I wanted to stop in quick this morning and talk about research.
Can you do too much? How much should you include in your story?
If you've been following this blog then you know I've really been hung up on the research for An Ozarks Homecoming. Will I include everything I've learned? Not even close. However, when it comes to the military, there are things you just can't screw up!
I thought I had everything I needed until I realized my hero's internal struggle. I think, aside from the military stuff I had to get right, not knowing Marc's issues was the real dam holding everything back. I knew things weren't flowing but I hadn't located the dam.
Once I connected dots in my head and realized Marc was suffering from survivor's guilt I knew I needed to actually talk to a combat training officer. I was blessed to have made a connection with one guy from our local farmer's market. While he hadn't served in that capacity, he was able to put me in touch with someone who had. Jason is a retired combat training offer AND had mustered out from Fort Polk - right where Marc had the experience!
While Jason doesn't talk about his military service, he did spend almost an hour with me on Tuesday answering my questions, filling in gaps and sharing a couple of stories about his own experiences. WOW!
I wish I hadn't been too tired to work when I got home but was after 9 p.m. by the time I got home. For someone who gets up at 5:30 a.m., it was way past my bedtime.
Will I include everything I learned from our talk? Not even close. Just having that background information is enough to help me tell Marc's story.
I didn't get any writing done last week because I crunched to get things out of the way in preparation for a FREE on-line writer's conference I heard about from Sarra Cannon earlier in the week.
I encourage everyone to check out the website and watch the videos. Just go to SCHEDULE 2022 then click on the YouTube icon next to the sessions that interest you.
This was an intense three days of great information on both Writing and Publishing. My brain is kind of on over-load as I took copious notes and screenshots from most of the sessions. I still have a few to go back and watch thanks to a migraine that hit on Friday. I made connections with some really great people and found some new sprinting groups I hope to take part in.
One thing that was a REAL eye-opener is how much time this whole writing business thing is going to take. I mean, I KNEW but I just didn't absorb the enormity of the process. I know the over-all journey is an evolution and I'll get there. That's what Sarra Cannon's HB90 course is all about - avoiding the overwhelm while still moving the needle forward.
The coordinators realized they probably could have timed this better, since this is Camp Nano month so they've scheduled the 2023 YouTube conference for June 23-25, 2023. Mark your calendar for an amazing conference from the comfort of your own home!
Speaking of Sarra Cannon, She did an awesome presentation on Saturday talking about Planning To Thrive.She is a planner girl and pretty much everything she does involves a planner. She also just opened registration for the Publish & Thrive course that starts in a few weeks. Here's her video with all the details:
Note that she does offer payment options as well as a bundle savings when you purchase Publish and Thrive PLUS the HB90
I do have a busy week but one I'm SUPER excited about.
I have an interview later today with a retired combat training officer from Ft. Polk Army training grounds. This interview should clinch the research I need to finish An Ozarks Homecoming. I don't recall if I mentioned but a few months back I finally realized what my hero's internal struggle is - all stemming from an incident when he was stationed at Ft. Polk. However, I'm determined to not misrepresent the military in any way so I needed to find someone who could tell me if the incident that led to his struggle is plausible. Jason should be able to answer those questions.
For this week:
1 - Continue work on studio
2 - Kanban board
3 - Write 500 words per day minimum - beginning today!
The 500 word per day challenge came as a result of meeting Joe from SixCats Press during the AuthorTube Conference. I'll link his video down below. I'm a few days behind to be in sync with him but as Amber McCue would say - I'm right on time!
That pretty much brings you up to speed. I'll be back tomorrow and Wednesday with the next two Something Blue anthology authors - Robyn Neeley and Annie Rains.
I'm glad to be writing again. Words are flowing and I'm finally into the story. About time considering this book is set to release mid-May.
This poster, considered 'vintage' by collector.com, hangs in my office. My daughter bought me the poster for my birthday in the mid- 1990's because I'm a huge John Elway fan. I met John the first year he joined the Denver Broncos. I've followed him through the ups and downs of his career. He's navigated everything with a word he lives by... DEDICATION.
You have to be dedicated in this business ... or any endeavor.. if you plan to succeed and reach your goals.
Our military are DEDICATED to their beliefs and their trainings. I've learned a lot about our armed forces, particularly the Army, as I've researched for An Ozarks Soldier's Homecoming. Over the years I've heard people (writers) say they write contemporary because they don't want to do all that research. Well, unless you are creating a completely fictional world and know EVERYTHING there is to know about the details involved in your book, you are going to have to do research in some form and amount.
This past week I've talked to a Staff Sargant at an Armed Forces Career Center (they aren't called recruiting offices any more), plus been to every conceivable site and video about Mortuary Affairs and Dignified Transfers.
As I've said before, this story has made me want to get the details right, though the Staff Sargent did tell me that the details weren't as important if I were writing fiction. Sorry, Sir, but I don't abide by that one. Someone who knows about Mortuary Affairs, Dignified Transfers or have brought a loved one home in a dignified transfer case WILL know. I refuse to dishonor them by not getting it right.
I took part in JANO 2020 though I'm more about my own writing time line than trying to dump 50,000 words in 31 days. I managed 15,000 but that's okay. I'm on target for the time line I've set up in my writing planner.
This is going to be a busy month. I'm planning on posting three days a week. Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday. Beginning in March I will be launching From the Writer's Nest where we see WHERE authors write those books we love to read.
