In my blog, I try for a conversational tone to let the readers feel like I am sharing part of my life. I don’t think this is necessarily the ideal way to build readership, but that’s just me. I am happy with the progress that has been made on my novel. When I retired on April 2nd, I had about 40,000 words written though I had been stalled there for several years. I actually started writing in April of 2014. Since April of this year, I have added more than 20,000 words, edited several chapters, and submitted several for critiques. I mentioned in a previous blog, Like an Old Man In a High School English Class, that I am just learning to write, and getting critiques from other writers really helps me see where I need to make improvements. Initially, it was hard because I had so many grammatical errors it was hard to get to the real writing issues. Now that I have software to help me with those it is easier to understand the issues that occur regularly in my writing. The major plotline is nearly complete with the current 60,000 words. I still need to flesh out a couple of sub-plots and rewrite the entire novel based on the input I have received. My goal is to have a submittable first draft completed this year. I also hope to post the prologue on this site once I completed the rewrite to get some feedback from my followers so be sure to subscribe so you can be notified when it is posted.
Since Bailey is still the most popular topic in my blog, I thought I would let you know how she handles the fourth of July and all of the fireworks. As I mentioned she is a fearful dog. (Bailey Becomes My Dog) She does not like the noise from the fireworks and tries to hide. This year has been especially hard since she reacts the same way to thunder and we are in a typical summer pattern of regular afternoon and evening thunderstorms. We bought a thunder shirt which does help a little but does not keep her calm. When she is home we put the shirt on her and if the thunder or fireworks are not too loud, she will lay at my feet while I sit on the sofa. When the fireworks or thunder is louder she will hide either under the kitchen table or in the back bedroom. Her anxiety causes her to breathe rapidly and stay alert not relaxing. She won’t even go outside to go to the bathroom. If I do get her outside, she is okay until she hears the bang. Then she will turn and go immediately to the door and inside through the dog door if the main door is opened.
Yesterday, we took her to the park during the afternoon, hoping we would avoid the fireworks and she could get some exercise. We made it not quite halfway around the park when someone in the neighborhood sent up a rocket that exploded with a loud bang. I was glad I had left her on the leash because she would have bolted at the noise. As it was, we turned around and headed back to the truck. Her leash manners were not good. She pulled trying to hurry back to a safe place. She spent the entire afternoon either at my feet or under the kitchen table and all evening hiding in the back bedroom where my wife had put the portable kennel we use on vacations. She stayed in there until late last night before coming to her regular kennel where she usually sleeps.
I don’t think people without fearful dogs know the anxiety they cause setting off fireworks, especially in our city where fireworks are illegal within the city limits. I understand the need for the celebration and am participated myself when I was younger. However, I don’t really understand the need for the fireworks to last for the two weeks around the holiday. Maybe I am just old and don’t like seeing Baily stressed. If you have an opinion on this or other of my blogs please fill out the comment form and subscribe to get updates.