I am writing a short story (fictional documentary) for our local humane society (working title: “Diary of A Stray”) , and I want to write it from the dog’s point of view. I have several questions I’d like for y’all to help me with, if you would?
Write all his thoughts in italics or not?
Since I am donating my time and the story would be educational in nature, I am wondering if there might be a grant available to publish this so that it would not have to come out of the humane society budget?
Is there a website/board available to edit this story for me and if not,
Would any of y’all be interested in editing it in return for credit once we publish?
I’d say that if the whole story is from the dog’s point of view, there’s no need to write his thoughts in italics (unless there’s something you want to specifically emphasize).
and 3. No idea on these.
I’d be happy to edit it for you. (As far as my bona fides go, I’m a technical writer who’s also done some freelance editing for roleplaying game companies).
Sounds like a cool story! I hope it has a happy ending for the dog…
That’s a creative decision for you to make. The only thing I can say is that if a significant amount of the text is italic, it detracts from the meaning.
2 and 3, not that I know of
I’d be happy to edit too. Havn’t done much in a while, but back in college I did quite a bit of freelance ediiting for creative writing projects.
For help with editing and other writing suggestions, you can go To the Absolute Write boards
There’s a forum where you can post your work to garner critique and opinions, and a lot of other helpful threads floating around in the other forums.
That depends on how you’re writing it. If it’s a “stream-of-consciousness” type thing - that is, everything written is going on in the dog’s head - then no. On the other hand, if there’s some things that go on inside, and some outside the dog’s head, then yes, the thoughts should be set off somehow.
I don’t have the time to look it up right now, but there is a book published every year by the PEN American Center. You could check that.
Not that I know of.
I would be willing to as well, although I’m not sure I’d make a good editor.
I’ve seen it done both ways. Either way, the reader adjusts. The main point of the italics, however, is to distinguish it from what the character is saying. So unless you think readers will mistake a thinking dog for a talking dog, they’re less necessary than for a human character.
If you go to the reference section of a large library, you can find books listing grants that can be applied for. Most grants require both a written proposal and a written report at the end of the grant, as well as budget and accounting forms. The lead time can be a year or more. That would be more work than writing the story.
On the other hand, your humane society may have a list of individual or corporate donors, one or more of which may be interested in sponsoring this special project.
possibly, but no clue where
Sure, depending on what kind of editing you need. I’d be more at home with technical editing than, say, character development and whatnot.
Good luck with the story. Sounds like a Worthy Endeavor.
I’m an English major focusing on things like editing, and I’ve done a good bit of it at my internship with the local Department of Cultural Affairs, but really, you don’t want too many cooks marking up the pot with red ink.
I’d be happy to read it and provide some productive criticism, though.
Looks like most of your questions have been addressed, but as to publishing: Maybe you can check out some of the local publishing places (depending on how many copies you need, even a small printshop might do it), and ask if they’ll do it for free as a donation, or maybe donate a portion of the cost.
Places LOVE to have a mention in a book, especially if they come out looking like heroes for supporting an organization like this one.
I’d sure like to read it, my email is in my profile.
I read an old book, as a kid, Beautiful Joe, published in 1897. It was the “autobiography” of a dog, much the same way “Black Beauty” was the autobiography of a horse. Neither used italics.
I like happy endings too, but Joe had a harrowing early life, As he described it, his mother, he himself, and littermates were shockingly treated, until one day the drunken owner came in and killed all the puppies by throwing them one by one against the wall. Joe was the last, and the owner chopped off his tail and ears, leaving him to die. He eventually ended up with kind people, I don’t remember how. But as Victorianly melodramatic as the story was, it sure stuck with the little kid I was then, giving me contempt at the age of eight for anyone who would willfully harm helpless animals.
Just to toss it out there, CafePress does books now.
If you format the thing the way you want it and print it to a .pdf file, they will print it on demand for anyone who orders. Base price for a “perfect-bound” paperback (your regular, run-of-the-mill paperback book with a flat spine) is $7 + ($0.03 x # of pages). So a 100-page book would cost you $10 apiece wholesale. They have other options, of course, but if you don’t want to deal with a publisher and printer and whatnot and you’d rather do everything yourself (right down to the cover art), I’d consider CafePress.
(note: I haven’t used this service, I just think it’s cool)
Just kidding. As a dog lover, I find any dog movie a primal draw. I have no idea about production, but for editing do you have a University near you? Assuming it’s a production to benefit something like the Humane Society, it would be damn hard for a school to deny letting students have a go at it. 2 reasons.
Let’s be honest, how hard is it to find a University that would deny help to a charity involving animals?
The students have paid their tuition, why not use it as a learning tool benefitting 3 parties? The school, the student and the Humane Society.
If this project gets off the ground, I’d love to see it. Unless you go Ole Yeller on it. I’m still trying to get over that.
I knew I could count on my fellow Dopers to help me with this!
The format is going to be very simple, almost a children’s book: very easily read, but hopefully making an impact by describing what happens to a pet when it is deserted by its owner, from pick-up by animal shelter personnel to (hopefully) subsequent adoption…
This story does have a happy ending, but many do not, and that’s the underlying message we are trying to convey.
I would like to add that this idea did not originate with me. It was the idea of my very best friend in the world who thinks I can do this. Because I love her and respect what she does for all the animals in our county, I am willing to try.
I will post a link to the story once it reaches the final stage for those of you who so kindly responded and are interested.
Incidentally, anyone interested in doing some illustrations? (just pencil/charcoal sketches would be fine). Can’t pay you anything, but you could write it off as a tax expense…
