Sabrina, Angus and I took turns taking credit for the kill and dragging the thing around the room. Mom screamed something about rabies and stomach shots, put the little corpse in a shoebox and drove it to Augusta for testing. When she got home, I did my best to look cute. Call it my feminine wiles, but I tell you it works…even for Angus. – Samantha
Writing Prompt
Animals have experiences and points of view uniquely their own. If you enjoyed this little look at life and writing from the feline perspective, maybe you’ll help your own dog or cat find her voice. It’ll be a creative exercise for you that will take you outside your comfort zone. Give yourself up to your pet’s point of view…it can be a freeing experience. You might find that working together you can be more philosophical and see the world more clearly.
Writing Prompt #1 Have you ever watched your pet dream? Sometimes our paws move as if we’re running. We are…I’m usually dreaming that I’m running free in a field of flowers and butterflies (Samantha). Try to imagine your pet’s dream. In 500 words, tell the story from your pet’s point of view.
Writing Prompt #2 What have you learned from your dog or cat? Take one of those lessons and tell it in your animal’s own words. Remember, to be a good lesson, the teacher must teach by example. Let your pet not only share a lesson but explain the story of how she first learned that lesson.
