Mama Diaries

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

IWSG and Schultz Update

I know it's been a while since I've been here. A lot has been going on. I moved and got a new job. The new job is Executive Director of the Georgia Philharmonic. I'm excited about it, but I know I have a lot to learn! And it will keep me extremely busy!

So, you're all wondering how Schultz is doing. If you recall, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to have his left front leg amputated. He's getting around much better. In fact, because he has to trot on three legs all the time, he moves a lot faster. His main issue is eating. The chemo treatments have messed up his appetite. He's so skinny, you can see his rib cage. The only food that seems to appeal to him is human food. The vet gave us some appetite stimulant pills. We'll see if that helps. Here he is with his buddy, Bootsy.



It's time for the IWSG post.


This month's question is, "Has your writing ever taken you by surprise?"

Well, as a matter of fact, it has. Normally, I write picture books and chapter/middle-grade books for kids.  Those have always been humorous and on the lighter side. A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece for an anthology contest. I didn't really plot it out like a normally do. I did the pantser thing. I was surprised by how dark it got. In fact, I killed everybody except the villainous main character. And I enjoyed it. I'm sure it all had something to do with the difficulties I had been experiencing in my life. It felt good to take it out on my characters. The good thing about being a writer is that you can kill as many characters as you want, and not get in trouble for it.  I'm not sure embracing my dark side is something I would regularly do as a writer, but it was interesting to do it. What about you? Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? 

55 comments:

  1. You have a mean streak in you!
    Hope Schultz gets his appetite back. Feed him whatever human food he'll eat.

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    1. He still won't eat his dog food. It's ridiculous. We have to keep cooking chicken thighs for him.

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  2. Hi, Sherry!

    It's good to see you, dear friend! I'm happy to know that your move is behind you and that you are settling into your new career position. I wish you the best as you grow into it. Thanks for posting a picture of Schultz. I'm glad he's bouncing back from his surgery and adapting to his new situation as a three-legged dog. I hope his appetite improves soon.

    Knowing you only as a writer of fiction for children and middle grade readers it is hard for me to imagine you killing off characters in that story.

    Take care, dear friend Sherry. I hope to see you again soon!

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    1. I'm not sure I'll kill off all the characters again. But it was fun! I'll be here once a month for the IWSG posts. My new job is keeping me very busy right now!

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  3. Your new job is intriguing. I know you are a musician. Does managing musicians leave you much time to make music?
    I feel for Schultz and his humans. Dogs are G-d's gift to us.
    For the question of the day, my writing ALWAYS surprises me. Even though I'm a planner, the real deal happens while drafting.

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    1. I'm enjoying my new job. It's a bit of a challenge to find enough time to practice, though. The Executive Director job is during the day. My performances and teaching are in the evening. So it works, kind of.

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  4. Congrats on the new job, it sounds superpowerful!
    Poor Schultzie, glad to see Bootsy keeping him company.

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    1. Yeah. It's a glamorous title, but a lot of work! Bootsy is a good boy!

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  5. Fantastic news about your new job. I wish you well.
    As I've been off line a while didn't know about your dog. What an awful shock for you and family and of course Schulz must have felt really unwell.
    Hope all goes well from now on. Awful to see animals suffer. Good Luck Sherry.
    Yvonne.

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    1. It wasn't a decision I made to have his leg amputated and go through chemo treatments. But that's what the kids wanted. They couldn't bare to lose their dog just yet. If we didn't do that, he'd be on his last legs right now.

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  6. Congratulations on your new job, Sherry. I know you'll be fantastic and it and everyone will enjoy working with you. All the best to you, Schultz and Bootsy.

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  7. A huge congrats on your new job! Glad Schultz is getting around better. Hope he feels 100% soon.

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    1. I'm glad he's getting around, too. I don't think he'll ever be feeling 100%. Chemo treatments take a lot out of him.

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  8. Congrats on the new job. haha it is fun to take it out on characters.

    Glad Schultz is getting around. Hopefully he'll be chowing down again soon.

