Thursday, October 16, 2008

Joe Knows

Humor me, as a spin a little tale for y'all.


Joe (no not the plumber) enjoyed music. That joy turned into a love for dancing. For years he watched and admired others dancing until eventually Joe decided he too would like to dance one day.

Joe practiced in the solitude of his home. He studied his favorite dancers. Taking some of what they did blending it together and adding a few new moves of his very own. He put a lot of swat tears and blood into his dancing and finally, Joe began to think he was pretty good, but a bit of doubt remained. Was he delusional or were his moves ready for public consumption?

He asked a few other people to check out his dancing. They liked it but they were friends and wannabe dancers too and he worried they were just telling him he was good because they knew him or understood how scary and hard it was to even contemplate dancing in public.

But Joe fought off those doubts, dressed up in his shiniest duds and headed out on the town. He researched the dancing spots and found that not all dance floors are equal. Some even wanted to charge him to dance, but he picked one out and hoped he wouldn't embarrass himself.

As the music played Joe studied the lovely ladies. Eager to sow off his skills, he looked around trying to select a dance partner. While he looked a line dance came on and Joe was tempted to hit the floor and dance by himself, but he feared that would reek of desperation so he resisted the urge. But dang he wanted to jump into the action.

was Then from across the dimly lit room he spotted the one. He liked the way she swayed to the tunes, but he waited and studied the other guys she danced with. Joe decided that their style similar to his. But Joe also believed he had a few new dips and twirls that she'd never seen before. So he crossed to her. Joe smiled. She smiled back.

He asked her to dance.

And ...

She said no.

At the dejected look on his face, she said, "Don't take it bad. I'm sure you are a fine dancer and other girls might be willing to dance with you, but unfortunately I simply didn't fall in love with you when you walked up?"

"Fall in love?" Joe stammered. "But I just asked you to dance. Don't you need to spend some time with me to fall in love. I have some great moves."

"Maybe," she said. "But the way you asked simply didn't get me excited to dance with you."

"But I'm a much better dancer than asker."

Sorry," she said. "But I got so many people asking me to dance I can't give everyone of them a chance to prove their merit to an actual song. If I don't look in their eye as they ask and feel something I can't take the time to find out if there is something there or not." Then she smiled and said , "But best of luck asking the next girl."

Sadly, the next three girls simply ignored him when he asked, then the next one said yes, but ditched him after a few chords and left him standing alone on the floor wondering what he did wrong. Finally a girl let him twist and twirl the entire song through. She even thanked him for the dance, but she nicely refused to become his regular dance partner so Joe keeps on looking and asking.

Days, weeks, and years have gone by and Joe keeps honing his dance skills. Less girls ignore him and more actually let him lead them to the floor, but that's as far as things go. Some say Joe I really like you but no one is doing the jitterbug right now, or you tango very nicely but I need man who can salsa. Joe takes heart that no one says "Give it up Joe, you have no rhythm," but dang it Joe wants to take it to the next level and he just can't seem to get there.



If you've ever wondered what it is like to decide to write a novel and then to pitch that novel to agents you now know. Just substitute music for words and dancing for writing and girls for agents and you'll have a pretty good idea.

39 comments:

Hilary said...

You sure can dance your way into a fine analogy. :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Great parallel - and so true!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

What a great story! Well done. :)

Anonymous said...

Ah, Joe say it ain't so! I know you can dance (and so can I!) it is just a matter of time when the right partners come along for us. We do a mean Watusi when no one's looking, but maybe we should do it when they are...

David said...

That's a wonderful analogy.

Holly Kennedy said...

Wonderful parallel!
Made me smile.

ssas said...

Aw, hugs coming your way, big guy!

Bubblewench said...

funny.. i had a feeling that was the case... great tale!

Angie Ledbetter said...

Hope Joe doesn't ever quit dancing. He'll find the perfect partner one of these days and be rewarded or his perseverance and suave moves!

HorribleLicensePlates said...

