The fishless fisherman

I visited a local PetSmart yesterday to soothe a gnawing irrational ache to adopt another pet. First we went to one store but found out the volunteers from a local rescue shelter hadn't brought the dogs.

So then we drove a few miles away to another PetSmart and discovered about ten dogs from a different rescue group camped outside the front doors with their volunteers.

I coaxed my husband to pet a few of the dogs with me.

When I finally asked about the adoption requirements I was told I needed to have vet references. I said I hadn't had a pet in ten years and that was in a different state. The woman in charge said I could apply but rarely do they make exceptions.

Okay--by this time I was feeling a little frustrated. I love animals and suddenly felt like my former pet owner status meant nothing.

So I went a little further and asked her what they would do if I'd never owned a pet before but I wanted to adopt one of their dogs.

She said they would refer me to another rescue shelter.

By this time, my husband had stopped petting the dogs and stood quietly by my side.

So what does my pet search experience have to do with writing, you ask?

Quite a lot.

This pet rescue group probably dreams about adopting out their dogs. They probably even sit in meetings discussing all the pets they will save and put in good homes. They might even buy a fancy van to transport their dogs back and forth to the store every weekend. When they show up with with their dogs and fold up chairs, they smile when people tell them what a great group they are for doing what they do.

But rarely do they adopt out any dogs.

Ok--what about writing?

Think about this. How many people show up at their desks every morning? They probably even turn on their computers and check their emails. I bet they even thumb through a few pages of the The Writer magazine. They might even go so far as to meet with other writers at a writers' group. When people ask what they do, they proudly say "I'm a writer."

But rarely do they write any stories.

Now maybe like the dog rescue group, they have these rules that make it hard for them to do what they want to do. Maybe a publisher doesn't pay enough or the word count is too long. Or maybe the genre is one that they don't care to try or maybe, just maybe . . . they are afraid to get rejected.

They call themselves writers but never write.

Are your restrictions holding you back from accomplishing your goals? Are you spending more time thinking and dreaming about writing than actually writing?

An editor is waiting to adopt your story, your article or your book. Don't make them go to another writer.