Green Room - Week 36 - Day 11

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

We got to the Humane Society, on Saturday, and there was already a line, waiting for them to open.

After the initial rush, we went in and started looking around. I noticed that some people went right to the front and were filling out paperwork. Which, after seeing how long everything took, I think those people probably had the right idea, and the most experience with the process.

However, others went right for the kennels, to grab the paperwork for their favorites. So, who knows – maybe they were the ones who were right!

Different people. Different overall strategies.

When we walked into the front room, I noticed the terrier puppy immediately. We hadn’t talked about a puppy, and in fact, were thinking of getting a 2 year old… besides, there was already a woman in front of her with her paperwork in hand. But, she was awfully cute!

We wandered around, and finally decided to have a visit with another dog. It went well. But there really wasn’t that spark you hope to make when you sign on for a lifelong commitment.

So, we kept looking around. The two year old was still there – he had some health issues, but it was well worth checking out, because the picture and info online had been so adorable.

We grabbed his papers and went to the front to set up the visitation.

While we were in the waiting room, I noticed that the woman from before was there as well, with several papers in her hand. At one point she got up, went to the counter and said, “It’s really busy. I’ll be back tomorrow” and left… I was immediately at the counter and told them that I wanted the terrier puppy’s sheet. We took it, and set up the two visits back to back.

The older dog was fine – but he had spent all of his time outdoors. (which is why he had the health problems) and really hadn’t been socialized with a family before. He did seem nice, but not really engaged.

On the other hand, the puppy immediately came up to me and started giving kisses… and then went back to roaming around the yard… coming back to give kisses…

We actually debated for longer than it sounds like we should have… it came down to it being a “no kill” shelter. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure we would have left with the dog with even more problems than the 2 year old! :D

As is though, we ended up with the dog now known as “Foxy”!

I’m not just bragging about the dog though. (Although, yes, I AM bragging about the dog)

There are times when you think you are out of the running – and someone will make a mistake. They will think they have more time and can come back tomorrow. They think ”if I write it, people will read it”… or “I’ll just send this out blindly and an editor will see it”… if other people are making that mistake - capitalize on it!

Waiting around, hoping that things will work out has rarely produced positive results! If you want something, you need to go out, do your best, and wait for that break to come. Be proactive. Shop your writing around, but look for the market that needs you and be there to fill their need.

“Maybe one day” isn’t going to get you that gig, or that dog. Keeping an eye on where the competition is, so that if they make a bad call, will! :D Even if all hope seems to be lost, putting yourself in a position to succeed is the best move.

(Of course, it occurs to me that some people do this with relationships and I’m *not* a fan of that. So ignore this advice when it comes to those. ;D Just with “breaking in with writing, or other skills” and “getting a dog from the Humane Society”)

Other things that I am in favor of are: Our new topics: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/594381.html
The last two sets of topics: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/591554.html and http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/593207.html
Home Game Entries: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/592005.html
The Work Room: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/591795.html

And, of course, Curiosity! Because robots are awesome, and Robots on Mars are even better!!

Comments

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Puppy lessons on life and writing. I see a new book. ;)

(Also... frist? How the heck did that happen?)

[notodette.livejournal.com]

Happy FRIST!

Just for you...

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

!em ot *DAED* er'uoY

.eikooc ruoy yojnE

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

FRIST!!! ^_^

[porn-this-way.livejournal.com]

Yay first! *\o/*

Also, if I read these backward LJ comments, will they tell me to worship Satan? *eager to find out*

[ashgaelsonaria.livejournal.com]

From the sounds of it Foxy started training them at the shelter.

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Do I have to give you a backwards cookie now?

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

Great advice Gary. You'll miss 100% of the shots you don't make or something like that. I'm all for putting yourself out there. I'd rather face rejection than never knowing "what if?" later on down the road.

I'm going to make every effort to read as many entries this week as I can once I'm done posting mine. I've found it to be fairly depressing to write some stuff that I really liked... Only to have no one reading it. I know it's a lot to read, but trust me.... Everyone has worked their butt off and I think there's some good stuff out there, so I'm going to make sure I read what I can. I'll try to comment as well since I'm seeing very little of that and a lot of people have said they aren't reading this week... So yeah. I'm going to read if it kills me this week.

But back to work for now *sigh*

I'm glad you got the puppy! I saw the photo and she's very cute!

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way. I really like some of the stuff I've written, but no1curr. :\

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Oh geez... people have said they won't be reading? That's lousy. I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I am reading and reading and reading (and taking notes, which is part of why I'm quiet and not very comment-y). I hope there are other folks who are also reading and will be commenting when they feel they've caught up (like me) or otherwise leaving y'all some love, because WOW, you have been doing a lot of work and it is awesome stuff.

