The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Pearl. Shay. Donna. Tammy. Val. Lisa. Force It---A Little

        I submitted a story about my dog Trixie to NYMB. The co-creator, Kathleene Baker, spit an email right back at me. She had read my submission quickly, and immediately sent me a very helpful (and encouraging) message.

       Pearl, I know you have cats but do you have any dog stories? Shay, I know you have some Bosco tales to tell. Donna--I imagine you have at least one dog memoir up your sleeve. Tammy, you have gazillions of canine tales. Val--you can give us a rollicking Juno escapade or two, can't you? Lisa, the weiner dogs are always the underdogs. And Lisa, you have Golden Retriever stories, too. The deadline is July 1.

      It seems the Not Your Mother's Books are looking for upbeat stories about dogs...whacky stories...funny stories. There is a children's novel entitled No More Dead Dogs, and the main character moans about the fact that if there is a dog's name in the title, don't read the book, because the dog will inevitably die during the story. (Think about it. Old Yeller. My Dog Skip. 'Tis true...)

       And my story definitely had a dead dog in it.

       Ooops. I am as bad as some of my students. I didn't do my homework very well, and apparently did not check the guidelines for this collection at all very well.

       Kathleene said if I rewrote it, and make the story "end" before our beloved Trixie died, they would reconsider it. If I wouldn't, they couldn't.

       Thrilled with a second chance, I worked on it for quite a while yesterday evening excited to do anything to avoid working on my report cards . But I got stuck. I wanted to make sure the "spackling" I did was seamless, and I had no idea how I was going to create a satisfying ending. I figured, I would let it sit for a few days. That's my normal MO.

     This morning, still trying to avoid working on report cards I still had nothing, so I didn't even plan on opening up the story and working on it. But something made me say to myself, 'Just try. You might come up with something.'

     And forcing myself--a little--to just reread the tale so far, and attempt to finish the revision resulted in me being able to finish the story---and submit it.

      Of course, Kathleene and NYMB might not like what I did with it. And that's cool. But I prodded myself--poked myself with a stick--and got it done.

      How about all my blogging colleagues who have a dog? What is stopping you from submitting? You have a little more than a month left...and as June Carter Cash sang it so well: "Time's a'wastin'."

     (I know. I promised the debut of Sioux-on-a-Stick with my next posting, but my life will be so less hectic this week after I stop avoiding the completion of my report cards finish my report cards. So Donna, stop holding your breath. She'll make her appearance...soon.)

8 comments:

  1. Well, since my grading is complete, and I am a woman of leisure now, I will check out the guidelines and ruminate on some Juno shenanigans. If you ever need somebody else to poke you with a stick, I volunteer my services.

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  2. A dog story? Hmmmm. I shall have to think about that. I've not owned a dog -- or been owned by one! -- in a very long time...

    Pearl

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  3. Way to go Sioux for keeping at it and turning your story around and IN! I'm so jealous as I WAS going to write this weekend, but something else came up. Now I'm catching up on blogs... hmmm, guess I should be writing.

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  4. Bosco has enough to do without supporting my fruitless literary career. Anyway, my life is still on hold while waiting for some contest to decide if i get gonged or not...

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  5. I always hated doing report cards!

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  6. My grades are finished for the semster, too! I have a summer class that starts shortly, but for now, I'm going to think about a dog story!

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  7. You are an inspiration, and thank you for prodding my non-submitting self. You just reminded me that Lynn gave us all sticks, and maybe someday I will even get that one in gear. And Kathleene sounds like gem of an editor! Best of luck even though it sounds like you hold something more important than luck.

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  8. Hey Sioux! Since I posted a Nostalgic Sunday for today, I'm doing a quick jaunt through blogland. I'm glad I saw this post. Maybe I'll submit my Rocky story that CS didn't take :)

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