Did You Survive Mercury's Retrograde?

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

I'm an NCIS and NCIS-LA fan. Last week, Deek's, one of the characters on NCIS-LA mentioned "Mercury in retrograde" twice. The episode entitled, "The Livelong Day," showed two sets of partners disagreeing over topics not exactly related to the case.

Since I'm not an astrology follower or a student of astronomy, I had no idea what the term meant. Being a writer, I did what writers do, researched the term. The good news is “Mercury in retrograde” last period of 2013 started October 21 and ended November 11. The bad news it happens three times every year at different periods during each year.

According to "The Old Farmer's Almanac, we are all influenced when Mercury is in retrograde." The planet Mercury is known as the planet governing truth, transportation and communications. When planets appear to be moving backwards this illusion is referred to as a planet "in retrograde." A lot of planets have this "retrograde illusion" but Mercury seems to cause the most negative issues. Who knew?

During this time of “Mercury in retrograde”; miscommunication, misjudgment, decisions regarding travel, or engage in new activities may be problematic. The negative impact could have a disruptive “one step forward, two steps back” kind of result. Mercury retrograde with the appearance of backward streaming in the skies gives backward intention to all communications, period. Yikes!

I think this phenomenon makes for an interesting consideration given November is National Novel Writing Month. A number of authors I know are having troubles meeting their daily word count goals, according to their posts on various social media sites. Is “Mercury in retrograde" to blame? Sorry, I think, NOT, nice try but the period has ended.

If you are one of the 294,522 writers committed to having a completed novel by November 30, it's time to buckle down and get that novel written. Stay off all the social media venues and write your book. You need this time you have chosen to craft your book. Succeeding in this goal will make you feel accomplished. After your book has been published you can tweet and give status updates on it's release, but only if you write it.

Forget “Mercury in retrograde” it's over and finish your novel. Fourteen days of November has past, it's okay. There is plenty of time for you to reach your goal and finish that novel!

From Spark to Submission

By R. H. Ramsey

In the space between dreaming and creating, there is a place designed for connecting. To me, this space is vital; perhaps the most important part of the process. Although inspiration and flowing thoughts are magical, it can be frustrating when the pages are blank for hours and days.

Moments of inspiration are tiny sparks. My ritual, like many other writers, involves intense brainstorming, music, jotting down notes. I struggle with many things, such as loathing what I write and convincing myself not to share. I find it nearly impossible to pick which story should be told. I prefer to work on multiple projects at once.

To me, the process is ongoing. There is no definite beginning or ending for me. The pressures of word count, outlines and writer's block have no place in my writing formula.

As character traits bud and blossom in one story, another book is being handed out for critiques and feedback. There is a third story swirling, and I do not dare silence it; writing is one thing I refuse to force or stifle.  Life is happening inspiration is everywhere. There are sounds and scenes to describe at every moment. If I feel as if the story is not coming together the way I would like – without force –I daydream.

Instead of expecting the story to unfold "naturally,” I utilize the space of the daydream. I place myself there, in every day conflicts, with my characters. I feel the chills of suspenseful moments, the burning of the eyes when tears form. Keeping these feelings nearby, so that there is an ongoing connection, I am determined to keep the flow strong.

I feel that it is okay to work out of order, building your story around the events you visualize, adding these things to future chapters. Switching your focus to the excitement of a new story can be refreshing. Why not rekindle the spark by visiting new ideas and bringing that positive energy back to the current project?

Next, the part of the process no writer should bypass: feedback. And when the time comes to reread what I have written, I grasp for something I can be content with. I tell myself: I've completed this, I've gotten feedback, made necessary adjustments – it is time to put my art on display.

Writing and completing novels has been a passion of mine since 2005. I shared my work with persons outside my family for the first time in 2012. I never thought I would share.  Now, I cannot imagine not sharing. Through this process, I've received reviews I can be proud of. I've submitted to a publisher and found a home for my books.

I know that there are writers with astounding talents, beyond my own abilities or gift, and my expectations for myself are humble. I only pray the sparks on the horizon will one day become fireworks.

