The Problem with Plot

I hope everyone had a good holiday season. As always, I'm attempting to start the shiny new year with renewed vigor. Although I don't have many specific resolutions, unlike the farm animals I've heard, the new year always gives me a reason to re-boot my intentions and take a fresh look at the things I've done and the things I would like to do.

Enter writing.

I was crafty enough with my 2013 resolutions to avoid anything as bold as "write a bestseller" or "win the Pulitzer." Instead, I merely wrote: "make progress in fiction writing." Oh, Anna, you're so smart. "Make progress?" Why, that could be defined simply as having sharpened all my pencils. That would be progress.

Although I woefully slacked in writing anything close to a draft of a novel last year, I worked on some short stories, which is still new territory for me and counts, I think, in my fiction writing progress.

Over the last month, however, I had an idea for a story (scary, I know). The idea came from a delightful book I was reading, The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs, by Alexander McCall Smith. Second in McCall Smith's series on Portuguese Irregular Verbs, this lighthearted book follows a wonderfully sympathetic, academically traditional, and mildly irrational German language professor, Prof. Dr. Mortiz-Maria von Igelfeld, in various escapades, one of which involved a case of mistaken identity. In this story, von Igelfeld is mistakenly thought to be a veterinarian. Not wanting to be rude and cause undue attention to this faux paus, he masquerades as a DVM and expert in sausage dogs. Please, if you are a vet, a dog lover, and/or any other sort of human being, read this story. It is hilarious.

My own idea for a story also involves mistaken identity. And yet, when one works with such a plot device, one also needs a resolution. This is where I'm running into trouble. I don't yet know how the main character reveals her true identity.

Frantically finishing McCall Smith's book in hope of answers on his plot resolution, I was let down. The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs is really a collection of vignettes, with von Igelfeld flitting from one scenario to the other. Don't get me wrong, this still makes for a very enjoyable read. But if you're looking for tips on how to resolve a crisis such as mistaken identity, you won't find it in this book.

Desperate for some other examples, I thought to look at the father of all mistaken identity stories, the great Bard himself. Shakespeare employed this plot device in numerous plays, frequently in comedies. Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night are just two examples of such plots, but as I reviewed these with a closer eye, I noticed many cases involve twins.

My story doesn't have twins.

And so I'm stuck with an unsolved plot. This got me wondering how other writers solve such problems. Have you ever been gung ho on a story and then came to a screeching halt when you couldn't figure how to work something out? Or, worse, have you been halfway through writing a story and realized you were stuck for a solution? How many story ideas have you scrapped for lack of conclusion?

Not that I'm letting this little issue keep me up at night. Well, it kept me up for two nights. But that's it. One of the many dilemmas for a writer: letting your character's life problems keep you up!

Weekly Wags

Playing a little catch-up with some weekly wagginess. Feast your beady little eyeballs on these pet, vet, or writer-ly features:

1. Knit hats for your cats. I Tweeted an aviator cat knit hat earlier this week and people went crazy. As they should. I think my cat Tuna needs one of each. Seriously. I will fund the brilliant, creative, talented woman who is doing this. Meredith Yarborough, I love you.



















2. Space Coast Half Marathon. Ran this bad boy in Cocoa, FL, on Dec. 1. Enjoyed it thoroughly (it was a flat course), enjoyed the pizza and pancakes even more at the end. And in ecstasy at being able to do my most favorite thing in the world (beach combing) in DECEMBER!

Finisher's medal for half marathon

If only every day could begin with a beach sunrise

3. The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman. Just found out this morning Ms. Hoffman has this new book coming out in Feb 2014. Sounds delightful to me. I've read a few of her other works. I first discovered her by picking up a copy of Turtle Moon at a used book sale in England and I remember reading and enjoying it that summer (I was in high school). Happy memory :)

4. Top 10 Books of 2013, according to the Washington Post. Well, I haven't read any of these. And briefly feel like a degenerate. But then I remember that life is too short to waste time on books I don't want to read. But it's an interesting list, nonetheless.