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    1. Yeah. It's been a couple of months and he still won't eat his dog food. Not cool!

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  9. Congratulations on your new job and great to hear puppy is doing well.

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  10. Wow, you've been busy. But good busy, it sounds like. Glad to hear Schultz is doing well on three legs.

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    1. Very busy! It's the beginning of the orchestra season, so there's a lot of groundwork to lay!

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  11. Glad to hear that you have a new career position....congratulation.

    Hope Schultz getter to perfect condition soon.

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    1. Schultz isn't perfect, but it's nice to see him running and getting around.

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  12. Life has been keeping you busy! And I'm glad Schultz is doing better. He's such a brave dog. Congrats on the new position!

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  13. Oh, Schultz and Bootsy are so beautiful! I hope Schultz continues to improve, poor baby.

    Congrats on the new job. That sounds amazing!

    Deaths of characters are such important, plot-moving events. They take a lot of planning, but the results, story-telling-wise, are powerful.

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    1. The boys are handsome, aren't they? Even with three legs, Schultz looks rather majestic.

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  14. Wow! Executive Director of the Georgia Philharmonic, congratulations.

    So please to hear Schultz is doing OK. Here's hoping that the appetite stimulant will do its job.

    Hmm! You can kill as many characters as you want ... definitely one of the perks of being a writer I would have thought. Ooh! And to base that character on someone who has been giving you a hard time and kill them off in the most horrible of ways ...

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  15. Grats on the new job, and I hope your dog's appetite improves!

    Most of my stories end up pretty darn dark. I've often wondered if that's a reflection of my twisted mind. :)

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    1. They say there are two kinds of writers: Those who are insane, and those who are good at hiding it. :)

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  16. I think that feeding Schultz whatever he'll eat (as long as it's not toxic to dogs) is a good idea.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. That's what we're doing. We've tried so many kinds of dog foods, and he just won't eat them.

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  17. I love when the villain comes out on top. I am surprised by my writing when I go back and read old posts from years ago. I crack myself up.

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  18. A huge congratulations to you on the new job. I know you'll do an excellent job. Glad to hear Schultz is on the mend. Try chicken or turkey baby food. I had a cat that would only eat that when she got older and couldn't eat much. Give him a hug for me.

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    1. Never thought of baby food. I wonder if he'll like it. Thanks for the tip.

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  19. Congratulations on your new job, Sherry! Also, feed Schultz whatever he'll eat. Poor dog!

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  20. Congrats on your new job, Sherry. And poor puppy, he looks sad.

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  21. Awww, poor Schultz. I hope he regains his appetite soon. So glad to hear he's been moving around well since the amputation, though!

    And I love how you embraced your dark side as a writer! Killing everyone but the villain sounds like a lot of fun, for sure. Also, how exciting about the new job! Many congrats!

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    1. Now I have a little bit of an idea of why Stephen King writes the stuff he does.

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  22. Poor fellow. How does he cope with the loss of his leg? Maybe a strange question to ask, but I'm sure he knows you're looking after him.

    Executive Director of the Georgia Philharmonic... That's fantastic. Can't say I'm surprised, though.

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    1. He seems to be managing well with only three legs. He gets tired quicker though. He must use a lot of energy to get around.

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  23. Congrats on your new position!

    I am glad to hear that Schultz is doing better and is getting around easier. I hope the food stimulant pills help him get his appetite back. Hugs!!

    ~Jess

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    1. Thanks. The first stimulant did nothing. The doctor gave him a stronger one. Still no improvement. It's frustrating!

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  24. Sherry, so good to hear from you!
    Congrats on the new job! How exciting!!
    So happy to hear about Schultz doing better! Give him a hug from me!
    I started to laugh about you killing everybody! LOL!
    Big Hugs!

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    1. Yep. Can you imagine little old me killing everybody? ;)

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  25. Congrats on your new job! Happy to hear about the puppy doing well.

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  26. "I'm allowed to write for three days", satta king by the next afternoon I'm chomping at the bit to get back to it.play bazaar

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    or
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    ReplyDelete
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