To job or not to job?

When Veterans leave the military, some have jobs, some don't.  As a mom and a wife, do I need a job? 

I already have a full-time one raising our 12-year-old daughter, who I am ashamed to admit was practically ignored for the first 10 years of her life while both her parents were on active duty.  Since transitioning to the Reserve, I have had the most glorious affirmation of parenting.  She needs her parents and I need her.  Now I refuse to let anyone else raise her.  Not school teachers.  Not after-school care providers.  Not family.  

With that revelation, I also realize that there are lots of hours in the day when she doesn't need me.  For instance, I like watching her play sports but I don't necessarily need to be shouting encouragement over the coach during basketball practice.

So that again begs the question.  Do I need a job?  And the answer is a resounding yes.  What I have found is that no person can handle extremes for very long.  Extreme work will leave your family lonely.  Extreme parenting, and now they are smothered.

As a previous dual-income contributor, I also harbor guilt for not contributing to the income (although, during every freak-out moment I have about that, my husband assures me my contributions are just as valuable as his monetary ones).  But working provides additional purpose to my day and interaction that an extrovert such as myself craves like oxygen. 

So, I've decided that yes I need to work but I do not need the ten-hour-a-day with everything walking through the door labeled a crisis.  Public Relations is a blast and I love it.  It's what I know how to do and if I do say so, I do it pretty well.  

The key now is to do PR and be a mom without falling right back over that slippery cliff of extremes.   Decision made.  Now how to go about it?  

Well, that's for another day.

Relationship with your Muse

Are you working on your relationship?  Because, as any counselor will tell you, they take work.  You may have met, experienced love at first sight, and thought it would be sandy beaches and softly lapping waves for the rest of eternity, but you’re in for a rude awakening.  Muse, she is one fickle significant other. 

That honeymoon period when you were bursting with creative energy and love for your story?  Yes, that will end.  If you want to reach the end of that story with minimal agony, you’re going to have to build a strong relationship with Muse.  In case you haven’t noticed, she can be quite the bitch.  But then, you don’t always remember to take out the trash or write “milk” on the list either, do you? 

Here are five tried and true relationship tips to take you and Muse from first base to happily ever after:

1. Commit to spending quality time together on a regular basis:  You have to set aside time for her.  She doesn’t want to share you with the household bills, kids, or report for work.  She is flexible, however.  And maybe a little kinky.  She is fine if your quality time together is in the shower.  Or right after you wake up in the morning. 

2. Be playful and surprise your partner:  Maybe Muse doesn’t want to hear you describe the setting for the tenth time.  Maybe she would get really excited if you would throw in something unexpected—and forget the flowers, chocolates, and sappy movies.  Instead, offer her a manticore, a long-lost twin, or even a corpse.  That ought to dilate her pupils.

3. Make it about more than winning:  If you want to make this work long-term, you have to look beyond the immediate finish line tape.  You want that manuscript done, but not at her expense.  Don’t approach the relationship with the attitude that you’re always right.  She has a voice, an important one, and you have to allow her to be heard if you want this partnership to last.

4. Don’t assume you know what your partner needs:  You may have been together a while now and gotten to know some of her quirks, but that doesn’t make you a mind reader.  After all, people change!  Let her tell you what she needs and I guarantee you’ll be surprised.  Your protagonist has a secret ability?  The villain is blind?  The whole story really took place in an alternate dimension?  You might think you know…but you don’t.  You have to ask.

5. Maintain outside interests and relationships:  Muse may be the One, but she’s not the only one.  Don’t allow your relationship to be all-consuming.  Muse can’t meet all your needs and she’s not the only one you can use to bounce ideas.  Family, friends, and fellow writers will offer you fresh perspective.  Pursuing other passions will prevent you from getting burnt out and help you return to Muse with a glint in your eye. 

Elizabeth Caraway writes the Motivated Mama blog (http://www.motivated-mama.com) and spends her time away from Muse running great distances, corralling munchkins, and kissing her hot, nerdy husband.

New Year's Resolutions: Yeah, right

This year I made New Year's Resolutions.  To eat right, exercise, learn to sew, play the piano and scrapbook, oh and read 104 books.

Yeah, right.

