The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Carry Yourself Like a Champion

      In less than a week, our dog Foley will be prancing around Purina's huge arena. It's the national Golden Retriever show, and when he makes his entrance, all eyes will be on him glazed over; they will be impressed aghast, because Foley does not look like the typical, show-quality Golden Retriever. So, even though it is only the "Rescue Parade," it seems our pooch will get a rosette to commemorate the occasion, and for one brief moment, he will run with the thoroughbred dogs.



      Once in a while, we've captured Foley looking like the typical Golden--head up, eyes alert, and posed in the perfect stance. Those times always involve a ball held out of the camera's view, because the only thing our dog loves is playing fetch. More than eating. More than taking a walk. Hurtling after a ball is his passion.

        As writers, we have to carry ourselves like dog show champs. We have to fluff and primp up our drafts, and prance from critique session to critique session, making sure our confidence is always intact. We have to keep whispering subliminal messages to ourselves, to ensure we don't get battered or beaten by critics and rejection.

       What kind of champion canine is your dog? What do they excel at?

or

       What kinds of things do you tell yourself to keep yourself on the writing path?
     

16 comments:

  1. I hope you and Foley have a blast! Throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball...I know the mantra well. :)

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  2. I tell myself I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people laugh at me.

    My dogs excel at barking between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

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    Replies
    1. Val--

      People--and I'm at the head of the list--DO laugh with you, not at you.

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  3. Great analogy; we writers have to proudly strut our stuff like the show dogs.

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    1. Especially if we're really a thoroughbred like you, Linda.

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  4. Now that is one beautiful dog. Bosco says hi!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. He's a good dog, too. Give my regards to Bosco the Wonder Dog.

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  5. No dogs - your dog is beautiful. I talk to myself every day - keep writing... all else fails, I write a letter.

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    1. Oh, no....Did this post spur you to write yet another letter? Lynn, I love your letters, but I hate that I don't reply in a timely manner.

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  6. I just try not to poop in the arena.

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    Replies
    1. Tammy--I've actually wondered if he'll take a whiz while he's in there out of nervousness. Thanks for giving me another thing to worry about...

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  7. Foley is so handsome! He sure makes me miss our Golden, Riley. *sigh* The two pooches who keep us in line now are Lab mixes. When Papa was alive Penny made it her job to check on him every day. Now that he's gone she's a bit out of sorts. Rigby likes to alert us when he finds an unauthorized critter in the yard. His bark changes, and we know he's cornered something. Last week it was a diamond back snake; a few days prior to that it was a chipmunk who hunkered down under the garden hose receptacle while Rigby yelled at him. As for me, well, I try to talk myself up. Some days it works and some days not so much. I still have more doubts than confidence, but it doesn't stop me. As our pal Cathy C. Hall likes to say, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then!

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    1. Lisa--It's amazing how animals can be so in tune with what is going on, and can mourn...And some people call them unintelligent?

      Yes, my doubts sometimes outweigh my confidence but still...we keep on writing. I think we write because we must. It's a nonnegotiable, due to a creative vein in our body that must vent.

      As nutty as she is, it's my opinion that Cathy has found more than her share of "nuts." But don't tell her I said that.

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  8. Once tried to make a house pet out of a Blue Heeler (cattle dog). Didn't go well. He guarded me so stridently that he nipped a friend, so we got him a job guarding a feed store. Didn't go well either as he ate all the candy bars during the night. Finally he found a cattle farm and lived happily ever after.

    As writers, we may try other outlets for jobs and creativity, but writing is what we're meant to do. But eating candy bars all night may help.

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    1. Marcia--I think you have the makings of a best-selling "How to Write" book.

      Each chapter could be devoted to the benefits of a different candy bar.

      I would be glad to be your "research" assistant...as long as it wouldn't require me to eat candy bars with coconut.

      Let me know...

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