Christian Author
Donna Dawson

I had just assumed that the correct usage of English grammar was a standard practice.  Not so, trumpeted Duke the Chihuahua.  With something akin to Puritanical passion, he pointed a condemning claw to Bee and bellowed, have you seen her writing lately?  You'd think that English was her second language.  I gently reminded Duke that Bee is, after all, half German Shepherd so it is a possibility.  Poppy cock! was his rejoinder and then he tossed his copy of Eats, Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss, at me.

I must admit, having a pint-sized canine thrust a grammar book under my nose didn't exactly endear me to the fur ball but, after reading Bee's latest manuscript I realized,he had a point.  For a fleeting moment the thought of so what tip-toed through my mind to be quickly squashed by my inner punctuation vigilante.  My red pen hand started to itch after the third misplaced comma and I found myself agreeing with Duke.  It does matter.

After all, how would we deal with 'the pickled-herring merchant' as opposed to 'the pickled herring merchant'.  The first is merely a fish seller while the second is a drunk fish seller.  Is it really that important?  Ask Ms. Truss and she will tell you that wars have been started by something as small as a misplaced comma.  And we wouldn't want Bee to start another war now would we?

And then we have the problem of 'its' and 'it's'.  How do we know, without that apostrophe, it it's 'its' or if it's 'it's'?  (The apostrophy replaces the 'i' in 'is'--in case you wanted to know.)  Can you imagine the nightmare that would be created if we allowed punctuation to disappear?  Why--sentences would make absolutely no sense! you would have to sift through the nonsense in a world of nonsense that needed sense added to it to find the correct emphasis and itd seem like a real nightmare.  (I just couldn't stop the sentence without the period at the end!  It's just not--kosher.)

If we truly wish to take our writing craft seriously--or any business venture for that matter--it is a must that we educate ourselves.  Would you trust the doctor who writes a prescription that reads 'she needs this stuff 2 times a day and its not going to help if she doesnt take it with water'?  Scary stuff! 

I think I'll have a little chat with Bee and see if we can do something about her grammar and punctuation. 

Duke's pet human has gone on vacation.  This has triggered an unusual reaction in our canine friend.  He has thrown all caution to the wind.  I expected a loud and boisterous party consisting of all his poochy friends and a case of Barkly's Root Beer but oh no...Duke decided to write poetry.  His purpose?  To see if he can.  But he hasn't just chosen to write the stuff.  He has every intention of entering it--you guessed--into a national poetry contest.

Ok.  So what's wrong with that, you may ask? Well...this is the mutt whose idea of elegant rhyme involves such verse as:

Roses are red, violets are blue

I'm out of dog toys, oh what should I do.

Yep.  That's what our champion of the keyboard has chosen as his entry. 

Now some of you may suggest that I intercept the post man just after he stops at our mailbox and in any other circumstance I just might.  So why am I willing to let Duke waste a perfectly good postage stamp and an entry fee?  Well...our little friend might just learn something he doesn't know about poetry.

You see, Duke hasn't just entered any old contest.  He has entered the Yappies.  This is an annual national award specifically for doggy writers who wish to present their work in poetry format.  The best part of it is in its judging.  A panel of three judges--all professionals in the field of poetry--will not only analyze his work but they will--are you ready for it--give him an evaluation sheet.  Big deal you say?  Well--yes--it is.

Evaluation sheets are the most important part of any writing contest.  Where else can you pay a professional writer--make that three professional writers--peanuts to tell you how you can improve your writing?  Last time I checked, some of these judges make enough money an hour to make the local canine veterarian envious (and they don't get snapped at--well not with real teeth anyway). 

While Dukey's pet human may be appalled that his little fuzzy companion has drifted into an 'ethereal form of writing' as he puts it, he will be happy to know that Duke will get sound advice on what to write--and what not to write.

And Lord have mercy!  I certainly hope those judges aren't obsessively fond of flowers!

He sat shaking his head and I don't really blame him.  After all, Duke the Chihuahua knows I'm a bit of a recluse.  He knows I don't like the lime light--that marketing a book isn't exactly my favourite past time.  He warned me that if I agreed to a video interview I would regret it.  Surprisingly, he was wrong.

It all started at the Write!Canada conference this past June.  A chance meeting with a member of an organization resulted in an invitation to be part of a pilot project to promote Canada's Christian authors.  Back then, it seemed logical to say 'yes' and there wasn't so much as a flutter to my nervous system as we chatted about what the interview would involve. 

