How a New Kitten Is Like a New Story Idea

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

On Saturday, my husband and I got a new kitten. He’s eight weeks old, not quite two pounds, and has the playful energy of seventeen toddlers who just ate a case of white sugar. Oh, and he has razor-sharp claws, which he uses to climb everything—including us.

He is also the most adorable little thing.

However…

He’s in “new kitten quarantine” in my office until he gets acclimated to his new home and the all-clear from the vet that it’s safe to let him mingle with the other cat. Which means all that PLAY ME WITH NOW!!! energy is directed at me while I’m trying to work (include writing this, and I’ve had to stop at least six times so far, because he is quite irresistible).

Not much is getting done.

But it did hit me, that he is a tiny, bouncing simile for a new story idea. And here’s why:

1. It demands your attention.

A new idea hits you and it’s exciting. You get a rush of brainstorming and think about all the things you can do with it. And it wants you to think about it, it gets in your face, meows at you, climbs up your leg and winds up on your shoulder with its head in your face and you cannot NOT stop everything to focus on it.

2. It’s so much fun to play with.

A new idea bounces, going from cool moment to cool moment. It spins and goes everywhere full tilt, there’s no rhyme or reason to it’s trajectory yet, but just sitting down with it is a blast. What if you do this? What if you do that? What if it attacks the keyboard while Mama’s trying to type?

3. It keeps you from doing the things you should be doing.

You know you ought to be working on that other manuscript, but that one doesn’t make you smile, or laugh, and it doesn’t disappear into a TINY space under your desk that you didn’t think for one instant was big enough for it to fit under, and just when you start to worry it reappears and tears off across the room.

4. Ignoring it can be painful.

It calls to you. Runs around by your feet. Wants you to stop everything for it, and if you don’t, it claws its way up to your brain until you have no choice but to embrace it. Or chews on your ankles. With its tiny needle-sharp teeth and deadly yet adorable little feet.

5. It comes at you out of the blue.

After you’ve given it some attention, and think it’s finally quiet, and you’re back to work, it leaps on you from behind. It reminds you it’s still there, and it really does want ALL YOUR ATTENTION.

6. You’d rather focus on it than what you’re supposed to be doing.

A new idea rocks. It’s not bogged down by the problems that every story goes through, and it’s easier to play with it instead of working. AND IT’S SO CUTE!

7. It looks at you with giant eyes and squeaks and wiggles its little butt and you have absolutely no ability to resist it.

Okay, maybe that’s just the kitten, but some ideas can metaphorically do the same thing.

New ideas can be great, and there’s nothing wrong with spending a little time playing with them. Just keep in mind that they can and will distract you from what you really ought to be doing. Be strong. You can do it.

Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a kitten on my shoulder who wants me to play with him again.

Have you ever been distracted by a shiny new idea (or kitten)?

For more help on plotting or writing a novel check out my Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure.

Go step-by-step through plotting and writing a novel. Learn how to find and develop ideas, brainstorm stories from that first spark of inspiration, develop the right characters, setting, plots and subplots, as well as teach you how to identify where your novel fits in the market, and if your idea has what it takes to be a series.

With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Learn how to:

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Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure is an easy-to-follow guide to writing your novel or fixing a novel that isn’t quite working. 

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book.

She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.

When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.

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