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R. H.Ramsey has completed several novels, four novels near completion and five short stories.  She has three self-published books: Just Beneath the Surface I, Undone, and Into the Atmosphere, with many more to come. Just Beneath the Surface 2: Landon's story will be published at the end of 2014. Her books have been acquired by an indie publisher. Just Beneath the Surface 2: Landon's Story is her current work in progress.With a passion for people, helping and learning, she hopes to continue in her quest of learning from and inspiring others. Connect with RH Ramsey: http://arirjames.wordpress.com  http://facebook.com/authoranisola

Digital versus Print

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief for Southern Writers Magazine

Let’s all take a quick breath.

Print isn’t dead. Yes, it is changing, but this change will be better for authors. Print is moving over to let digital have space beside it to increase the reach of authors to their readers.

Don’t get fooled into believing it is a war between digital and print. It isn’t. These two avenues will benefit authors in publishing their manuscripts. Think about it. Once you had only one avenue, the print side. Now, you have the digital side added to increase your exposure to readers. It’s another way to get your book out to the masses. You have people who like digital…they love to read on their readers, pads and computers. But, guess what? You still have people who like to hold a book in their hands and read. So don’t be fooled into thinking print has gone by the wayside. It is still alive and doing well.

In case you have forgotten, authors also have another avenue to reach more people interested in books. Actually, they've had it for a while. But, I guess the majority of authors never thought to use that avenue. What is it you ask? Audio. Authors are now seeing where audio is a possibility for them.

Now to me, that gives authors three strong avenues to reach a whole lot of audience. If your book is good, your audience will be buying in more than one of these avenues.

So, you are wondering what the message is? Don’t sell yourself short. Embrace all three avenues. Use them for your benefit. The more access you offer to your wonderful book, the bigger your fan base.

Rubik's Cube and the Author Zone

By Connie Suttle

 

I never could get the hang of it—putting a Rubik's Cube to rights. I watched in envy as youngsters solved the thing in a matter of seconds. For me, there were always those pesky little squares of the wrong color stuck in the middle of all the squares of the right color. Eventually, I just gave up the idea that I'd ever get it right and gave away the cube I'd bought. I may have invested in a pet rock; after that I can't remember.

That was years ago. Yeah, I'm old. And young. At the same time. My body has tossed up its hands with a chuckle and given up. My mind, on the other hand, is infinitely young. Now, when I sit down to write, I sometimes stare at the screen while multiple plot lines, numerous characters and ideas for what happens next swirl through my brain. 

Those screen-staring times make me realize that I didn't need to solve the Rubik's cube. I have my own version of it—in my head. Ultimately, it is more colorful, more interesting and ever changing. I like it so much better than I ever did that little cube. Settling each plot point or character into a specific slot gives me a great deal of pleasure. I go to bed with story-lines flowing through my mind. I wake up the same way. The cube never did that for me—it never obsessed me. It was merely a distraction—and eventually—a frustration.

What is the point of this, you ask?

I've already said the word—obsessed. What obsesses you? When whatever you're writing obsesses you, then you get it. The real reason any author writes. When you find yourself at dinner with friends, your eyes surely glazed over while the conversation between fictitious characters in your head drowns out the conversation at the table, you know you're obsessed. When you catch yourself staring at a movie screen, no longer seeing what is in front of you but the locales in your head where your plot takes a turn, you know you're obsessed.

I guess you could call it the Author Zone. Maybe the Writing Zone. It doesn't matter, it just is. The more you write, the easier it is to fall into it; to slip past that two dimensional plane of letters on a screen or on paper, and fall into the rich, color-and-character filled alternate reality that is the story. There, fiction becomes real. After all, the more real the characters are to the author, the more real they'll be to the reader.                

See words for what they are—a gateway.

Find the Author Zone.

Give into the obsession.

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Connie Suttle, author of the Blood DestinySeries, the High Demon Series, Legend of the Ir'Indicti Series, the God WarsSeries and a woman of indeterminate years, has lived in Oklahoma all her life. She and her husband recently celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary, and together they have one son and three cats. Should the cats be consulted, they will inform you (haughtily) that these humans exist to serve their every whim. Sadly, the humans in question are compelled to agree with that assessment. http://subtledemon.com/index.html     http://subtledemon.blogspot.com/ https://twitter.com/subtledemon  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Connie-Suttle-Author/220330094696864

Reinvigorated Writer

By Katherine Silva

May 10^th, after a long day at work and battling a migraine, I got home, settled in, and checked my email. There, I received some wonderful news. My second novel, Aequitas, had been short-listed as a finalist for the speculative fiction category in the Maine Literary Awards. I did what any nominee would do; I jumped up and down, hugged my cat until threat of decapitation by claws was imminent, and contacted everyone I knew.