Ah--but Duke knows me well.  I got home and our dear little champion of common sense roared with laughter upon hearing that I, the one who could have invented the word solitary, had agreed to expose my ugly mug to the public at large.  "You just wait," was the comment I received after the joviality ended.  "You'll be nothing but a basket of nerves a week before the interview.  You'll mess up your words.  You'll forget your manners.  You'll be so flustered that you'll mix pinks and oranges in your clothing!"  I have to admit, Duke's assessment of my public speaking skills raised my ire more than a bit.  Enough so that I was determined to fight all urges to claim a family emergency and cancel.  (Believe me, my passing out in front of a video camera would have been classified as a family emergency so I wouldn't be straying too far from the truth!)

At any rate, the date loomed.  I chose my wardrobe carefully.  I scrubbed my diggs to within an inch of obsession.  I gave all the barnyard animals a good talking to (the rooster didn't quite get the jist of my 'good manners' speech and crowed through the entire thing!). 

The day arrived and Duke parked himself in front of the patio doors in hopes of getting a clear view of my foolish behaviour.  Thus the head shaking.  He couldn't believe I'd actually follow through.  Two hours later after much prayer and patience on the part of the video interviewers, my task was completed and Duke was in shock.  I had survived and, maybe, done a decent job.

I have come to the conclusion that marketing is a necessary evil when dealing in the book industry.  We writers have a choice.  We can run from it and keep our books and ourselves in the safety of obscurity.  Or we can embrace it and do our best to enjoy the process.  After all, what is the point of writing a book if we don't try our best to share it with people?

I have to say that I was a wee bit smug as I strutted past the patio door in the aftermath of the interview.  While it was tempting to thumb my nose at a certain canine, I can say that I fought the urge.  And I can also say that the interview was actually kind of fun.

Duke the Chihuahua has gotten himself into a real pickle. And Bee is sitting in the corner crying because she’s sure he’s going to be hauled off to Bark! Bark!, the local canine prison. I have been spending the last hour trying to console the pair of them but I can’t seem to convince them that everything will work out ok.

It appears that our aged pooch forgot himself and printed something that wasn’t exactly accurate. He was commissioned to write a particularly controversial fiction piece for Scare the Fur Off magazine. It’s an edgy Christian fiction magazine published in a city nearby. Duke was right into the idea and fired up his laptop with gusto. I clearly remember him spending hours clacking away at the keyboard (my goodness—he even passed by the opportunity to watch his favourite talk show Bark, Growl, Bite) and I was sure he would churn out a real winner by the enthusiasm with which he worked. But our dearest Dukey forgot to do one of the most important things he could do when writing anything. He forgot to research. Duke relied on his own guess work for his story and now he is most definitely regretting it.

I probably should back up and give you the whole tale. His fiction story was about Detective Rover—a wily Rottweiler who solves the most heinous crimes while maintaining his faith. The magazine published the piece because they didn’t know nor care whether Duke had done his homework. Now that sounds a bit harsh but what editor has the time to research each piece to make sure it’s accurate? They’d never get anything else done and—well to be quite honest—that’s the writer’s job anyway. And Duke didn’t do his job.

It appears that at one point in the story he mentioned the Poochy Pouch Vet Clinic and didn’t take the time to find out if there really was a Poochy Pouch Vet Clinic. Well there is. Who would’a thunk it? In his story the Poochy Pouch Vet Clinic poisoned the aging animals so that they wouldn’t be a drain on society. And now Duke has been threatened with libel—a fancy word for slander on paper.

I keep reassuring my two canine cohorts that the libel suit likely won’t go forward—that Duke must simply grovel—quite a bit—in a written retraction. I’ve already contacted Scare the Fur Off magazine and they are quite willing to print the retraction.

So the question to be asked is this? How do we research for accuracy? It’s a lot easier than one might think. The internet search has surpassed the library research engine in easy and speedy information access and yet both tools continue to be a writer’s best friend. I am not the brightest bulb in the pack so when I can’t find something on the internet, I visit my local library and ask my librarian. It would have been a simple matter for Duke to punch the name ‘Poochy Pouch Vet clinic’ into a search engine. Or he could have contacted the local government office and asked if there were any businesses registered under that name. He could have asked the librarian if she could enter the name into her database and see if anything popped up. For that matter, if Duke had wanted to find just about anything he could have visited websites such as:  www.writersresources.com,   www.writerswrite.com/journal/feb99/gak12.htm, www.zott.com/MysForum/links.htm,  www.writers.com/resources_mystery.html, and the list goes on. Try putting the words ‘writers resources’ into a search engine and see what you find.

