So, I found the dog that’s right for me.

Now I’m waiting to see if my application is approved.  I have every reason to think that it will be, but until the dotted line is signed (and the dog is on my doorstep), there’s always that twinge of worry that something will go wrong.  That I won’t be chosen.

How does this carry through the agent metaphor?  Perfectly.  I’ve gone from being the one in control – discriminating from among so many candidates – to making an offer.  Once the offer is out there, the control bounces back to the other side. The agent has gotten excited about the project, but now it’s up to the author to decide if it’s really going to happen.  Just like it’s up to the rescuer now if they’re going to accept my offer of adoption.  It’s up to them to decide whether I really am the right one out of all the potential people out there who might make an offer.

So, now I wait…

And hopefully I’ll have good news to post soon.

I’ve been thinking about adopting a dog lately.  The girls are getting older and it was tough losing Wild Bill a few months ago, so it might be nice to have a young animal in the house.  I have a general idea of what I want – a young male, most likely a pit bull or a large mixed breed, but maybe a German Shepherd or Rottweiler.  He needs to have the right temperament to fit in with the other animals in my house and my lifestyle.  The other dogs need to approve (especially Juno).

Since I’ve spent a lot of time in rescue, it’s not as if I don’t know where to find a young male dog.  I know lots of people in the rescue community.  Heck, if I really wanted to, it would probably be pretty easy to drive down the “right” streets and have one cross my path.  Even though I have some criteria in my mind, I know that it can’t be just any young male dog (even if my dogs like him).  I also know that the right dog might end up being smaller or older than I’m envisioning, maybe even another female in the end.  I’m keeping an eye out, but it might be awhile before I actually adopt.

There are many wonderful and worthy candidates out there.  But it has to be the right match for me. I’ll know it’s the right one when I see it.

Starting to sound familiar to you querying authors out there?

Hearing things like “Your book is wonderful, but I didn’t fall in love…” and other various assurances that you have talent and a great voice and a viable hook – but you’re not getting any offers – is like being the adorable, friendly puppy that people keep passing up.  Anyone who has worked in a shelter or rescue has seen dogs that were perfect, but for unknown reasons, took a long time to get adopted.

It’s a big commitment to bring a new animal home.  Sure, there are any number of dogs that would fit into my household that I would care about and probably end up loving as much as the others…but when you think about living with the dog for 10+ years and all the time and money it takes to care for them, you want to be sure about it.  Especially when there are so many out there who need a home.  You can’t adopt every one that crosses your path or you wouldn’t do any of them justice.

I imagine that this is how agents (and editors) feel.

There’s a lot of promise and a lot of need kenneled up in the slush pile, but there’s only so much that any one person can take on, so it has to feel Right.  As frustrating as it can be to get passed up by agents, they can’t take you in just because you’re cute or seem to get along with their other books.  They need to feel that conviction that they’ll still love your book when it has to go out in the middle of the night or when it eats their shoes. 

It’s a commitment for the lifetime of your book…and as tempting as it is to want to shout “Just give me a home!  It’ll all work out!”, you really do want to be loved.  No one wants to be the book that is taken in only to be chained up in the yard and forgotten.  (Not that I’d ever do that with a dog, but work with me here on the broader metaphor.)

So, for all of you stray books out there, I hope your forever home finds you soon.  And for the homeless dogs, I am taking you into consideration. 

Maybe we’ll find a match soon.