The Maine Literary Awards is a yearly statewide competition run by the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to deepen Maine’s literary culture. I became a member last year and have made connections with many highly talented and extremely helpful people.

At first, I couldn’t get over the idea that my writing was being recognized on a professional level. I’m twenty-four, self-published (gasp), and work forty hours a week in addition to writing, editing, and marketing my own books. And if I don’t think I have enough on my plate, I also blog.

In 2010, I started writing Aequitas. I’d been influenced by watching Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reading Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Richard Matheson, and Anne Rice. While The Monstrum Chronicles is defined as a horror series, I wrote it with a lot of other genres in mind, mainly mystery thrillers, apocalyptic fiction, and conspiracy thrillers. I read across all genres because I’ve found there is technique and style to be gleaned from each of them. The way other authors tackle their projects has always intrigued me and I hope to learn from them the further into my writing career that I go.

Aequitas was a labor of love. I spent three years getting up at six o’clock every morning, pouring myself a strong cup of coffee and writing, editing, and laying-out this book. Working most of week requires me to have discipline to get anything done. Whether I’m inspired or not, I make myself write. There’s always time to edit later. Of course, that doesn’t leave much time for other things. Writing a novel can be a very lonely process. In order to make the commitment to finish this book, I had to treat it as a second job and not a hobby anymore. That meant turning down invitations to parties and grabbing a beer after work with friends.

In addition to writing the book, I also did all of the graphic artwork for it. The book was released in October 2012. Those three years, while trying at times, were some of the most educational and valuable ones in my life.

The 2013 Maine Literary Awards have come and gone. While I didn’t win, I was honored to have been nominated. Being acknowledged for all of my hard work, dedication, and self-study is enough to reinvigorate me. I love writing. I love that I can call this my career. I’m honored to be in the company of so many other amazing authors who have called Maine their home.

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Katherine Silva is a Mid-Coast Maine author of The Monstrum Chronicles series, connoisseur of coffee, and victim of crazy cat shenanigans. Her second book, Aequitas, was nominated for a 2013 Maine Literary Award. She is a member of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and the New England Horror Writer's Association. Currently, she resides in Rockland, Maine working on the rest of the books in "The Monstrum Chronicles" as well as other projects.

Website: www.voxthebook.com

Blog: www.themonstrumchronicles.wordpress.com

Social Media: Faceboo  Twitter  Goodreads  LinkedIn

Technology Gone Wrong

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine 

Those millions of citizens that attempted signing up for The Affordable Care Act Health Insurance, aka Obamacare, were met with technology gone wrong. This brings to mind Robert Burns poem To a Mouse which states “the best laid schemes of mice and men go often awry and leave us nothing but grief and pain for promised joy”. It is amazing that a government contractor and $500 million, a conservative figure by some, couldn’t do what two college kids in their parent’s garage could probably do on a shoestring budget.   

The city of Memphis, Tennessee, after a year of debate by the city council, recently spent several million dollars replacing their downtown parking meters. Those old metal meters, with the coin slots and hand crank on the front, were replaced with a high tech solar powered model. The meters brought to the city high technology and solar power, techie and green. It is a beautiful piece of technology and something its citizens can be proud of. But there is one problem. When it is cloudy or if the meter happens to be in an area that remains in the shadow of a building it doesn’t work. No solar no power.   

As you drive through the downtown area on a cloudy day you will see cars and meters with notes on them explaining the meter isn’t in working order. They are concerned about a ticket but few people know the one and only meter maid the city had retired recently.  

I do not mean this to be a political rant about government spending but do want to use these examples of technology gone wrong to remind us that it can. It can go wrong due to failed programs as with Obamacare or the misplacement of technology as with the solar parking meters. As writers we depend on our technology to put our thoughts on paper so to say. We depend on technology to research, store and share our work. We feel secure in it and feel we can depend on it but we must be aware it can go wrong. 