[comedychick.livejournal.com]

I can't read everything, but if you link me your three favourites (of your own), I'll make an effort to read those. ♥

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

OMG, I am so tired. I read all you said, Gary, but no brain left to respond. I'm pretty happy with the 4 entries I've mostly-finished but I still have 2 more to go and pushing through just keeps getting harder. I'MMA DO THIS SHIT THOUGH!

[noodledays.livejournal.com]

awwwwwww, PUPPY! however you guys did it, I bet it was as right for you as it needed to be - I hope you're all joyful together for a long time to come. :D

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

And now I'll write a comment with a lot more substance (I hope anyway).

See, I think the lesson from the Humane Society was not just that you should go for what you want and watch the competition - but also that luck and timing mattered. You took your time and thought critically and debated, but in the end, if you'd gone there the next day your awesome and cuddly companion (and oh my GOSH what a cutie! I'm so happy for you!) might not have been there. Sometimes you get a rejection slip because, hey, they already have a story with similar elements or themes, and it's just not the right time. There's nothing wrong with the work, or with you. It is, to a degree, luck. You're in the right place, at the right time, with your best stuff, and hey presto!

At least, this is what I'm telling myself as I'm shopping my writing around. Heh.

Also, I have been reading ALL THE THINGS, even though I've been super quiet and lurk-y about it. Sometimes I'm more inclined to just read than comment, and time has been at a premium all over lately. I am super impressed with our Stupendous Seven. Producing quality work under these kinds of time constraints is hard. I'm not sure I could do it - but right now, I'm not trying. I'm just trying to keep up with it all!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right on the "luck and timing".

When Cynthia went to show her neighbors (rhe older/retired couple,who will be helping to watch the dog during the weekdays) it turned out that their dog had passed away a few days ago. They had her forever, and I know the last couple of years have been rough.

So, they had talked about getting a puppy... one of the dogs they had their eye on, from the website, was Foxy!

(they recognized her immediately! :D)

As far as "breaking in" (to ANY field) goes - a big part of it is being prepared for that break. Even if it means having a synopsis in a drawer somewhere just in case you happen to run into someone who happens to know someone, who asks to see your novel! :) (I'm thinking of a specific example here, and it actually happened! Fortunately, they were "pretty much ready". But not as ready as they wished they were!)

[notodette.livejournal.com]

I don't know how many people are interested in getting published, but if you are, here's what I did.

I don't have much talent. I'm a solid writer at times, but I know full well that no one is going to look at my stuff in a slush pile and say, *this one...THIS is the one.* I'm just not there yet.

So, before I submitted, I got work at a publishing house, made my in-roads and submitted as someone known to the staff.

The was/is basically slave labor. I get paid almost nothing to edit these manuscripts and it takes time away from money-making endeavors and my own writing.

I did it for a year an a half before I submitted something. So, it's probably / maybe? the same amount of time someone would spend finding an agent, submitting their work and getting it rejected, etc?

I don't know.

I only know that I wouldn't have been able to do it the other way, and I thought maybe the story would help someone. Moral is: if you can't break in one way, try the back window.

[ashgaelsonaria.livejournal.com]

I use amazon self publishing. It is basicaly free.
Publishing for the kindle is free and the paperback compainy only cost me for the proofs ( about $3 each)

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

I thought the moral of the story was the cute kids always win. :P

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Aww, Foxy is a cute name - congrats! I've only done two HG entries for this week's plethora of topics, but it is what it is!

I have a lot to say on Gary's point...

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

... but my time is not my own and my internet connection is unreliable. I just lost three posts in a row.

But I can tell you this: when I am getting more than five hours sleep a night, I will go for the brass ring.

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

I am too brain-fried at the moment to leave an eloquent comment, but I wanted to say this is a great GR post. :)

I should come with a warning label

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

My power was off for a little over five hours last night. It was about 90 degrees in the house with the air not moving at all, so I spent the time feeling like I was going to suffocate, and trying not to have an asthma attack. Then the electric co put out an estimated restoration of 5 pm today, so I spent some time in a panic trying to figure out how not to die in the heat today and what to do with my cats.

Thankfully they had used Scotty's logic for how to look like a miracle worker, so the air is back on, but those five hours sucked some life force from me, plus I've barely slept.

Re: I should come with a warning label

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Yipe! That's awful! I'm glad the power's back on now, at least. I hope you have a nice cool day today, with no more outages.

[ashgaelsonaria.livejournal.com]

Yay Mars.
So about time to get seriouse about the Mars program.
It will open so many posibilities and in teraforming the red planit we may just learn how to fix a little blue one.

[porn-this-way.livejournal.com]

Good relationship advice = just get a puppy instead. Problem solved!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Congratulations notodette for finishing A FULL DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to milk_and_glass as well!