Our Silky dog is not a canine. She’s a ca-person, I’m sure. She takes
the blame when the computer acts up – “It’s Baby Dog’s fault,” is my favorite
assignment of cause. She takes it in her stride, which is, by the way, right
behind me when I walk about the house. She also takes credit when something,
which has been lost, suddenly turns up. “Look, Baby-Dog found it.” So, it’s fun
at times to see my writing through Baby Dog’s ears.
Since she is a well educated ca-person, having graduated from Dog
Training classes, I try to make sure I use the correct tense and that
spell-check in operating correctly. But, her greatest asset to me is her
willingness to listen to my stories as I read them to her.
The elementary school in Berne, Indiana had a resident dog that slept
on a pillow outside the nurse’s office. Children penciled in an appointment to
sit on the floor beside the Book-dog and read their favorite tales to them.
Reading aloud has almost become a thing of the past, with audio books being
very expensive and parents working long hours.
If your writing is suitable for children, invite them to a reading in
your living room or the public library, with cookie served of course. If you
have a polite ca-person who will sit on your lap during the reading, you will
gain extra praise from your listeners.
However, you don’t need an audience of willing listeners to critique
the words you’re writing. Your own ears are important. You just need to read
everything aloud. Your words will either ring true to you, or they’ll fumble in
your mouth and demand correction. If you are lucky enough to have a ca-person
in your home, they make excellent listeners too. You could borrow Baby-Dog, but
she sleeps a lot and is seldom available for outside bookings. Happy writing, happier
reading in 2015.
Doris
Doris Gaines Rapp
Copyright 2015 Doris Gaines Rapp
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