• I've made the first two before.  Still weigh the same as I did two years ago and haven't run a lick in six months.  But with the hubs and I focusing on a plant-based diet, it might be easier to do this year.

• I don't own a sewing machine or a piano so those goals look pretty slim.  And every time I think of scrapbooking, I buy a bunch of really cute paper, crazy cutters and stickers.  Plastic bins overflow in my office and stare accusingly.  Space in the closet for shoving those bins is a much more realistic resolution.

• However, there is a bright shining star in this equation and it's full of fire.  I own a Kindle.  In fact, I own two.  I have a Goodreads account and a dozen paperbacks ready to start my 104-book reading goal.   My daughter has agreed to read with me and swears she can read her way to more books than me and certainly more than 104 books.   The gauntlet has been thrown and no former cheerleader from Tennessee can pass that up.  Besides if I win, I'm headed to Ireland.  

So, game on.  And good wishes to all you out there who also made resolutions.  May you have the wind in your sails and colors in your rainbows and a whole lot of wine if it doesn't work out.

Did you make a resolution?  What is your failsafe, fallback plan for survival?

Back to Duty

So I'm headed back on duty Saturday.  Haven't worn boots in nearly six months and had to find a seamstress who would hem pants and sew on new rank in less than 48 hours. 

But it's about time.  I generally get restless and ready for action at the five-month mark. 

Ten years of active duty and I never thought I would become a Reservist.  After becoming a Reservist, I never thought I'd enjoy all the time. 

The time off has given me so much more time for my family and other interests - like writing - and discovering what is truly important to me.  I love my career and I love my family.  There can be a balance and I'm determined to find it.

Time Off

I'm taking some time off.  Since I'm finally off crutches and walking in a boot, I'm going to travel.   I'll be helping my brother move from Texas to South Carolina, which is awesome because I get to watch Alabama football with my sister and other extended family. 

Later in the month, I'm headed to Birmingham for my grandfather's surprise 80th birthday party.  We're gonna hold a quick promotion ceremony for me too.  So, that will be a good time.

Finally, for Thanksgiving, the hubs is frying up a turkey.  Our first meat meal since deciding to go plant-based back in April.  Can't wait for leftover, cold turkey sandwiches!

The Christmas season promises to be super busy as well, so I'm signing off until the New Year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!

Stand Down for Veteran Homeless

One in Four Homeless are Veterans.

National Novel Writing Month is in full swing. I'm a little over 11,000 words into the second novel of a romantic spy trilogy that deals with Veteran issues.  This particular one, Shelter, explores Veteran Homelessness.  

Stand Downs are one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to homeless veterans.  They are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.  

Stand Downs provide services to homeless Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.  

In November, Chicago, San Antonio, Binghamton and Fort Worth are holding Stand Downs.  If you wish to be a part of a Stand Down, the contacts are below.  If you wish to contribute to the VFW, please use the donate link to the left.

Nov 9     Chicago                     POC:  Jeanne Douglas 708-383-3225
Nov 9     San Antonio              POC:  Jerry Rangel 210-616-9915
Nov 13   Binghamton, NY        POC:   Adam Ormsby 315-425-4428 
Nov 14,  Fort Worth                 POC:  Linda Saucedo 214-927-4501

NaNoWriMo & Veterans - Starts Today

National Novel Writing Month starts today -- one novel, 50000 words in 30 days.  And one of my buddies has already written 2500 words!  I've written 25.  Yep, that's it.  

At the last minute, I decided to write a different novel than the one I planned -- this one is the second of a trilogy and is a romantic thriller dealing with Veteran homelessness and unemployment.   But I'm determined.  Vague plotline is done.  Working on outline and will have first scene done before midnight.  Then maybe I can knock out the second right after midnight.  

Either way, I'll finish this one in 30 days.  So, happy writing and good luck to the 100K+ other writers out there trying to accomplish the same thing!

Oh, and for my novel this month I'm collecting donations for the VFW and a little elementary school in Tennessee.  If I don't finish the novel, I match the funds.  If I do, I'll end up matching anyway but the competition is motivating.  Those who donate win the chance at a NYTimes Bestseller or an Amazon Kindle so please play along.