5. Infrared study in Sweden looks at animal noses. Very cool images. And I love the idea of taking pictures of a Labrador while he slumbers away, totally oblivious of the fact that you are carefully studying and documenting his nose (photo below).

 

What is it about dog bloggers? *guest blogger!*

Through my internet travels over the recent years, I have visited many an animal blog, pet blog, vet blog, and writer blog. I have wasted many an evening watching silly cat videos and cool dog Tumblr accounts, and almost convinced myself I needed this:

I ask you: who DOESN'T need a unicorn horn for their cat???

One thing I began to notice in these cyber travels is that dog bloggers seem to dominate the pet blogs. Dog bloggers are EVERYWHERE, in fact, and their love for their canines is infectious. Now, I mean, we all love dogs, right? So why do dog bloggers stand out? Why isn't there an enthusiastic army of Shetland pony bloggers or llama bloggers? Exactly what is it about dog bloggers?

To help answer my question, I turned to a friend and yes, dog blogger, for help. And thus, ladies and gentlemen and assorted scoundrels, I present to you my very first guest blogger! I am very pleased to introduce Carol Bryant, founder of Fidose of Reality, a canine-centric online magazine dog blog where dog lovers of the highest order unite, co-founder of Wigglebutt Warriors, crusading to save dogs’ lives through a variety of creative fundraisers, and the PR and Marketing Manager for BlogPaws. Most importantly, Carol shares her home with Dexter, her Cocker Spaniel.

Carol and Dexter! (credit: Carol Bryant)

Without further ado, take it away, Carol!

What is it about dog bloggers? 

by Carol Bryant

I am a dog mom. I love it when folks call me a dog mom; I never grimace, furrow a brow, or correct them. In fact, a sense of pride swells in me. 

I have the great fortune of pursuing my dreams and my passion of a career with, for, and about dogs. I embrace that I do things with my dog as we approach 2014, that perhaps others who went before me did not (or could not) do with their pooches. My name is Carol Bryant, and I am a dog blogger.

Dog bloggers are a force with which to be reckoned. In a study I read about a year ago (Trone Brand Energy), a reported 20 percent of pet bloggers are considered highly influential and have monthly readerships of at least 10,000 readers. Three-quarters of these influencers have blogged for at least three years in order to build a steady, loyal following. Influencers report dealing with at least six or more pet care brands from a marketing perspective.

For many, dogs are the new kids, present company included.

Over the course of the last several years, there has been a tremendous boom in the pet blogger space, and we continue to grow as a niche market. 

Do you ever feel like this: "I know what pet parents want. I go to the shows, walk the expos, interact with the brands and my dog and his pack of friends participate in frequent play dates."

Or maybe: "I see the toys and water bowls, and read the food and treat labels with the scrutiny of a trained pet product expert's eye. I tell my friends, who are the key purchasing parties in their households for pet supplies."

Me too. And thousands, if not millions, of others. We are dog bloggers.

We take all of this information and our passion, knowledge, and love affair by and about dogs and we blog. 

So what is it about dog bloggers in particular? If you've been to a BlogPaws Conference, you know the energy, the enthusiasm, networking, idea exchange, and layers of relationships that are formed. Pet bloggers in general are the industry's rock stars.

The American Pet Products Association's National Pet Owner Survey for 2011-2012 revealed that in the past 10 years, use of the internet has more than doubled as a pet care information provider. Dog bloggers are influencing pet parents.

I could spend an entire afternoon reciting statistics that bark in favor of the pet industry and the power and responsibility of the pet blogger. Dino Dogan, founder of Triberr.com, perhaps said it best when he shared, "You guys are the celebrities of the future. You guys are the taste makers and influences. You guys are the force to be reckoned with."

