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.

Some cliches are obvious - they hit you like a bolt of lightning.  Other phrases or images seem more original…until you come across them in two totally different books that you happen to be reading at the same time (which, of course, just happened to me this weekend).

Is there any way to avoid this? 

Assuming that plagiarism is not a factor, there’s no way that you can be sure that nobody else has used your beautiful phrase.  Unless you’ve come up with something harvested from the depths of your own twisted imagination.  But even then, you run the risk that your phrase/description/metaphor won’t work for anyone who doesn’t share your twisted imagination.

I know some people who are masters of metaphor, but for many others, I feel like less is more.  You’re better off using simple, direct language, especially at the peak of an important scene, rather than attempting flowery language that ends up as dead as my garden in November.  The right words can enhance a scene, but dried up plants and weeds are really just a distraction from what’s important. 

From the movie Becoming Jane: 

“What is she doing?”

“Writing.”

“Can anything be done about it?”

…you start drooling over things like “30 of the Most Creative Bookshelves Designs.”

These bookshelf stairs are pretty cool, too. 

My whole life I’ve wanted to have a room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, complete with rolling ladder.  I still love that classic look, but now these give me something else to think about!

(Okay, time to stop daydreaming about my fantasy library and get back to writing.)

What happens when a bunch of writers come together and hole up in a lodge in the winter?  No, it’s not The Shining.

Writers, like any other group of people, have a lot of things they don’t agree on.  There are different religious views, different political views…even different views on writing.  Some people want nothing more than to see their book on the shelves; others seem to think that the hunger for publication diminishes the act of writing.

But we don’t chase each other around with sharp objects and, despite questionable spiritual activity in the house (according to some), redrum never appeared on the walls. 

Instead, it was a weekend with a group of people that understands that every conversation - especially the controversial ones - are fodder for future stories.  You don’t even have to be involved in the conversation to reap the benefits!  A group of people that thinks it’s perfectly normal to disappear within your own mind or to sit in a crowded room and ignore everyone around you while you mentally map out the next page or dump your thoughts onto the keyboard.  The rest of the world may think we’re odd at times (or a lot of the time), but when we get together for a retreat, we’re among our kind and can focus on the work.  We can also whine about plot and characters and scenes to an audience that’s sympathetic even though they don’t get to actually see the book.  There’s also a lot of laughter and silliness.

After four days, I finally feel like my second book is buckled in the harness and ready to pull me along.

Thanks PW!

While LOST is on hiatus (only for another week and a half!), some well-meaning friends put Showtime’s Dexter in my hands.  So, I dutifully lost sleep while visually binging on the first two seasons of the show as quickly as possible.  The show is fantastic. 

It’s based on the novel “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” by Jeff Lindsay (which I own, but haven’t read yet), about a man who is a blood spatter technician for the Miami police department by day and a serial killer who takes out murderers the system let loose by night.  The premise alone should give you an idea of the wonderful characterization in this series.  The main character, the protagonist, is a killer who has some serious issues.  But you like him because he’s charming and does a lot of good things (although you’re often left to wonder how much of it is an act and how much he’s sincere about…you’ll have to watch it to really get that).  But Dexter isn’t the only complex character.  Nearly all the characters have their sympathetic moment and the moments you want to see them go down (or get killed by Dexter, despite his moral code).   Even the characters who are portrayed as almost all “good” still have depth and their goodness is important to Dexter’s character, which makes it significant.  This show is an excellent example of how to create balanced characters. 

 And it’s fun to watch.

Check out Stephen Colbert’s petition about how he chose Oprah to promote his book.  Such masterful marketing (and always in character)!

This is the book on writing that I’m reading right now:

I’m not done yet, but so far I recommend it.  This book is more than just an inspiring title (because who wants to be dead?), it’s a modern day “Writing Down the Bones.” It takes on the writer’s life with an updated, sometimes irreverent tone.  The book acknowledges a writer’s need to write as well as the need to get your writing out there.  Writing for yourself is all well and good, but really, many of us want to be recognized for it (for a variety of reasons - to get the story out there, to see ourselves in print, and yes, for the money).  These days, whether you go the traditional route or self-publish, you need to promote yourself if you’re going to have any success as published author.

 Writing may be an art, but publishing is a business.