What's the best start to your day?

How about with a herd of deer watching you frantically push buttons on your phone camera to take a shot at them?

As we rush out to the garage this morning, I go about my normal routine of running to the car, jerking open the door, shoving the key in the ignition, all the while yelling at Tornado (my sweet but glacially slow-moving 5th grader) to grab her crap and GET IN THE CAR before we're late!

She saunters out with her daily, universe-sized smile, not a care in the world, and her arms loaded with bags, bunnies and bowl of oatmeal (yes, she eats in the car when she's late), and then exclaims, "Mommy look!"

Our suburbia neighborhood tends to see wildlife from time to time because we are so close to the Rocky Mountains.  We have lots of rabbits and red fox, the occasional bear and once a year, I see deer.  This morning was our annual visit by the herd, so close I could smell the earth on their hides.

When I look up with one leg in the car and one still dangling on the carport, I gasp and reach for my phone, which of course gets tangled up in my fingers.  I push buttons and repush and flounder out of the car.  

Finally, I just stop.  

The daddy deer paused in our driveway and eyeballed me, and as the head of the household paused, so did the rest of the family.  Their deep brown eyes take in the whirlwind of morning rush.  Their amusement obvious in their observation.  Suddenly, time stopped and the sunrise warmed my face.  Simultaneously, the brown noses of four deer shake their heads and then meander toward the backyard.  Straight out of Northern Exposure.

As a bunny bounced behind the deer and Tornado's smile got even bigger, I knew today was going to be a good day.  

GO Team

Finding out about the death of a spouse or other loved one is agonizing.  I know.  I lost my father when he was very young.  Already older and on my own with my own family, his loss, while agonizing, was not the loss of my way of life.  But what if you are the dependent of a military service member?  When you are told of his or her death, you've not only lost a member of your family, but you have now also lost the life you lead.  

The military is pretty clinical about how it deals with death notification.  There is a prepared and required speech from the commander.  There is a chaplain immediately available, the assignment of a casualty assistance officer, and a couple of other spouses to take care of business immediately following the notification.

A GO team is usually two women who follow the chaplain into the house of a woman just told about her husband's death in Afghanistan.  Of course, the spouse could be a man but generally it is not.  

So what happens after all the food is gone?  Or after the passing of six months and now the spouse is required to move off post, away from her friends?  And in moving off post, now the children must move to a new school -- again.

From a new member of our critique group comes the story of a military widow struggling not only through the five stages of grief, but also the stages of Army separation.  I've only read the first 15 pages but I can tell this is going to be an incredibly powerful story.

Do everyday Americans need to read it?  Yes.  Because everyday Americans who want to "support the troops" need to understand it includes the troop's family.  And that family needs to be able to move on from one of the hardest moments of their lives.

If you want to know more about supporting troops, please see the links to the left.

NaNoWriMo for VFW & Education

Wanna help me support Veterans and Education?  

How about win a NY Times Bestseller or a Kindle?

National Novel Writing Month is coming up -- 30 days to write a novel -- and I've decided:

• To write the second in a series of romantic thrillers on Veterans, and; 
• To dedicate my novel to two of my favorite causes: the VFW and Education.  

For each dollar someone donates, I'll put his/her name in the hat and at the beginning of December, I'll draw 5 names -- each for a NY Times Bestseller.  Then, the person who donates the most money will win the Kindle.

Money can be donated the entire month of November to keep me motivated to finish the novel.  I'll donate the proceeds to the VFW and the Woodland Park Elementary School in Sparta, Tennessee.  Why?  

EDUCATION -- my parents live in a small, rural and frankly, economically poor county in Tennessee. While my husband and I were deployed to Afghanistan last year, our daughter stayed with them and attended Woodland Park Elementary School in Sparta, city population around 4800.

From the principal to the teachers to the students and parents, they were just wonderful to her.  Everyone made her feel part of the community and accepted her so much that when we return home, her play dates and visits take up most of the date book.  What a wonderful experience that gave her lifelong friends!

For their kindness, I want to help them for helping us during a tough time for our family.