The loss of your life’s work would be a tragedy. Take precautions to secure your work. Use a good antivirus program and online backup. I use a local computer service for the antivirus program. They can renew it annually at a much lower cost than the online price. I also use an offsite backup service which will once a week download and backup all my information. Should I ever need to retrieve my information it is available for me.   

In the world of technology gone wrong these things are not a cure all but it will help you sleep at night. Take precautions, leave technology to others and continue to write with confidence.              

In Praise of Total Immersion (Or Why Authors Need to Submerse Themselves in Their Work)

By Joanna Campbell Slan

My house is a disaster, the laundry is piled high, my dark roots are showing, the message light on my phone is blinking, my refrigerator is empty, and frankly, I don’t care. Yesterday I put final touches on the first book in my new Trash to Treasures series, Tear Down or Die, featuring Cara Mia Delgatto. When I’m tap-tap-tapping away toward the finish line, the world could fall apart around me. My work-in-progress becomes a great black hole, sucking me into an alternate universe.

My husband calls on the landline to ask me how our beach is doing after a spate of storms. He’s in an airport, somewhere. I don’t exactly remember where. I tell him that I don’t know the condition of the local beaches. Ditto with our lawn. Mega ditto with the flowers we planted. I don’t know and I don’t care. I haven’t left our house for six days.

A friend sends a panicked email, “Are you all right? I’ve been calling your cell phone. ” I lie and say the charger is lost. The truth is I didn’t want interruptions.

When I am in the white-hot heat of writing, I speak aloud the dialogue. I act out the gestures. I cry along with the characters. I laugh with them, too. And it gets worse. Last night I dreamed I owned a Chihuahua, because I wrote one into my new book. This morning I woke up and wondered how I was going to justify a new dog to my husband. My real life Bichon Frise companions, Victoria and Rafferty, tried to nuzzle me awake. But I kept patting the covers rather than stroking them. I wondered where the Chihuahua had gone. Had he fallen off the bed?

All of this can be explained away because it occurs in the present tense. But when I write a book my new series The Jane Eyre Chronicles, things tend to get a bit dicey. As I pick up where Charlotte Brontë left off, I am transported to the year 1820. At real life social events I have nothing to say about leaks in the White House, but I’ll discourse for hours about how King George IV was bullied by his mistresses. Recently someone asked my husband if dementia ran in my family. He shrugged cheerfully and said, “My wife has always had an active imagination. The dividing line between fantasy and reality is a chalk smudge to her.”

Of this I am convinced: The more I believe in my creations and the more real they are to me, then the more vivid they will seem to my readers. Just as a long bath in hot water changes a raw egg into hard-boiled, so does immersion take my insubstantial ideas and turn them into solid images on the page.

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Award-winning and national bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan is the creator of the Kiki Lowenstein Mysteries (an Agatha Award Finalist) and won the Daphne du Maurier 2013 Award for Death of a Schoolgirl book in her Jane Eyre Chronicles series. A native of Florida, Joanna is the author of twenty-one books, eleven of which are non-fiction. She also writes two other mystery series. In her past life, Joanna was a television talk show host, an adjunct professor of public relations, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a corporate speechwriter. She is the mother of Michael Slan, a professional poker player, and is married to David Slan, CEO of Steinway Piano Gallery-DC. The Slans and their two dogs make their home on Jupiter Island, Florida.  An indepth interview with Joanna can be found in the November/ December issue of Southern Writers Magazine. Visit her at www.JoannaSlan.com Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbellSlan

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/JoannaSlan

The Risk a Writer Should Take

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

Whether or not you're familiar with the music of Jeff Beck, you've probably at least heard his name. After replacing Eric Clapton as a member of the 60s group The Yardibirds, he went on to become one of the most influential guitarists in rock music.  His prowess with a pick caused bands no less than Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones to request his membership.

And yet, no one has ever heard Jeff Beck's finest performances, except Jeff Beck.  He explains that when the recording light comes on, the pressure of doing a perfect take inevitably gets in the way of ultimate artistry.  Playing in front of a live audience offers the same impediment, even for this very experienced player.  The best performances of his life tend to happen while sitting on a couch and noodling on his guitar, to no one but himself.

Without the pressure of perfection, an artist is free to try anything, and make as many mistakes as they want without consequence.  That freedom will often translate into magic.

