Personal Assistants

Personal Assistants 

Successful writers often hire personal assistants to handle things like screening and responding to e-mails, sending out books, posting on social media, or handling the details involved with book signings or other presentations. These individuals do not help the writer do the most important thing – the writing. That said, there are other types of “personal assistants,” besides editors or agents who help authors create the works that readers eventually see. Here are a few of those who aid members of the Writers Who Kill blog.

Marilyn Levinson/Allison Brook - My kitties, Romeo and Juliet, are great distractors when they want my attention—usually to feed them. They know exactly how to do it, too, by invading my work space.

Annette Dashofy - Kensi is more of a boss than an assistant, although she does assist me in remembering when it's time to feed her. She's 15, has a heart condition, and has assisted me in learning how to pill a cat without blood being drawn. She also assists me in remembering to take time off to enjoy life...such as watching her nightly zoomie silliness. 

Molly MacRae - It's never been easy to tell which of us, the cat or I, is in charge of writing and which is assisting. The good thing is that neither of us cares to argue about it. As you can see from this picture, we're practically twins. Call us equals.  

Heather Weidner - I have two writing assistants, Disney, my crazy Jack Russell, who follows all the writing cave rules and Cooper, our Mini Aussie Shepherd puppy, who is learning the ropes. These guys are great for talking through plotholes and dialog. And they do a good job of reminding me when it's time to play, go outside, or eat a snack. When they are not on writing duty, they love long walks, chasing squirrels, and pup cups. 

Kait Carson - I'm lucky to have two assistants, although neither seems to care for my efforts. Piper, the brown tabby, loves making editorial comments, and Cub, the ginger demon, demands rewrites. 

Margaret S. Hamilton - I have two standard poodle writing buddies, usually found lounging around the kitchen supervising my snack consumption while monitoring my word count. Jazz and Louie are my plot hounds on our daily three mile walks, and tolerate my reading dialogue to them.

E. B. Davis – I only have part time assistants. Both must be fed well and want treats hourly. Biscuit, the poodle, demands pets, usually for at least a minute or two before she will let you go. If you don’t comply, she will put her snout under your hand to lift it back to her. Rocky, the senior gentle Corgi/Beagle, lays on my feet under the desk. They’re my granddogs!