VFW -- is one of the leading organizations for advocacy of Veterans.  The first VFW I ever went to was in Songtan City, South Korea, right outside the Osan Air Base gate.  A man, easily a hundred years old smoking a stogie and driving a cadillac, signed me up.  This man was a WWII and Korean War Veteran with a wonderful personality and a goal to show the benefits of VFW membership by active duty.

Recently the VFW is pushing for more benefits for Women Veterans -- rightfully so when women make up more than 20% of the force and have distinctively different medical needs from men.  Additionally, they spotlight homeless and unemployed Veterans (with rates as high as 24%) as well advocating more resources for those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (1 in 5 military service members suffer from PTSD).

The last eleven years has torn apart individuals and families, and I have seen some ugly things.  The price of war has been these selfless people and their wives, fathers, brothers, mothers, husbands and especially, children.  Because we as a nation ask volunteers to go to war for us, I wholeheartedly support this incredible organization that volunteers for them. 

I hope you join me in this endeavor!  To support, please click Google Wallet and don't forget to sign up to follow my blog.

Making Your Characters Scream

Don't you love a protagonist who isn't afraid to deliver a gut blow?  To scream in a situation where you yourself may just walk away to avoid it?  Readers love head-on and multidimensional characters ... if they are too perfect or too evil, they are not real.  Think about your favorite character and your favorite villain.  What makes you love him?  What makes you hate her?  What makes you sympathize with both of them?

Traditionally your good girl would love to dance naked in the rain or your bad boy loves his momma.  There is a quality in them making them more human and more likable.

To help you to that with your own characters, start by looking at your main character and ask yourself these questions:

1- What does he want most in the world?  What else does he want that is diabolically opposed to the original want?  

2- What is her best trait?  Her worst?  

3- In a tense situation, what is his normal reaction?  What is the opposite of that?

4- What is something she would NEVER think, do or say?  

Once you've answered all these questions and truly had that conversation with your character, have it with another character.   Then have each of those characters at one point or another, or several points, exhibit the trait that is out of balance with his normal reaction or desire.   Do it with all the main characters and your novel will be richer than it was before.  Readers love a character who isn't afraid to say or do the thing we all think of later.

(I'd like to attribute some of this to Donald Maas and Writing the Breakout Novel ... and thank him for helping me expand my characters.)

Who is Jacqueline Marshall?

The newest partner of Sweet Gypsy Books is also the daughter of senatorial candidate Paul Marshall Jr as well as a Veteran's advocate.   I sat down with her today to discuss her background and her future.

Q1:  Ms Marshall, news travels fast in a small town and we're wondering what brought you back to Sweet Gypsy after being gone for so long.

A1:  News does travel fast down here (*smiles).  It's true I left Alabama right after college.  Adventure called me from an early age.  It probably started with playing hide-and-seek right here on the lake in Sweet Gypsy.  When I met my husband Charlie at (the University of) Alabama, it was like looking in a mirror and finding my inner soul, my partner for life.  As soon as we threw our graduation caps in the air, he took my hand and away we went.  The Army provided just the adventure we were looking for.  (pauses and looks at her wedding ring).  But like all good adventure stories, ours had to end.  When it did, I needed my home.   Home is the best medicine. So, I'm back. 

Q3:  Would you like to tell me how your marriage ended?

A1:  For more than ten years, our country has been at war but that war has affected less than 5% of the population.  Unfortunately, that 5% has endured a nasty burden, and I've seen it have a very ugly effect on some people. Families have been torn apart.  Strong, proud service members have been reduced to shrunken images of dejection and inconsequence.  My husband is a prime example.   Charlie deployed six times over ten years.  Each time was at least a year, and two or three were for 18 months.  Each deployment changed him.  He became more withdrawn, yet explosively angry.  Not the sweet, fun guy I knew.  Not the one who laughed at everything.  After the last deployment, he became violent.  

Q3: And that's when you left?

A3: Not at first.  I truly didn't understand he was physically abusing me and our daughter, who was seven at the time.  After the first time he hit me, he was probably as shocked as I was and couldn't stop apologizing.  But one day, I was cleaning up the dinner dishes and watching Olivia play with her dolls. The cast on her arm was bright pink.  For some reason, the color screamed at me. It was then I realized I wasn't protecting her; I wasn't doing my job as her mother.

