Five Word Friday
Today’s five words come from a story that Mom is revising this week.
6. Trash – I have always wished I could figure out how to get pizza crusts, eggshells, napkins, banana peels, and many other delicious things out of the garbage pail.
Let me in. I know there are chicken bones in there. Why am I so tiny?
I love trash! Mom doesn’t love trash, especially when one of her stories ends up in the trash bin on her computer. If she starts a story and then gets stuck, she sets it aside for a while, works on other things, and then goes back to it. If it still stinks and it’s still going nowhere, she trashes it and starts over.
If she put a little jelly on that trash, I’d help her out with that. Mmmmm. Jelly.
14. Flop – Mom reads tons of picture books. Some fly and some flop.
When she reads a flop, she says, “Ugh. I want that 5 minutes back!” The weather is getting colder here, so I can’t take as many street naps as I did in the summer.
Even when it’s way too cold, I still flop down and give it a shot. Mom says, “If you’re wearing a sweater, it’s too cold to sit on the ground.” When I ignore her, she says, “Ugh. I want that 5 minutes back.”
8. Outside – I love outside. There are squirrels, leaves, acorns, grass, and dog friends.
I also love inside. There are toys, treats, trash, my blankie, and Mom. Sometimes it’s tough to choose.
74. Useful – Critique groups are useful. Mom’s group called LindaVijiConnieJenandOtherJen help her get ideas, change ideas, and fix ideas that stink.
5. Sneakers – Mom wears sneakers, but they do not make her fast at all. When we walk down the hall at our house, she is so slow! I have to show her how to get us home (and out of the scary hallway) in a more efficient way.
So when Mom sits down and writes something new or fixes something old or submits something she likes or works with her 
Sometimes, we go to the park.
Sometimes, she teaches me 
Sometimes, she leaves me alone like a dog, and reads books at the 
Is she a writer then? Well, not a straight-up writer, but still a writer. She says, “I’m getting ideas” and “I need to keep it fresh” and “Staying current is important” and “I’m mind-writing” and “Let’s get moving, weirdo. We’re burning daylight, here!”
And when I fail better, it’s random 
Mom on the other hand tries. Lately, she’s been working on old and new stories and submitting them to 
Meanwhile she has small successes along the way like seeing her new stories get more focused on their themes. And she gets to see her old stories go off in new directions.
My progress goes in many different directions. I’ve recently changed my street nap technique when the street burned my butt. #fail
I moved to the sidewalk. Mom said, “This isn’t much better.” and “Still embarrassing.” and “Why can’t you be normal?”
When she takes me 
Now I just beg for food because sharing is caring. And Mom shares!
Mom said, “What are you afraid of?” and “Want to play?” and “I feel like I’m being watched.”
Today’s 5 words were taken from Mom’s newest story. The story is finished, but not finished. It’s resting until she opens it again to change things – especially the ending. Mom likes when her stories end with a laugh or a gasp or a smile
or an unexpected pop. When she tucked this one away, the 
9. Color – Stories should have color: colorful characters, colorful language, colorful pictures, and a long colorful life in the hands of children. Since we have lots of color in our home
and our lives,
Mom hopes to transfer that color to her work every day.
hitting the park,
or just basking.
5. Broom and dustpan – Because of my 
Waiting for a response from a publisher or an agent – also tough. But Mom does it. All writers do.
She talks to kids and listens to kids. She does work with her critique group online. And of course, she watches 
Mom always has the choice of playing with me while she waits. I like practicing my tricks and walking around the neighborhood
and napping.
And of course, I watch TV. And I watch Mom watch TV.
I hope he brings treats and toys and maybe a new dress for me. I’m sure most of my furfriends and humanfriends are also waiting for 
And bingo, things she doesn’t want in her story are gone for good. And 
Some of Mom’s 
I’m glad erasing can’t happen to me. I’d have been gone for good a long time ago. Mom might have replaced me with a better doggie! Whenever she brushes me, she says, “Now you look pretty.” and “Maybe you’ll stop shedding all over the place.” and “I’m going to make a new dog out of all this hair and THROW YOU IN THE GARBAGE.” Gah! She can’t do that. Can she…?
Mom has to 
I don’t mind when she erases them. I can always make more.
And more.
And more…
Today’s five words come from one of the stories Mom is working on these days. Sadly, the story has no 
6. Sky – I watch the sky a lot. You never know when a blimp might fly over and try to kill you. I saw one once, and I barked at it a lot. Then when I was sure it was about to pounce, I hid behind Mom’s chair.
I also watch the ceiling when I’m in the elevator at my building. It’s dangerous like the sky.
Every single day, there’s a dog up there that looks EXACTLY like me! #it’sterrifying
Mom studied at webinar school last week. She studied Picture Books in Focus. Now she has some new and fresh ideas. I am not allowed to be fresh, but apparently, her ideas are.
I wonder if they’re allowed to be stubborn. I’m not!
Why can’t I just be a dog…?
But it’s not. She’s still a writer, though. She gets ideas, writes brand new stories, fixes up ratty old stories, works with her critique group, submits stories to publishers, agents, and 
The 
and got a new stuffed bunny with FIVE squeakers.
Mom enjoys it a lot and says the word, “Look at the cute bunny!” and “Do you like your new toy?” and “Stop it! SHUT THAT THING UP!” That’s good… Right…? She likes it so much that sometimes she threatens to throw it in the garbage. Wait. What?
For my birthday road trip, we went for a ride to the reservoir where I had a staring contest with a baby turtle, and met lots of people who petted me and said I was cute.
a million birds, a ton of chipmunks, a spider, a 
Surprise! To her, it seemed funny, but it wasn’t what it seemed. Oh well. At least she knows what to work on.
Plus if we see another dead snake, I plan to roll on it and smear his guts all over my furs and smear my furs all over his guts. If I’m quick enough I may be able to pull it off this time. …unless it’s another shoelace.
Cupcake Speaks 