What Peacocks and Writers Have in Common
When I talked to my neighbor, Chris, this morning, she told me that her peacocks were curious about all the noise coming from my place. My house is usually quiet but the roofers are here, banging and pounding, and Chris said the peacocks kept trying to peek through the trees to see what was going on. About an hour later, after Chris had left for work, here came the peacocks. They marched single file through the trees - four males, one female, and one guinea hen. They rarely come into my yard but they went straight toward my house as if they came to call every day. Then they stood and stared up at the roof. They watched for a few minutes before they circled the yard, stared at the roof awhile longer, and then went home. The roofing crew loved the visitors.
It always makes me smile to watch the curiosity of animals, maybe because curiosity is an essential quality for a writer. Writers pay attention. They notice what’s going on around them; they are sensitive to the reactions and feelings of other people. You notice I said we writers are curious, not snoopy. It has a more professional sound. Many a good book idea has developed because I got curious and sought information. I doubt if the peacocks are writing a book but, who knows? Nobody would have guessed that Pete, an unwanted kitten at an animal shelter, would be a talented writer - and look what he’s accomplished.