Q4: I know this is tough to talk about, but thank you for sharing your story with us.  Why don't we move on to a lighter topic.  What are your goals now that you're back?

A4:  (*laughs) Sure.  Well, I'm finishing up my prolonged exposure therapy, which I recommend to anyone who has been through an awful experience.  Honestly, it has been a godsend because it forced me to look at what happened and through repetition, gave me freedom from it.  So, talking to folks about prolonged exposure is one goal.  

Another is to help my father with his senatorial campaign.  As a retired Marine, Veterans hold a special place for him. Together I think we can bring a bold awareness to Veteran's issues and hopefully more support.

And lastly, as the new managing partner at Sweet Gypsy Books, I'd like to bring books into the lives of children.  Veterans from my support group at the VA are helping me put together a children's authorfest.  It's a way for me to marry two issues I'm passionate about -- reading and Veterans.

(Jackie Marshall is the newest citizen of Sweet Gypsy Springs, Alabama, and we thank her for taking the time to interview with her author today).

What's in a Name?

This week I've been thinking a lot about names, particularly as a writer and developing a good brand.  My platform is writing on Veteran's issues.  I feel strongly about the need for folks to understand what Veterans face and how they can help.  Since Romance and Spy Thrillers are my two favorite genre, I combine them and create a story to entertain and hopefully, educate.

So, what's in a name?  Does HazelnutLive sound like a platform that discusses the deep problems of Veterans in a fun and entertaining way?  Since this used to be just a place for me to write whatever I wanted, the name was fine.  Now, though I'm not so sure.

Since the majority of my Facebook friends are people I served with, I went on and asked for name ideas.  Tons came my way -- from the quirky and cool jargon to the unmentionable in polite company.  Interestingly, most of the jargon I've found to have a negative connotation.  Even when saying "outstanding" or "interesting," there is a certain amount of sarcasm accompanying it.  But I'd rather the name have a more positive, kick ass vibe to them.  My favorites after one day are below, let me know what you think:

1- Sierra Hotel:  in military lingo, that means Shit Hot

2- Bravo Zulu: in naval terms, it means Good Job

3- Easy Day: in special ops terms -- "Of course we can" or "No Problem, why are we even talking about it?"

4- Check Your Six: aviation talk for watch your back

5- Go Pound Sand:  response to indicate you aren't going to do whatever you were just told to do

6- Point Blank Range: where you don't want to be 

7- Kickin' in Doors: making stuff happen

Denver Debate

I love politics.  Really.  The West Wing?  My favorite show for 7 years.   For the record I am a registered Republican but have not always voted that way.  But here's the thing, I am not thrilled with my current choices of presidential candidates.  So unexcited that two months ago, my mother was lecturing me on my decision to support a Libertarian third-party candidate.  A vote for the other guy and all that.

Fundamentally I disagree with how the Democrats want to run government.  Being from Alabama, I'm proud of my southern heritage that is staunchly sided with state's rights (which also includes small government, low taxes & a big military -- you know, walk softly but carry an armored tank division).  But I am in awe of the blatant ninny-ness of the Republicans.  Really old GOP, you can't let the new guys play?  You gonna take your toys and go home?  Ridiculous.  And a great way to split the vote so the other party wins,  *hand clapping* that brilliant strategy from Colorado.

The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, regardless of the good in it, and there is lots of good in it, offends me because it denies me the liberty to choose for myself.  On the other hand, I watched the president makes decisions in Afghanistan that were as ballsy as any President Bush would have made.  What he has done to advance the cause of Veterans is also impressive.  In the last four years, when I applied for a civilian position with the US Air Force, of which I am a 10-year Veteran, I couldn't make the list -- even for jobs I once held on active duty.  With the VEOA and VRA, I'm showing up on lists right and left.  This has been the story with lots of folks I know -- an great effort to lessen the Veteran joblessness rate of well over 15%.

Governor Romney's jaunt through Europe and Israel this summer made me cringe with embarrassment. I'm not sure what makes you ready to be a diplomat but I would have thought the CEO of a major international corporation could do better.  On the good side, I firmly believe that a business man has better prospects for changing the economy than a lawyer.  Then again, I'm not totally convinced he'll implement policies to help folks like you and me. 