At the very least, Duke could have saved himself this present heartache by contacting the vet clinic with a nice letter asking for permission to use their name. That is my method of choice—however; I do like to invent the villain so as to prevent this sort of debacle.

Duke is quickly discovering that research is not something he should bypass or take lightly. And Bee is learning through Duke’s—um—experiences. “Now, now, Duke. You will not be breaking rocks in the hot sun. I promise. Dry your bulging eyes, pick up your pen, and get that retraction written. And then get back to the computer and churn out more of those wonderful edgy Christian pieces.”

My nerves are stretching thin.  I'm sure some of it has to do with the controversty behind my upcoming novel Rescued.  But in the moment, the bulk of it is a result of Duke's figety behaviour.  He is planning to write a book review for my novel and it's got him tied in knots. 

I have to say, it was fun watching him read the book.  There's the initial reaction brought on by the back cover write-up.  What if there was a solution to abortion?  A solution that found favour with both pro-choice and pro-life?  You should have seen our beloved canine wrinkle those brows over glassy and bulbous eyes.  It was the the first time I actually realized Duke had eyelids.  And then the frown morphed into skepticism as though he was asking himself if a solution really was possible.  It didn't take much to convince him to read the manuscript.  The poor mutt was a veritable movie screen of emotion.  I could almost guess where he was in the script just by his facial expressions.  Anger, doubt, fear, excitement.  It was all there--which, of course, made me happy since that was part of the goal.  He didn't eat.  He didn't sleep.  He didn't want to go outside...well...you get the idea.  And then when it was finished he sighed and then fired off an email to his political representative.  Oh what I would give to read that missive!

So now Duke sits at the laptop with a frustrated expression making his whiskers twitch.  Occasionally he chews on the claws on his right hand.  Sometimes he takes a sip of his cappacino and stares off into the fields beyond the drive way.  It's got me positively a-dither.  I thought he liked the book.  I hoped he liked the book.  Better yet, I hope it inspired him to act upon the possibilities the book offers.  He types a handful of words, stares at the pile of manuscript sheets and sighs again.  So I've come to the conclusion.  Either the book is crap and Dukey is finding a polite way of saying so or it has lit a fire and he is at a loss for words. 

Please be kind Duke, my friend.  Look past the flaws and see the purpose of the book. 

He's a published puppy!  And I am witness to Duke the Chihuahua doing the Macarina across the office floor.  But wait my fuzzy friend!  Is an e-book the medium in which you wish to be published?  What about the print book? 

Duke has tossed me a look filled with disdain and promptly announced that the paper book will be a thing of the past--like eight track tapes.  Digital is the way to go.  Uh huh.  Until the power goes out.  Or the technology changes.  Or you get the silly e-reader wet.  Don't think that will make a difference my canine companion?  Well, let's talk it through here.

Who remembers the Montreal ice storm?  Six weeks with no power.  For those who experienced that extended time in the dark ages, I'm certain a good book by candle light was the only alternative to a dead computer, TV, radio...And how many people out there still use the room sized main frame computers?  Are you sure, Duke my friend, that e-readers aren't going to go the same way?  I can still take off the shelf my all time favourite book The Elegant Witch published back in the 1920's and open its pages to discover--it's not obsolete!  And I don't need a download.  Or an upgrade.  Or even a battery or power pack.  And let's be realistic my aged and arthritic associate.  How comfortable are you going to be in the hot tub, sipping on your iced cap-pup-chino while trying to juggle an e-reader?  Me?  I'll be lounging there with my double double and flipping pages with one hand.

No Duke, I don't think print books are going to go the way of the dinosaur.  There is something about reading that involves all senses.  We think our way through the words.  We smell the aging paper.  We feel the rough or smooth cover.  We hear the light crackle of pages turning.  It's all part of the experience.  I think e-books will have their time in the lime light and they may even linger but will they dominate?  Not so sure about that.

Duke is in the dumps and Bee is beside herself trying to console him.  It appears that, without my knowledge or guidance, our bold canine decided to enter some of his published work in The Word Guild Awards.  It explains why he has nearly gnawed his little claws to their stubs and why he has taken to pacing of late.  Yes, you guessed it.  He didn't make the short list.

