IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS

My dad is my hero. Someone who's always ready with another story or good advice. Although he didn't go to college, me made certain my sisters and I did. And along the way, he instilled in me a strong work ethic, a love of God, and the value of “keeping my nose clean and to the grindstone.” He also taught me some universal truths like: Don’t pick up a live mouse by the tail and you can “shoot the moon” in a game of pitch with only an ace and a deuce—providing it’s the first hand of a new game. My first published article was about my dad, and I have it on my website if you’d like to read it.

The other thing my dad did for me was serve our country in Korea when I was an infant. He was drafted into the Army in the post WW II era, but he never saw any action. He came home, married my mother, and started a family. When the Korean War broke out, he was called up from the reserves. An inveterate storyteller, who has charmed family and friends for generations, my dad rarely speaks of his time in Korea. I know he witnessed the ravages of war in a way that most of us can only imagine and that perhaps it brought back too many painful memories.

One evening, though, about 2 ½ years ago, my writing friend, Charles (Chuck) Sasser, told me about a book he was writing called God in the Foxholes. He was collecting stories of American veterans from all eras, but was particularly interested in those of WW II and Korean soldiers since so many of them were no longer alive. Long story short, Chuck’s book released this week in time for Veteran’s Day, and it is wonderful

My dad’s story is in there, with a picture of him in his Army uniform. I had heard only snatches of the story and came away with tear-filled eyes and an even greater appreciation for what my dad and so many others have done to make this country a safe place to live, work, and raise my children.

To you, Daddy, thanks. You are loved.

How to BE a Writer

My friend and fellow Tulsa Night Writer, Chuck Sasser, talked at our monthly meeting about becoming a writer. Chuck is multi-published in the action adventure and military genres and has written both fiction and non-fiction with thousands of magazine and newspaper articles to his credit as well. Born to a sharecropper in Arkansas, he told his mother at an early age that he wanted to live many lives and write about all of them.

Indeed, he has done that. Chuck served with the Special Forces (Green Berets) in Viet Nam, was a war correspondent on several occasions, became a Miami police officer and later a Tulsa police detective, and rode broncs in the professional rodeo circuit. His adventures have included running with the bulls in Spain, hopping freight trains, scaling Mr. Everest, trips down the Amazon, hunting bears in Canada, and his current quest: looking for Sasquatch in various North American locales. He turns every adventure into magazine articles, book deals, and entertaining conversations.
In his book, Magic Steps to Writing Success, Chuck weaves his life story with writing wisdom.
Here’s what he shared the other night:
Many people dream of being writers, but few have what it takes to BE a writer. For those with the drive and desire, success is attainable with these steps.

1. Discipline. Many talented writers are never published. Successful writers are those who discipline themselves and write EVERY SINGLE DAY, no matter what.
2. Inspiration. Good work doesn’t come from inspiration. It comes from constant, tedious effort. In pursuing this, ask yourself Why do you want to be a writer? For Chuck it was to see and experience many things so that others may share that experience through his writing. What drives you?
3. Goals. Set attainable goals, but aim high. One of Chuck’s favorite quotes: “If you aim for the moon, you might at least hit a mountain.”
4. Ideas. If you wait for your well to overflow with ideas before you use them, your well will run dry. Curiosity is the rain that fills the well. Who? What? When? Where? How? Explore everything in your world with curious eyes and ears. Use details in your writing, and your words will ring with authenticity.
5. Craft. How can you build a house if you can’t use a hammer or know a rafter from a ceiling joist? You can’t write a good story while consciously thinking about how to apply the techniques. Learning the craft is essential. Learn well and often.
   
   Five steps. That’s it. Chuck has made a living as a full-time writer for twenty-nine years using these steps. Thanks, Chuck, for the insights and encouragement.