All that being said, the debates last night showed a prepared Mitt Romney who did articulate a plan.  Not really a detailed plan but enough of a plan with enough statistics and data to show he knows what the heck he's talking about if the topic is the economy.  And face it, with unemployment at 8% and in some counties in Alabama, it's above 20%, no one cares about social issues when they can't put food in their bellies or the bellies of their children.

And the most defining thing for the debates last night was the clarity with which  Mitt Romney wants to be president and how President Obama is shocked by that.    Mind's not changed yet but at least I have something to think about.

Creating a Writer's Platform

This week I'm thinking about writer's platforms and how to build one.   You don't have to be an expert on anything other than your book to have a platform.  It is simply what you care enough to write about and how to market it.

My books deal with Veterans issues wrapped in a suspenseful romance novel.  First book, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Second book,  Veteran homelessness.  Third book, Women Veterans.  So my platform handles Veterans Issues.

Bob Mayer spoke at the Sangria Summit for Military Writers a couple of weeks ago and said, frankly, he gave up his traditional book deal because he was doing all the writing and the marketing and all the profit was going to a publisher.  Now, he's an indie, still does his own writing and marketing but gets to keep a majority of the profit.  The bottom line is that in today's super-saturated fiction world, writers will have to market their work.

So, here is a platform plan -- hopefully it can help other writers with theirs.

SOCIAL MEDIA - this is a given.  For now I concentrate on the top three with a couple others thrown in when I have time.  The thing is to not waste all your time on social media because then you aren't writing.  Set a schedule -- I like Mondays and Thursdays -- and that's it.

     1- GET ON TWITTER, follow other writers and readers and those in your field.  But only follow those who engage.  Social media is "social" and if your followers aren't commenting, following or retweeting, then they aren't going to help you get your stuff out there.  The same is true for you.  It's a give-give game.  I really like Molly Greene's take on building Twitter (click here).

     2- FIRE UP FACEBOOK.  Until you have a book out, you can use your personal account and create a Group to project all your ideas, news, and information.  Again, this doesn't have to be just about your writing, it can also include whatever you are writing about.  If it's spy thrillers, start loading up on quirky, interesting international news.  If it's romance at a cupcake factory, help the local bakery advertise.

     3- BLOG. If you are a writer and you produce a book, you will be asked about your blog and you will be asked to guest blog.  This is another way agents, editors and publishers see you are getting out there.  What to blog about?  The same thing you tweet, Facebook and write about.  Writing, of course and because you love it.  But also what you are writing about.  Is your book about a child with autism.  Start blogging about autism.  Is it about a girl who can't stay out of antique shops?  Tweet about antiquing.  The thing about a blog is that it can change with each book.  The tie that binds is you the author.  (Blogger and Wordpress are the two most common blog sites)

     4- OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA.  Google+ is up and coming and a cross between Twitter and Facebook.  Goodreads is Facebook for readers.

     5- KEEP IT ALL ORGANIZED WITH A DASHBOARD.  I use Hootsuite to help me.  It lets you monitor up to five social media feeds for free.  This way you don't have to visit every single social media site, just this one.  You can pick and choose which feeds to upload.  This is a must if you are going to have more than a couple of sites.

VISIT AND TALKS - this is truly dependent on what you are writing.  Because I write about Veterans Issues, meeting with Veterans groups makes sense.  But here are other ideas:

     1- RESTAURANTS -- If you are writing a book with an Italian restaurant in it, head to your favorite and take pics, post them up and write about why you like it.  Call it a restaurant review.  Owners love free advertising.

     2- SCHOOLS/CHURCHES -- If there is a moral anywhere in your book, talk to kids about it OR talk to their teachers OR a women's/men's group at church about it (depending on genre).

     3- BOOK CLUBS -- If you aren't already in one, get in one because the more you participate, the more likely they will be to read your book.  Once they read it, word of mouth is key!

     4- CIVIC CLUBS - like the Rotary.  Whatever issues you are dealing with in your book is probably something the local civic group either has dealt with or will.  Give them a reason to talk about your book.  The VFW and the American Legion want to hear about your war memoir but so do regular Americans who want to support the cause (whatever the cause is).

