Who
says writing’s a dog’s life?
Perseverance
leads to publication and a lapful of Basenjis
Recently, I
received a rejection for a short story about Basenjis, a barkless
breed of dog. I believed the story worthy of publication and decided to
persevere. My decision would take me on a fabulous journey that would lead to
publication.
I read the story again. After some thought, I
decided to rewrite it as non-fiction. I did more research and editing. The
result pleased me. The piece worked much better.
Then I had to find
the right market. Searching the Internet, I found an e-magazine that accepted
non-fiction for children. I wrote an enticing cover letter to an editor and in
a few days got an e-mail reply. The editor had never heard of the breed and
thought the article was fascinating. She accepted my piece!
I was elated, but panic-stricken.
I had promised pictures to go with the article. Back to the
Internet. I searched for Basenji websites and contacted webmasters
across the country for photographs. The response was overwhelming. All my
contacts wanted to share their pictures with me for the article.
The article was
looking good. It was well written and had great pictures to accompany it. What
could I do to give it a special touch? Through my research I found a sound clip
from a website and got permission to use the "barks" of the Basenji.
Perfect.
My hard work did
not go unnoticed. The editor stayed in contact with me, helping me with
questions and concerns about the article. I’d never experienced such interest,
encouragement, and compliments.
While I finished
working on the piece, I stayed in contact with one of the Basenji owners. She,
like me, lives in
A week later I was greeted by the owner, who
had four Basenjis and was also taking care of seven more. As she introduced
each dog to me, they jumped into my lap, all wanting to be petted and rubbed at
the same time. I’m not much of an animal person, but I immediately fell in love
with these gentle, soft-furred dogs.
As I look back,
I’ve been showered with many rewards in addition to the thrill of publication.
I’ve worked with a great editor, who even wrote me a thank-you note.
I’ve learned a lot about Basenjis and met a fascinating dog owner. But none of
this would have happened if I’d given up. Perseverance and hard work can lead
to an acceptance and, if you’re willing, to some unforgettable experiences.
Originally published in The Creativity Connection #51, April
2002
(and The Dabbling Mum, July 2005)