Recently another songster said that to become a great songwriter, one should write a lot of bad songs.  The premise behind that, of course, is not to create inferior music, but to be willing to make mistakes, and to use each one as a learning tool.

Nobody likes to make mistakes, but if we adapt our belief system and recognize them as criticism-free teachers, the freedom of imperfection can be liberating.

Whether we're sitting at a piano writing a concerto or at a computer keyboard writing a novel, the same principles apply.  If we approach creativity with a strict set of rules, afraid to try new things and make mistakes, we are only strangling the muse.  Harboring that mentality, we will never achieve our best work.

Thanks to editing, a writer can make as many mistakes as it takes and go back and fix them.  Therefore, don't feel like the first draft has to be perfect.  If that was the case, there'd be no such thing as a second draft or a final draft.

Celebrate imperfection and let the magic come forth unimpaired.  Don't make the mistake of not making mistakes.  The more we make, the less likely we'll make them again.  As it has been said, making a mistake once is an accident.  Making it twice is a choice.

In the Mood

By DiAnn Mills

A writer friend and I were catching up over a lengthy phone conversation. After we covered a multitude of topics, personal and business, I asked about the progress of her next book.

“Oh, I’m not writing,” she said. “Haven’t been in the mood.”

This writer was one of my heroes in the industry. “What happened? You’ve always been excited to delve into the next project.”

“Creativity hasn’t moved me to begin a new novel.”

“Do you need to brainstorm?” I said.

“No. I’m good.” She sighed. “Dry spells come and go.”

Her obscure tone bothered me, but I didn’t pursue the topic further. Later on in the day, I was at the dentist’s office. I’d lost a filling, and the tooth throbbed. As I waited in the patient’s chair, I thought back over the conversation with my writer friend. A twinge of pain shot up from my tooth. How would I feel if the dentist wasn’t in the mood? Ouch!

I left the dentist’s office under the effects of Novocain and stopped to fill up my empty gas tank. When I reached for the pump and selected the type of fuel needed, the same thought struck me again. What if the driver who delivered gasoline to the station wasn’t in the mood? I’d be walking.

Before heading home to finish my word count for the day, I stopped at the grocery to buy salad fixings. While I stood in line to pay for my food, it occurred to me one more time. What if the grocer’s employees weren’t in the mood to work today? My husband wouldn’t have a grilled chicken salad for dinner.

The difference between my friend’s approach to writing and mine boiled down to work ethics. I write whether the words are framed in my mind, or I have to dig them up like precious stones. Everyday. No matter what my mood.

If I procrastinated too when I felt like creating, not only would the contracts stop but also I believe the quality of the manuscript would slip. Other tasks fall under writing: responding to emails, social media, reading the how-to books, keeping up to date on the publishing industry, marketing and promotion, and arranging to attend quality conferences. Some areas are more enjoyable than others are, but my work ethic says to complete the task to the best of my ability.

I received my work ethic model from my dad. I don’t remember his ever missing a day of work. He welded in a factory, rain or shine, in sickness and in health, whether he felt like it or not.

That’s my advice to every writer. Put your rear in gear and get the job done. Write, edit, submit, promote, and begin again. The satisfaction of a well-crafted piece is worth the disillusion of waiting to create when in the mood. In the midst of discovering the perfect idea or word is a wealth of satisfaction of a job well done.

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Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn's first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer's Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader's Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011. DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. Her books include 
TheChase: A Novel (crime scene Houston). and her latest in the series The Survivor (crime scene Houston)

www.diannmills.com   

www.facebook.com/diannmills twitter.com/diannmills

          

How I Became a Hybrid Author

By Heather Day Gilbert

In June, 2012, I wrote a guest post for Suite T entitled "Getting Past our Writing What-Ifs," in which I talked about sticking to your passion in writing. I truly appreciated all your encouraging comments on my attempts to get my Viking historical novel in the door with traditional publishers.

Yet, the novel I discussed in that post was out on submission for not just one year, but for over a year and a half. If one thing will crush your hopes and dreams as a writer, waiting a year and a half will. About halfway through the wait time, I yelled "Uncle!" and proceeded to write another book, in a totally different period and genre (Contemporary Appalachian Mystery--shout-out to Southerners!).

I determined I wanted to be traditionally published first. After all, I couldn't market my own book, could I? I couldn't figure out all the techie stuff required to self-publish!