     5- LIBRARY - Local libraries are always looking for authors to talk about books.  Become best friends with your librarian.

     6- MOVERS AND SHAKERS - Are you writing about a powerful CEO who seduces women for fun?  How about talking to a group of powerful CEOs?  Or young college graduates?  You get the idea.

     7- THEME PARTIES - Hold a book progress party.  One chapter done?  Invite 5 or so friends over for a party and let them read it for a quick beta test.   Full draft done?  Same thing but send them the entire manuscript.  Food is always a good excuse to get together and chat about books.


No matter what outlet you choose, be creative.  Anything can be talked about at any time to anyone.  Groups tend to be pretty open to discussions and newcomers.  Try anything and if it works, try it again.  I wish you lots of luck as you build your platform!

Procrastination Bug Bit Me - Now I'm Biting Back!

When writing was a hobby I could punch out anything at anytime - poems, short stories, long stories, anthologies, whatever.  But when I decided to take it on full-time, all of a sudden that stupid dung beetle (aka procrastination) writhed into my life and bit me.

He crawled on my keyboard, slithered on my outline, stole my notes and creeped his way into every conversation I had with my main characters.

I'd really like him to take a permanent vacation.

So I went searching for the Eradicator – something, anything to help me get rid of the pest.  I’ve jotted down a few of these tools in the hopes that maybe they can help you too, sweep that bug from your life.


Tool 1- Kitchen Timer -- am I writing or am I trolling the Internet?

Tool 2- Word Count -- do I have a word count goal or am I cleaning out the fridge today?

Tool 3- Page Count – how about a page count goal or is this organizing-the-office day?

Tool 4- Scenes -- do I want to finish one scene or two, or maybe I’d rather watch TV for more "research" ideas?

Tool 5- Time of Day -- do I write at the exact same time every single day or do I keep filling that space with essentials like alphabetizing my book collection?

Tool 6- Favorite Place -- do I write in the same place every day (well-lit, uncluttered and mine) or is it filled with bills, homework or other fun stuff?

For me, the best tool has been to create a habit that works.  Experts say two weeks of the same thing at the same time and you’ll have that habit down.  I’m on day 10 – wish me luck!

Do you have favorite techniques for staying on task and fulfilling the dream of a completed, well-edited, ready-to-go manuscript?  Please share!




The sketch is from my good friend Chris Watt, please see more of his illustrations at http://macgregorsisland.com/

Veterans Benefits

*DISCLAIMER* A Veteran Benefit Rant

So I was researching some Veterans benefits information for a friend.  Two years ago I found out that Iraq and Afghanistan war Veterans were entitled to 5 years of medical care at the VA (and the only reason I knew this was because I worked at the VA).  When I went through the transition program before leaving active duty, there was NO mention of it.

Today, I read this benefit still applies but to two separate groups of Veterans.  If a Veteran left active duty after 2003, he or she can still apply for medical benefits as long as 5 years has not passed.  BUT, if a Veteran left active duty before 2003 and still hasn't registered, he or she can't get the benefit.  

Excuse me but is the war over?  Did I miss the huge welcome home parades and congressional announcements that we have ended the war in Afghanistan?  Has the unemployment rate for war Veterans dropped below 15%?

At what point do we as a nation realize that Veterans are entitled to these benefits because they sacrifice their lives at the request of their government?  And at what point do Americans realize that without an all-volunteer military, the draft will be implemented because somebody has to ensure the United States of America is the fiercest military on the planet?

Here's something else too.  If you think Veterans are only sacrificing their lives, think again.  Their families suffer, their friends suffer and they suffer.  War is not pretty.  It is not glory.  It is not adventure.  It is ugly.  And I have seen too many families ripped apart in the last eleven years.  Those families and their Veterans deserve every single benefit this nation can give them.

So, Congress, when are you going to extend the deadline to register for 5 years of medical coverage for Veterans to whenever they can get an appointment at the VA or even better, to whenever they can get a person to pick up the phone at the VA to make an appointment?  Because here's the other funny thing, of the 11 years worth of Veterans I know, NONE of them knew they were entitled to free medical coverage.