What's a short list?  It is the list of finalists in each category.  These are the writers who will go to the Awards Gala in June where a winner will be chosen.  It seems that Duke entered his article entitled Chihuahua's--The Spiritual Side into the feature article category.  Hmm.  I wonder why it wasn't a finalist?  This is the question running through Duke's mind.

"Well Duke, if you had come to me before hand, I could have prepared you for the emotional roller coaster that goes along with contest and award entries.  I would have told you that awards are very much a biased thing.  They rely on the opinion of the judges.  Now before you grumble further, my dear pooch, you need to understand that the organizers of such a contest do their best to find the top professionals in each genre so that they can come as close to the ideal for that genre as possible.  But we are still dealing with humans and you know that we humans aren't quite as, shall we say, perfect as you Chihuahua's.  It all goes back to the writer's attitude.  My dear doggy friend, just because someone didn't think your piece was the best that was entered it doesn't mean they didn't think it was good.  Nor does it mean that they suddenly think less of you as a person.  It's probably best if you view awards as a tool to improve your skill and as a tool for marketing purposes.  Don't, for a minute, think that those who win awards are unable to learn more!  The best awards come with critiques attached.  And those critiques teach you.  Someday, your turn will come, Dukey, and you will be standing on that podium with an award of your own.  You will recognized the value of the thing after the fact when that little 'winner' sticker goes on your book and gives you an edge in the market.  Until then, my furry friend, do all you can do to polish your work for next year--and don't give up!"

He has dried his tears and given Bee a thankful hug.  He has snuggled in against my ankles and realizes that no matter what the outcome was he is still loved.  "What's that Duke?  Yes, I will pass that on."

Duke tells you not to give up hope, to keep writing and to remember that you are valued whether you win an award or not.  "Thank you Duke."

I have recently discovered that writers are an impatient bunch of people--myself included.  We write our short story, article or book manuscript and then shove it in the mail slot without further ado.  And when the rejection notice comes we go through the gamut of emotions.  Anger--how dare they reject my piece--depression--they just don't like me--determination--I'll show them--and finally we are back to the drawing board.  Is there a way to avoid the emotional roller coaster?  Most definitely and Duke the Chihuahua has been patiently showing Bee exactly how to do that.  (Who knew Bee was interested in writing when we chose her from among the nine squirming puppies?)

The two of them toodled off to Duke's writing corner where his lap top is permanently turned on and left open (someday he and I are going to discuss computer viruses and how to avoid them).  To his credit, he offered Bee a doggy treat from his secret stash in the bottom drawer of his cast-off school desk and then flipped open a file.  I couldn't resist the temptation to peek over their shoulders to see what was so fascinating.  It turns out that our toothless wonder is an organized old coot.  Every piece he has had published in his favourite magazine, Doggy Logic, (and I must admit he's had quite a few) is stored alphabetically on his laptop.  His book manuscripts are all organized under the headings of 'Book--how to chase a squirrel when you're on a leash', 'Book--the psychology of stomach scratching', 'Book--Duke the chihuahua-the early years'--well you get the point.

Duke began his instructional lecture accompanied by the clacking of aged claws on keyboard keys.  Pulling up his first file he showed Bee that he begins with an idea and writes it at the top of the page.  Then he researches all he can to find out everything about that idea and he puts the research information below it.  Next, he opens a fresh file and lays down the bare skeleton of the article or story from beginning to end.  I tried hard to bite back on my grin as I listened to the slightly pompous rendition but I must confess it wasn't easy.  Duke can be quite stuffy when he's in instructional mode.  He reminds me of a fuzzy version of Napoleon Bonaparte--who could resist laughing at that?  Bee was polite enough to overlook the airs--perhaps there was a bit of professional awe there too--but I digress. 

Proceeding through a series of files, Duke showed Bee how he builds on the research information, adding a snippet of detail here, an example there, until he feels the skeleton is assembled.  Then he puts the piece away and works on something completely different.  If it was a book manuscript then he will avoid it for three weeks or more.  If it was an article or short story a couple of days is enough time.  Then he pulls the piece out again and begins adding the flesh.  Then he avoids it again.  Then he pulls it out again.  And the process is repeated until Duke is certain that he can't do anymore with it.  It is at this point that he will prepare a query letter and send that off.  And when the editor requests the piece, it is ready and polished and waiting.

