Oh, Wendy, I needed this message so much! Thank you! "Yes" to shifting gears. I did all my rewrites for my most recent manuscript in handwriting (it just works better for me) and am putting off typing it all into the computer. "Putting off" truly doesn't work and your piece is just what I needed to get this project completed so I too can begin the querying process.
As always your writing is so fluid and clear! I loved training down on recall. A great skill to learn for many reasons. I wish the dogs I have now were as mentally flexible as Blueberry was. As for the writing part of it -there are parts I like much more than others. But like Blueberry, I really love learning to switch gears and do all the things, flexing my unskilled muscles. But shivering all the way. Poor sheep. Do they have shelter to go in at night?
I'm sure smart Blueberry was much better at the quick down than Tock! Kudos to you for enjoying all parts of the process. I don't think I'll ever like querying. And switching to writing something new is also tough!
Wendy, my neighbor has sheep. He tends to shear them June-ish. As you know, here in Montana that's about when winter ends. Ha! For now they are cozy warm. Me? I'll be grabbing my sweater as I gird myself to query yet again. Thanks for your article. Give Tok an extra cookie.
Well, I asked the shepherds here why they did it so early, and they said they used to do it May/June, but had to put down a sheep when a fly nested beneath the wool and laid its eggs under her skin, leading to infection, etc. They swore they're never letting it go so late again and just feed them extra to help stay warm. I agree - that transition to querying requires something really warm and comforting! Good luck!
Oh, Wendy, I needed this message so much! Thank you! "Yes" to shifting gears. I did all my rewrites for my most recent manuscript in handwriting (it just works better for me) and am putting off typing it all into the computer. "Putting off" truly doesn't work and your piece is just what I needed to get this project completed so I too can begin the querying process.
Yay, I'm so glad you're done with the rewrites - a huge milestone! Best of luck with the querying. Is this your romance?
Thank you! Yes, it is.
I was moved by this, Wendy. Thank you for writing.
And thanks for reading, Alice. Let's chat again soon.
As always your writing is so fluid and clear! I loved training down on recall. A great skill to learn for many reasons. I wish the dogs I have now were as mentally flexible as Blueberry was. As for the writing part of it -there are parts I like much more than others. But like Blueberry, I really love learning to switch gears and do all the things, flexing my unskilled muscles. But shivering all the way. Poor sheep. Do they have shelter to go in at night?
I'm sure smart Blueberry was much better at the quick down than Tock! Kudos to you for enjoying all parts of the process. I don't think I'll ever like querying. And switching to writing something new is also tough!
NO! It's not all parts of writing I like! You know me - I HATE querying. It's all parts of dog training. 🤣
Wendy, my neighbor has sheep. He tends to shear them June-ish. As you know, here in Montana that's about when winter ends. Ha! For now they are cozy warm. Me? I'll be grabbing my sweater as I gird myself to query yet again. Thanks for your article. Give Tok an extra cookie.
Well, I asked the shepherds here why they did it so early, and they said they used to do it May/June, but had to put down a sheep when a fly nested beneath the wool and laid its eggs under her skin, leading to infection, etc. They swore they're never letting it go so late again and just feed them extra to help stay warm. I agree - that transition to querying requires something really warm and comforting! Good luck!
Oh, how horrible! I'm sure there's a writerly lesson buried in there too. 😬
WOW, I feel like the sheep, shivering in the cold and wanting a cozy sweater. I loved this piece ... a great day starter, a glimpse inside you ...
We are of like minds. Thanks for reading, Mark!