Why writers need dogs!
Late night: Dog edits writer's work
It's 5:00 AM in a house nestled in the piñon and juniper dotted hills in Santa Fe County. A dog, Sally, wakes Anne Hillerman, to go outside. Anne follows Sally out into the night and looks up. The sky is brilliant with the Milky Way, and Anne decides that she must write a novel that includes astronomy. That became her book, “Stargazer.”
Anne Hillerman, the daughter of the novelist Tony Hillerman, is a Santa Fe treasure. Her novel, Way of the Bear won first place in the Santa Fe Reporter's 2024 "Best New Book by a Santa Fe Writer." She is an executive producer for the must-see AMC TV series "Dark Winds," beginning its third season in March 2025.
Her writing partner, Sally, is a rescue mix with a lot of Australian cattle dog and a grab bag of other ancestors.
This column is for writers and all those who spend time in front of a computer working remotely—that's a lot of folks.
The thesis is you need a dog. I will explain.
First, in Anne's household, dogs are early risers. For writers, early morning, when the house is quiet and there are fewer distractions, is a crucial creative time. Sally's job is to wake Anne, supervise the making of coffee, and then escort her to the studio.
Next, we all have that voice in our heads, our life's narrator, that tells you that what you are doing, well, sucks.
As a writer, the voice laughs at your last paragraph. It sometimes wonders why you didn't listen to your fifth-grade teacher, Sister Mildred when she pondered out loud how you would ever make a living in the grown-up world.
You slump down in your chair. You're about to delete, delete, and then a small miracle happens. Your dog, who loves you unconditionally and does not judge your writing, comes to you. She may nudge you with her snout, or put a ball or stick in your lap.
Dogs have this magical power to know when to interrupt. If we pay attention, they know how to break up the day and halt (for me) Sister Mildred's voice in your head.
Next, for Anne, her dog Sally is a model of resilience, of "bounce back." Sally, as a rescue, had an unknowable but probably rough past life. When Anne adopted her, Sally was nervous and fearful around men. The question that looms when you adopt an adult dog is whether the dog's past permanently affects their present and future behavior.
Once again, Sally proved that dogs are resilient. With the help of Anne's husband, David, and their Golden Retriever, Sophie, Sally calmed down and began to act like a normal dog: Barking at strangers but otherwise much more relaxed.
Writers (and the rest of us) need models of resilience. For writers there are lots of rejections, manuscripts sent back, cutting words (often containing the truth) and the dark hole of thinking that you have nothing to write about.
Having a dog like Sally, who has been through rough times but now sits by you, tail wagging and happy, sends a powerful message to get your head off your desk, keep on working, living, and know that most of the time, things work out.
Next, dogs are great aids in the creative process. Here's how. The late Stephen Jobs, of Apple Computer fame, believed in the "ten-minute" rule. If he could not come up with a solution to a Big Problem after ten minutes, he'd get up and go for a walk. Focusing on other things (and just the act of moving) would usually allow solutions to bubble up.
Well, who in your household is always primed for a walk? If you mumble the word "walk," who will start running towards the door? Right, your dog!
When you are stuck, leave your chair, get outside and walk your dog, if only for a few minutes. Take that time to experience the world through a curious dog's eyes and nose. It opens up your mind and testimonial: ideas and solutions will flow. There has been recent neuroscience research that backs this up. Taking a break and walking helps the creative process.
Lastly, writing, or any remote work, means hours alone staring at paper or a screen. A dog who comes and checks on you or who insists on that walk can break up the day and shake up the creative process. It's an amazing gift! We should always include our dogs’ names as co-authors! In that spirit, this column was “produced” by Hersch, (a human), Toby (a Great Pyrenees) and Maisie, (a chihuahua-terrier mix)
Hersch Wilson's latest book, "Dog Lessons: Learning the Important Stuff from Our Best Friends," and Anne Hillerman's books including "Way of the Bear" are available at Collected Works in Santa Fe and online.