How Writing is Like the Cat Distribution System

The writing process is like the Cat Distribution System, isn’t it? If you’ve ever been adopted by a stray cat, you’ve been a recipient of this system. You know: the theory is that the universe will arbitrarily (or not so arbitrarily depending on how you look at it) deliver cats to “worthy” individuals.

In my younger years, my family was the recipient of the Cat Distribution System several times. Open the back door = kitten. Come home from a date = cat in the tree. If writing comes easy to you, you’re one of the lucky ones: words come to you like the surprise caresses of a stray cat purring at your ankles (aka, “You’ve been rewarded by the Cat Distribution System!”). But if you are one to stare anxiously at a blank screen, how do you get started? (Aka, “Why don’t I get a cat?”)

Set It Free!

Building the writing habit can be tough when we’re starting out; all our genius ideas just disappear. So go stream of consciousness. Keep a journal or Word doc or even leave note cards around the house specifically for free writing.

Set a bowl of cat food out, and let the cats come! Free writing warms up my fingers and cools off my worries. Waiting for my coffee to kick in is a good time to write about nothing. When my pesky thoughts get in the way of my creative expression, free writing clears my mind.

Table It!

Sometimes, the Cat Distribution System can give you more than you bargained for, particularly if you are adopted by a charmingly cunning feline; you could end up with a caboodle of kittens. When you’re neurodivergent like me, keeping your ideas and concepts together is like, well, herding kittens. My productive writing sessions can hit a wall, and my focus or purpose will dissipate. Picking right back up is tough because progressive writing doesn’t always happen for writers like me. So, I devised a table to herd those ideas, stay on track, and write something for at least one hour per day (since blogging here is still my side joy). The trick is to touch each priority once (e.g., Day 1: tackle a poetry prompt in the morning, organize my short story a bit at some point, and do some research and reading for at least thirty minutes.) If I do more? It’s a win-win.

Having worked 9-5s for as long as I have, I weave a lot of corporate organizational tools into my efforts, hold myself accountable to the schedule, de-lint the cat hair as needed, and plan my writing priorities around my life’s other priorities like my soccer-mom duties. And I always give myself permission to move priorities around. They’re not set in stone, so no beating myself up if I have to switch it up. I just try to stay in the moment so those “kittens” don’t run off!

Ditch It!

I just got tired of quitting, and my habit table really remedied that. That said, when I’m ready to build on top of what I wrote the previous day, I ditch the table. So first I say stick to a plan and then I suggest ditching the plan. Seriously? Well, yes. Starting a new writing habit is no different than building other habits (exercising, eating healthy, cleaning the house). If you don’t give yourself a break, you’ll burn out. And we all know what happens then.  

I realize many writers work progressively as a standard, so this isn’t really a new suggestion to everyone; that’s so enviable. But if it’s not the norm for you (and you know who you are), and you find yourself inspired—go go go! Let the purring cuddle puddle of sleeping kittens lure you into the heightened awareness of the “zone,” and rock that write!