Duke explained it all to our new canine friend and then offered to proof read her first piece.  Bee looked at the lap top and then looked at Duke.  She then looked at me and asked why she doesn't have a spot in my office when she lives here while Duke has a spot in my office and is merely company.  Duke bristled up until he looked like a pint-sized porcupine.  That's usually an indication that he is more than slightly offended.  It appears that I am going to have to add another desk--and teach Bee a bit about the sensitive nature of writers.

Duke has quite literally had the rose coloured glasses yanked off.  The minute Bee stepped onto the property our feisty co-writer decided to assert his authority.  One would think a two-month-old pup would cower in fear and trepidation but not our girl.  She pulled herself upright and propperly boxed Duke's foxy ears. 

And so Duke is going through a transition.  It is not the kind referred to in the writing industry.  Duke is not trying to smoothly shift from one scene to the other so as not to jar the writer.  He isn't really concerned at this point whether he can slip from one point of view to another in the Omniscient Third Person.  He is just trying to rally his wits and retreat with a modicum of dignity.  He is transitioning from the aggressor to the benevolent dictator--and not quite successfully.

Transitions, in order to be successful, need to be smooth which is why Bee is laughing behind her paw at Duke's stiff-legged and jaunty trot back to the safety of his pet human.  Transitions are like the grease that coats a bearing or gear.  Like the jam between the toast.  Like the threads that are joined when one skein of yarn ends and another begins.  They must be seemless and strong. 

Setting transitions involve action for example:  The pungent scent of burnt toast lingered in the air.  Dishes lay in the sink calling out to be washed.  The room sat in dim shadow adding to her mood. She sat in the kitchen and moped.  Enough of this! Grabbing her hat and umbrella, she yanked open the door and stepped out into the pouring rain.  The damp air surrounded her and pulled at her carefully straightened hair causing it to spring to life.  The smell of dew worms and lilacs mingled to create the common smell of spring.

Ok so you see how we transitioned from one setting to another and we do so in a way that the reader doesn't feel jarred.  In the same way we can do this with point of view.  In Omniscient Third Person writing we have the right to jump from head to head.  So let's try it. 

Damien sat on the couch and pondered his first date with Marsha.  Did she like him?  Would she commit to seeing him again.  He thought about her wavy hair and round eyes.  Would those eyes be looking his way again?  He wondered what she was doing right now.  Little did he know that she was also sitting on her couch thinking of him.  And she was wondering about the man who had gallantly opened doors for her and pulled out chairs.  What would it be like to have a man do that for her for the rest of her life?  Marsha wondered.

We went from one head to the other with a smooth transition.  Omniscient Third Person is the only point of view writing in which we are permitted to do this which is why the transitional phrases need to be subtle and smooth.

So Duke, perhaps you should stick to writing transitions.  That flip-flop from 'I'm the boss' to 'I'm indifferent' wasn't the smoothest thing I've seen.  And quit trying to rip up your romance novel.  Give Bee a chance.  I'm sure she will fall in love with it and you.

Duke is fairly tap-dancing in his excitement.  He's expecting the arrival of our new Sheppard pup.  What he doesn't know is that she will grow and while he is bigger now, she will dwarf him within six months.  And I'm not going to enlighten him either.  As soon as he found out he began creating the most exquisite romance writing that I think I've ever read.  One doesn't expect a dimensionally challenged canine with the masculine name of Duke to write in such a--shall we say--flowery genre.  What's a genre?  It is a category in which writing is put.

There are a bazillion genres out there these days so let's go over a few.  As Duke and I understand it, we have mystery.  This is a 'whodunnit' type of story with a murder and a detective type who usually solves the case.  We then have thrillers.  But isn't that the same? you may ask.  Nope.  A thriller is intrigue on an international scale.  It typically involves an international crisis that must be stopped just before a bomb explodes or an epidemic takes over.  Then there is suspense.  I know you may be balking at this point but I kid you not.  It is a separate genre.  And it involves detective work on a national scale.  There is a difference but it is all in the scope of the story.  Then we have sci-fi stories.  They are usually set on another planet and involve technological detail.  Fantasy--a story told in another time or dimension and often involving magic.  Romance is in a class of its own since it out-sells pretty much every other genre.  Ah!  There's nothing like a good love story.  And romance centers around the growing love between two main characters.

Where we usually get into trouble is in the mixing of genres.  We have mystery/romance.  Or sci-fi/fantasy.  And Duke has gone one further than most.  He has chosen to write an inspirational/western/mystery/fantasy/romance novel in honour of the new love of his life.  Ho boy!