Fixed

When I first came here, I had to be fixed. I wasn’t broken, but getting fixed was about not getting any more puppies in my belly. That’s fine with me.

My puppies were adopted at the shelter where I “lived” (and by lived, I mean barely existed) before I was rescued. Nowadays, I feel that puppies would take away some of Mom’s attention – which belongs 100% on ME. Plus, I use my belly for other things, named treats.

Mom’s story for the Highlights Annual Fiction Contest wasn’t broken, either.

But, boy oh boy, did it need to be fixed. Mom’s cyberclassmates and her cyberteacher from the Contest Magic class gave suggestion after suggestion and asked important questions that made Mom think of important answers and make important changes. At the end of it all, the story was a LOT better than it started out. Like me!

Before

After

Some things Mom learned were:

1. She is a mental case when it comes to commas.  (She, kind, of, already, knew, that,,,)

2. The story problem needs to be close to the beginning of the story.

Help!

3. Readers need to learn about characters by what they say and what they do.

4. A problem can’t solve itself. Characters need to work at it and make the solution happen. And it can’t be too easy.

5. Conflict and tension are important. (Mom stinks at both of them.)

6. Sometimes, even your favorite parts of a story need to be cut. It might be scary and hurt a little, but it has to be done.

It’s like getting my nails trimmed. Like it or not, it has to be done….