Haha Joe the Plumber! Thanks for reading our blog! :-)

Patti said...

there are days that i think up new things to do other than write because the dance is so tough. then i do those other things all the while writing on the side and in my head and finally, i tell myself that no matter what i do, i'll always be a writer. i just gotta keep at it until someone else thinks so too.

Lyzzydee said...

Aw Travis, I feel for you, keep dancing !!!!

Charles Gramlich said...

Now this is a Halloween Horror if I ever saw one. Definitely gave me a shiver, especially since it's such an appropriate analogy.

Spy Scribbler said...

I wish "Joe" much luck! Someday, I hope...

Great analogy!

Anonymous said...

Have you thought of self-publishing your novel?

I self-published 3 memoirs, which are now in Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Hawaii state public libraries.

Might be an option for you. Good luck!

pattinase (abbott) said...

Very clever and yet heart-warming. I think this combination is your personal gift.

Cloudia said...

Oh yes!
your pacing, simplicity, grasp-able shapely sentences....I see why folks read your blog. Look: I'm getting into the habit too....Thanks for finding room at the hearth for one more friend, and for your kind word on my blog too!

Butch Boo said...

Great analogy.
X

Shauna Roberts said...

Putting the process in those terms really shows how ridiculous the system is.

You forgot one class of "girls," though: The ones who don't even say no, they just ignore you.

Kristen Painter said...

Putting yourself out there takes some guts, doesn't it? Oddly enough, I started putting myself out there in a new way yesterday evening when I opened my new Etsy jewelry store. It's scary, but fun.

Poetry Sue said...

Wow Man! I loved this... at first I seriously though your making an analogy about dating. Then you throw in that last part about agents and publishers! Awesome.

G. B. Miller said...

'Tis sad, but true. A very cool parallel nevertheless.

Cheryl Wray said...

This is a GREAT analogy!!! It take SO much perseverance...but you CAN DO IT!!

Cheryl Wray said...

(And oh yeah...I kinda thought this might be a story of how you met your wife. :-)

Rick said...

I agree with Cheryl- I thought this was going to lead up to you meeting your wife!

Great story either way.

Robin said...

Okay, so who's the deejay? The reading public?

I loved, loved, loved it!

Encourages me to quit being a wallflower and look for a partner...no wait, it makes me want to run screaming for the nearest exit! No wait, yeah, I wanna dance. Guess I oughta put a few quarters in the juke box then....

You're awesome Joe/Trav!

Phats said...

I thought for sure this was going to be a happily ever after for you and your wife! haha I thought you were joe ;)

Miladysa said...

Does the devil have the fiddle?

Well I know it feels like it some days :D

[hugs]

J. L. Krueger said...

Great analogy Travis!

Too bad my old dancefloor technique won't work with agents either. I used to play aloof and wound up having the girls asking me to dance.

Don't think that will work with agents though.

Junosmom said...

Ah, Travis, I hear you. Rejection, I hear, is the hardest part of writing, but not the worst part. Not having the guts to put your work out there and letting it molder in the desk drawer is worse. Wishing you persistence and luck.

Still, I have to wonder if Joe remembered his deodorant and used Scope.

Crystal Phares said...

Keep dancing, Travis. You inspire me to dance.

Josephine Damian said...

TE: Four years ago I stopped bashing my head against the wall as a writer and started building my platform. If I get published, it won't be because of the strength of my writing or because I have an original idea - it'll be because of my degree in Behavioral Analysis.

Design Goddess said...

I feel so sad for Joe. But, I guess at least he doesn't have this passion for dancing AND two left feet. Would make it MUCH harder to realize his dream, don't you think?

Keep on writing, Travis!

Monnik said...

This is a really great analogy. Nice work!

Lindy said...

Aaw! I'm sure you'll find a regular dance partner.

the walking man said...

I couldn't get the picture of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine dances out of my head. Maybe Joe should plumb his talents. Maybe I should begin to submit again.

Skiingred said...

there's a right song and partner for everyone. Don't settle for less.

Keep dancin' away!

Lana Gramlich said...

My sympathies, hon. Truly. I feel your pain (from the art side of things.)

Jewel Allen said...

Great analogy. Love it. One of these days you'll find a dancing partner :-)