A story idea - where to start??

Hello animal writers!

Now that Anne (awatkins) has lured me to this board (thanks again!) I have a question for you animal writers.

My heart has a story it wants to write, non-fiction, regarding my life with my dog Sammy. I'm just not sure where to start, or do I gear it more towards an animal "magazine" or towards publishing an actual book? If I decide towards publishing, would it be the kind of book a publisher would look at, or would self-publishing be the route?

The gist of the story? I rescued Sammy from a local animal shelter at 6 months of age, shortly thereafter he began suffering seizures, which then turned into a battle against progressive epilepsy for the next 2 years. In the end, maybe, we rescued each other. The story would be geared around our experiences, the treatments and medications, his life, my life, our life together, good times and bad, and making a choice to end his suffering and say an incredibly hard good-bye at the end. Healing, and moving on.

Does anyone have any ideas for me??? It's a story in my heart, that I want to share with other animal lovers. Heck, I get choked up thinking of him still. I can't believe it's been 2 years he's been gone, he sometimes seems as though he is still right next to me.

Thanks!

Denise

Thanks! But do you think magazines - or would a book be a good idea? Or both?

What is my aim, my final goal? To inspire people that it's OK to love and care for a pet who has a debilitating condition, what life can be like (for you, and him), the trials and rewards, and that it's OK to say good-bye (and how I reached that point) when it's time... And maybe intermixing a few personal things that my Sammers helped me through, some really rough times (though, not sure I should even include that), and how things come full circle, and that it's never really the end...

Thanks, again.

Denise

Hey, Tri - thanks for the input. Appreciated. Do you, or anyone, have any mag ideas for "this" type of article? Doesn't really seem to fit the calendar for mags like Dog Fancy, Dog & Kennel, etc. Would you have any ideas for me?

Oh, and I ahve laughed and cried my way through Old Yeller, An American Legend, Where the Red Fern Grows, and many others more than once. My copies of a couple of those books are old and well-worn. Has your recent sci fi novel starring Snarzler been published as yet? I'd be interested in checking it out!

Denis

Thanks again to each of you for sharing your thoughts and ideas!

Denise