Lance: A Spirit Unbroken
  • Home
  • Chapter One
  • Author Bio
  • Reviews
  • Photos
  • Buy the Book
  • Walter's Blog
  • Lance's Blog
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Chapter One
  • Author Bio
  • Reviews
  • Photos
  • Buy the Book
  • Walter's Blog
  • Lance's Blog
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Contact
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Lance’s Dog Patch
A blog by the author of: Lance: A Spirit Unbroken

4/30/2021 Comments

Dogs and Cats being Dogs and Cats!

Video Source:  ​https://www.cyclerides.com

Can Dogs Talk?

Early in the process of writing Lance: A Spirit Unbroken, I joined a critiquing group. It was the single best thing I did to improve my writing. Subjecting my work to others’ criticism wasn’t easy for me, but better to learn from fellow writers before publishing, than learn the hard way from readers after publishing. In those early critiquing sessions, I was told to do two things: get rid of the big words and write less formally. The former was relatively easy to accomplish; the latter required a leap of faith on my part but I'm confident the book became a lot more conversational by the time it got published.

Along the way, one of my fellow critiquers suggested that I make Lance a talking dog. Other members of the group rolled their eyes, but he was dead serious. I thought about his suggestion, but not for too long. To do such a thing would have changed the trajectory and the mood of Lance’s story and, in my mind, diminished the serious purpose I had for writing the book. That purpose was to raise awareness re: animal maltreatment and, hopefully, inspire the reader to take action.

Though Lance and I did not have oral conversations (except for the occasional bite!), I feel there were times when he and I communicated mentally, beyond his obeying a command or understanding words like “treat” or “hike.” For example, not once, but twice, he escaped from his abusive owners’ property and showed up on my doorstep. Wasn’t that a silent cry for help? 

In the book, Lance occasionally "talks" to me, not in quotes but in italics. I’ve wondered at times if a reader might find my communication with Lance a stretch, but so far no one has commented to that effect.

How about you? Do you have “conversations” with your dog? What has your dog “told” you and vice versa?
Comments
    Author Biography
    ​​

    Walter Stoffel is a substance abuse counselor and GED teacher in correctional facilities. When not behind bars, he likes to read, travel, work out and watch bad movies. Major accomplishment : He entered a 26.2-mile marathon following hip replacement surgery and finished—dead last. The author currently lives with his wife Clara, their dog Buddy (another rescue), and cat Winky (yet another rescue).

    Subscribe to Lance's Dog Patch Blog Updates

    Let's share humorous and touching stories, and also helpful info that will make dogs' lives better!

    * indicates required

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    August 2018
    February 2018
    April 2017

    Categories

    All About Dogpatch Blog Dogs And Convicts Dogs As Therapy Lance: A Spirit Unbroken Book

    RSS Feed

Lance: A Spirit Unbroken  ©2017-19 Walter Stoffel.
Home  |  Author Bio  |  Chapter One  |  ​Reviews  |  Buy the Book  |  Contact