My dog is a business card with fur. He introduces me to people, invites strangers to pet him, and in turn, a conversation ensues. Some of the best "social" media moments in my life have happened at the other end of a leash. My Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, is my best friend, confidant, inspiration for a rescue fundraising group I've co-founded, and most of all: the muse for my dog blog. 

A perfect gentleman, Dexter obliging for an interview (credit: Carol Bryant)

Dog bloggers strike a nerve in the hearts of millions of readers because we are a raw, honest, unconditionally giving, aim-to-please bunch, just like the dogs who inspire us. Follow me at Fidose of Reality: where dog owners of the highest order unite.

Aren't they neat, the people that you meet?

Previously on this blog I've discussed my introverted-ness and how that influences my work as a writer and veterinarian. I'll be honest: when writing, I used to develop anxiety whenever a magazine article assignment required interviews. Always wanting to conduct interviews via email so I didn't have to actually talk to anyone, I began to realize that really the best soundbites came from a live interview (over the phone in most of my cases). Getting a feel for the person, a live interview gives the conversation a certain dynamic that emailed questions simply can't create. A live interview can also take you places you wouldn't have expected and add more detail or intrigue to the article itself. There are several decent websites on conducting interviews, like here and here.

What I'm about to tell you is strictly off the record...

Beyond getting a good story, however, there's also the people factor. The simple fact is: I've met some really cool people through interviews.

Most of the interviews I've been conducting lately are for articles on pets or livestock (go figure). Many interviews are with other veterinarians, like equine surgeons or feline specialists, answering questions like: what's the first thing you recommend when a horse owner suspects colic? Or: what are the most common diseases seen in older cats?

Once in a while, I do get to write less vet med-themed pieces. For the October 2013 issue of Dog Fancy magazine, I wrote a piece on how dog owners are involving their animals in social media. This allowed me to talk to several creative dog owners about how and why they blog, Tweet, and Facebook about their pets. One interviewee really stood out in my mind for her creativity: Jessica Rhae Williams. Creator of the blog youdidwhatwithyourwiener, Jessica hikes the wilds of Washington state with her two Dachshunds Chester and Gretel to get fit, break stereotypes, and fight pet obesity. Also president of the Adventurewiener Club of Seattle, Jessica's sense of humor and her message left a mark in my memory for sure.

Just a wiener on an adventure.

More recently, another interviewee has left an even bigger impression on me, and for more than the interview-based information. About a month ago, I was writing an online feature for the magazine Modern Farmer about Rocky Mountain Oysters (fried bull testicles). Needing some first-hand knowledge on how to cook these bad boys, I spoke to a woman in Virginia City, Nevada named Brandi Lee. Brandi is a multi-time winner at the Virginia City Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry and has been competing for over 20 years. As if these facts weren't enough to reserve Brandi a permanent place in Anna's Memory Hall of Fame, at the very end of our phone interview, after chatting about our dogs, Brandi said to me, "You know what else I used to do? I used to race ostriches."

What?

At first I thought I heard "raise ostriches." Thinking that was a little unusual but then again I know folks in Maryland with emus, the conversation continued into the mundane. However, a phrase about jockeys soon popped into the dialogue and I put one and one together: RACE not RAISE ostriches. This changed the game entirely.

Brandi allowed that she also used to race water buffalo and camels. "When I do something, I get right in the middle of it," she said. I could imagine.

Fast forward one month and the Modern Farmer article was published online. I sent Brandi a link and was delighted to hear that she loved it. A few back and forth email exchanges later and this week what showed up in my mailbox, but an original copy of the June 1974 issue of National Geographic magazine. On page 747 is a full color photo of a woman racing an ostrich (see below). It is the one and only Brandi Lee.

Go, Brandi, go!

To boot, the photo had also been autographed for a nice personalized touch. I now officially have an ostrich-racing, bull testicle-eating 21st century pen pal who I would never have met if it weren't for that interview. Now instead of feeling anxious to conduct an interview, I'm looking forward to my next phone call. Who knows who I'll meet next. 