Turns out, all that time out on submission helped me more than I anticipated. In that year and half, I built a solid author platform. I got line-edited on my next novel, learning some new tricks of the writing trade. I received heartening feedback from CBA editors, who liked the story, liked the writing...but felt they couldn't market Vikings.

I realized the book was ready, but the CBA market was not. There was one very shiny option out there for my Viking novel--self-publish. Get it out to the masses while Vikings are hot (Thor II releasing in November, Vikings miniseries on History Channel, How to Train your Dragon 2 coming out next year). I'd be an idiot to miss this opportunity to get the word out on a real Viking woman who sailed with her husband to North America.

I knew I didn't want to strike out my first time out of the gate. So I determined to have cover art that looked professional and made people want to read my book--even on my very limited budget. Thankfully, my brother is a computer guy and helped materialize my vision. You can see our finished cover art for God's Daughter by clicking on the title.

I also worked out an intense marketing strategy, trying to leave no stone unturned. This involved everything from asking lots of author friends to be early readers (in hopes they would influence for or endorse my novel) to building early interest with pinnable quotes from my novel (link here for the gallery).

Now I've become a hybrid author, meaning I have an agent and I'm out on submission with traditional publishers; yet in the meantime, I have self-published a novel. I truly believe this is the wave of the future. With the sweep of e-books, authors have more control than at any time in history.

It's both terrifying and encouraging--terrifying in that we have to get all our ducks in a row if we want to shine, yet encouraging in that we no longer have to wait for the gatekeepers to deem our subject matter/genre/time period "marketable."

In this brave new world of publishing, I'm so thankful to finally get my novel, God's Daughter, into readers' hands. You can find it here on Amazon.

I would love to hear your stories of traditional publishing or self-publishing in the comments. And let's make the most of this wide-open publishing world!

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Heather enjoys writing stories about authentic, believable marriages. Sixteen years of marriage to her sweet Yankee husband have given her some perspective, as well as ten years spent homeschooling her three children. Heather is the ACFW West Virginia Area Coordinator. You can find Heather at her website, Heather Day Gilbert--Author, and at her Facebook Author Page, as well as Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Goodreads. Look for her Viking novel, God's Daughter, on Amazon, today!

Writing from Your Dog's Point of View

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Do you ever wonder what your dog is thinking? Especially, during today's holiday, Halloween, I often wonder what my dog thinks. 

Eager, costumed children with trick-or-treat bags and masked faces tentatively approach our decorated yard and porch. They are seeking a candy treat. Seated just inside the entry hall looking out the glass and metal security door sits our big dog. It's easy to know what the children are thinking but what is the dog thinking as he watches the children walk up his porch? 

Stories written from a dog's point of view are unique and can be a challenge but fun to write. A canine point of view makes for a unique perspective and sometimes a classic tale. A writer obviously does not know what a dog is thinking, so fiction is created. 

Dog storytelling has made for great classics, still being read by school children worldwide. One such classic, Jack London’s, The Call of the Wild about Buck and his adventure, still entertains its readers. 

When writing a story with a dog protagonist, you should remember;

1. Keep the language simple. Short sentences work best. Dogs don’t think in human words, although they may respond to human commands. Care must be used to filter out our human perception and speak canine in our writing.

2. Make sure you give your dog actions that match his perspective. 

3. Your dog's traits need to lead your readers into a dog's secret world. Consider how a dog might think, respond, feel, remember, and behave in different situations. 

4. If you write "he shakes his head when you try to pet him," it doesn't really convey anything. However, writing "he remembers something hurtful whenever a hand is raised towards his head," draws the reader into the dog's story that has yet to be revealed.

5. Draw your readers to your dog hero. Don’t tell them this is the dog everyone wants. Instead, imply that this is the dog nobody wants. That is what the reader wants to hear and will keep them reading to the end of your story.

With a dog as the main protagonist, in a Halloween tale, telling the story encompasses their heightened senses. Sights, sounds, smells, touch and taste will be different for dogs than us human writers. For one thing they are shorter, and more at a trick or treaters eye level. 

Come this Halloween evening, as the trick or treaters approach your home, watch your dog and try to write about what he might be thinking. The story you create will have an unusual perspective.

Happy Howl-o-ween!