What a travesty during a time of major unemployment, ever-increasing medical insurance and oh yeah, ongoing war.

For more on Veteran Benefits, please see the Veteran Benefits link at the VA.

Ever been to war?

I have.  It is nothing like the movies and I've not even been in combat.  

After nine years of begging and pleading, my career field finally let me go.  I thought, great now I can get it out of my system.

Boy, have I never been more wrong.  

I grew up on stories of my grandfather fighting in the Pacific with the 3rd Marines.  His FOUR brothers were in Normandy and another brother taught pilots how to fly the hump with the Flying Tigers (two are in the US Air Force Museum and one is in Arlington).  My family can trace its war history back to the Revolution and they still own the 648 acres given to them for fighting. 

Those stories drove me through childhood and since I was 14 I knew I'd join the military.  After an unfortunate knee injury, the only option I had was the Air Force and I happily went.  Now, 11 years later and after my first "war" deployment, the only thing I can tell you about war is that it's a drug.

Yes, a drug.  I figured one trip and I'd be good.  Nope.  One trip and all I think about is going back.

A lot of guilt goes into that feeling also since I'm a wife and mother.  But I have found a writer who can articulate this better than anyone else.  Antonio Salinas wrote a war memoir that dares to tell the truth -- that war is one of the most terrifying yet intoxicating experiences on the planet for so many reasons.

Read it.  And you might understand why a wounded Marine wants to get back in the fight or why a Navy Seal returns year after year.  Or why a mother is riddled with guilt for wanting to serve her country.

Antonio, Thank you for explaining what I can't.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sirens-Song-The-Allure-of-War/152460134868988

Sangria Summit

A writers conference for military folks -- awesome idea!

Veterans have stories to tell and some of them are hard stories to tell but still need to be written down and shared with the masses.

Today, folks don't even think about the fact that we still have thousands of service members in Afghanistan and Africa fighting terrorists.  Normally people don't think about this until one is dead.  While I understand daily life must go on, it is a shame.

The difference between this war and previous wars of the 20th century is the lack of conscription.  This war was fought completely with volunteers and no American was asked to support.  No matter your political perspective, I believe that when the nation is at war, it should be fought by everyone or no one.

For those who won't actually pick up a weapon, there are so many ways to serve.  Volunteer at the VA or the VFW or the American Legion or on a base near you.  Educate yourself on the programs offered to Veterans so you can help them find them.

One of the most astounding things to me is the lack of knowledge of benefits.  I talked with two Veterans last week, both recently returned from Afghanistan.  Neither knew they were entitled to five years of medical coverage at the VA - FIVE years and one of them just lost his medical insurance.

Simple things like that can save the life of a service member who simply wanted the honor of serving his country.

So a big thank you to the organizers of the Sangria Summit last week.  What an amazing way to help Veterans tell their story!

Want out of the slush pile?

Top 5 Reasons Agents Stop Reading (this is from Anita Mumm of Kristin Nelson Literary Agency)

1- Story starts in wrong place (confused about where the action is)

2- Too much set up or data dumping in the beginning

3- No sign of the main conflict (where's this going?  Seems to me this ties in with the first one)

4- Story isn't big enough (this isn't about word count but rather stakes.  Are they high enough?)

5- Mechanic mistakes (grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc... It smacks of rough draft.  BTW, Chicago Manual Style is the preferred writing guide)

Foundations of Fiction (why an editor will reject a manuscripts -- this is from Peter Kenftlberg of Kensington Press)

1- POV issues (no head hopping)

2- Tense issues (be consistent)

3- Conflict (it isn't evident right from the beginning)

4- Static characters (they need to change from the beginning to the end -- did they learn anything?  how did they grow?  why can't they go back to the way it was?)

5- Plot (what is the goal or motivation to do something - STAKES need to be high)

6- Pacing (don't have it bogged down in emotion, scene setting or description)

7- Info Dump (lots of background or set up; be careful with this in dialogue as well)

8- Dialogue (use contractions!  characters refer to each other by name too often)

9- Cliched opening (wakes from dream, looks in mirror, in a car)

10 - Mechanics (punctuation, grammar, spelling, voice (how does the voice differ from other books?)