Weekly Wags

TGIF, people. TGIF. Here's some stuff to feast your greedy little peepers on over the weekend.

1. Animal photobombs are always the best, but when the photo-bomber is a horse and the photo-bomb-ee is the Queen of England, you've gone to a whole other level.

2. Wordbirds by Liesl Schillinger. This creative book is an illustrated guide to the author's made-up words that add a little literary oomph to the 21st century. Read a great blurb on the book here.

3. Cats in tights. It's not quite what you think (actually, a little creepier than what I originally thought), but cats in people clothes are always good.

4. Do you want to write or do you want to be a writer? Good post on the topic. I found it on The Rumpus, where you can always count on getting a good punch in the gut when you need one.

5. New theory posted by National Geographic on the domestication of dogs.

Random Reading Recommendations or The Old Geiser's Guide to Books for Anna

Last Saturday, I was at my local library gleefully checking out books with my husband when we noticed to our utter delight that A BOOK SALE WAS OCCURRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This, next to hikes in the National Parks, chocolate, kittens, and Labradors, is the best thing in the world. Naturally, we went by for a look-see. Naturally-er, we bought about ten books.

While I was there, rummaging through a box labeled "non-fiction hardback" ($1 each!!!!!), a random older gentleman approached me with a book in his hand.

"You might find this interesting," he said. "It's a first edition 1909 copy about a woman basketball player."

Nodding politely and feigning interest, I took the book from him (only to put it down later when he was gone, seeing as I am not at all interested in basketball, female or otherwise). This is not the first time a random older gentleman has politely directed me toward a book about women and I am left wondering: is this happening to other people as well????

Another recent example occurred early this summer, when we were in Seattle. Visiting the Flying Heritage Collection, a small, well-organized airplane museum, one of the volunteer docents approached me and directed me to their only female-themed exhibit: The Night Witches. An actually fascinating story, The Night Witches were young Russian women who, during World War II, flew bi-planes at night over German camps to terrify the troops.

So, ok. Thank you random old guy for guiding me to learn about something interesting. I am not wholly unappreciative. But I do notice there is a theme here: Older Gentleman Sees Young(ish) Woman And Impulsively Directs Her Toward Female-Centric Book, Exhibit, Etc.

I'm not sure what to make of this. These aren't perverts here. And they all seem genuinely invested in whatever they are recommending to me. And hey, I like to talk books with just about anyone. Trying not to have my indignant feminist head get carried away with the fact that they aren't exactly recommending books about locomotives or space travel, I also recognize they aren't directing me to the cookbooks either. So what's a young(ish) book-loving woman to do?

Maybe nothing. Maybe just sit back and observe what people think I might be interested in. Maybe next time it'll be a book on UFOs or stingrays or alien stingrays on UFOs. And that would probably be even more baffling.

Weekly Wags

Here's the haps this week in the world of animals and writing.

1. Cassowarys

Reading a recent National Geographic magazine, I discovered the large, flightless bird called the Cassowary. Living in a select portion of Australia and Papua New Guinea, this awesome (and I think beautiful) bird lives on fruits and seeds. And the male rears the young!












2. S. Sgt. Reckless

This little mare was the pride of the Marines during the Korean War. Used to carry ammunition and artillery, this incredible animal was trained to ignore gun fire, explosions, and general mayhem. She was promoted to Staff Sergeant.










3. Maddie on Things

While not new news, this Tumblr account is just neat. A rescued Coonhound, Maddie is photographed standing, sitting, sleeping, etc., in unusual (unusual for a dog at least) places. Just a nice site to visit when you need a break.













4. Hemingway's cats

Hemingway liked cats. Loved cats. And although I'm still trying to figure out my opinion of Hemingway, I like that he liked cats. And that's that.















5. NaNoWriMo

That's National Novel Writing Month for you newbies. And NaNoWriMo is in November, so WHAT ARE YOU DOING???? GET A WRITIN'!!!!!!!!!!