Spice of life

Variety is, as the old saying goes.

So here I am trying to write a short story thinking I know the plot, I know my topic and my characters, I know the overall theme and have even systematically planned the beginning, middle and end.

Except that when it came towards the end, the climax, the crux that would wrap the story up in a neat bow tie with bells on, I realised that it just didn't work.

Reading back, I became increasing aware that a sub-sub plot that I had summarised in one sentence was crying out to be explored, to be the focus of the story and if brought to the fore, would create an ending with more impact and give the story its essential truth. So back I go to the drawing board, tossing out all my carefully planned plotting and starting again.

(Writerly mantra - you can never re-draft enough times!)

Which sort of brings me to the Cat.

For a few years now all she would eat was cooked chicken - nothing else - no amount of tinned or pouch or dry cat food would do. For a couple of days now she has refused to even look at the chicken. And for a cat on the edge of her tenth life, that was not a good thing.

Then I realised that when I nibbled on a bit of cheese, she would claw at my leg for some. So I gave her cheese. Knowing she would kill for olives, I gave her some of that too.

Today, I thought I'd resort to the cat food she used to detest. And guess what? She not only ate the Whiskas fish pouch, she wanted more.

In her own catter-ly way she was re-drafting... her food patterns, that is - she is a cat afterall!

So perhaps it's always best to keep an open mind about everything, to try new things, to never be so rigid as to dismiss what could be a little gem waiting to be discovered.

Off I go now to re-start my story from scratch and to stock up on cat food - until the cat gets bored with that too of course.

:-)