My contention is that we can help each other. One my greatest loves of becoming an author is the support and encouragement of other writers. I recently helped Jessica Subject with an aviation scene in her book, Celestial Seductions. This gave me a brilliant idea...
What if we created a "go-to" data base for technical advice?
If you have something that you're experienced in, and would be open to share your knowledge, please let us know below. Provide a link to your blog. Writers supporting writers.
I'm the person to ask with anything aviation, international traveling, TSA, flight training, or psychology of pilots. Have questions about teenage girls? Been there and done that. I also have an MBA and MHS, so I'd be open for questions with business and human services. My love of editing falls in the story. If you get stuck and need someone to brainstorm with, let me know. Also, if you're tiling your house, I can give tips there too.
Please visit me at my other blog Flight To Success. I just created a new look. Blending aviation with writing, and I would love your opinion and support.
It make take a village to raise a child, but it takes a community to birth a book. Together we can make all our dreams come true.
I hope you'll share your careers and expertise below. I'll make a master list of everyone's ability, with blog information and will post in one of the ensuing months.
Happy Writing! And remember to enjoy the journey!
~ Karlene
This is a fantastic idea Karlene! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and for coming up with this plan.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Karlene! I have a business background in health care delivery policy, pharmaceuticals and communications. More squishy than technical or specifically detail-oriented, but I'm always interested in brainstorming.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this idea. I'm always trying to find new ways to research. My expertise... I'm a NYC resident so I know a lot about the different areas of the city. I have a black belt in Shotokan karate, so all those burning martial arts and fighting questions work for me. I taught English in Japan, so I can tell you all about living and working abroad as well as a TON about Japanese culture. I grew up in Brooklyn in a half Irish, half Italian family, so cultural questions are a go. I'm a Buddhist, but grew up Catholic. I work in Higher Education. I know all about the college scene. Oh, and I'm a HUGE horror movie buff. I can rattle off all kinds of details. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather! Feel free to add anything you want to share. Horses, etc...
ReplyDeleteLinda, sometimes squishy verses detailed is exactly what we need. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteTina, all I can say is WOW! What a great resource of information you are. And in so many areas. Thank you for sharing. I'm seeing a story from your life. Wonderful! Looking forward to getting more and we can have quite a resource to draw from. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSounds fun. I have a BA in Psychology and experience as a professional actress (mainly stage). I am Jewish (always have friends asking me questions about culture/religion and I don't mind at all). Don't know what else I could contribute to... But always happy to help!
ReplyDeleteHello Karlene
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea. I come from London, England, so I should be able to help with all things English! I've worked in hospitals and doctors' surgeries and make dress jewellery as well as write. I have three young adult children, so can help out with highs and lows of family life (many more highs than lows!) I'm Catholic so can help with any questions regarding confession/communion/confirmation etc.
I blog at ange-aspiringnovelist.blogspot.com and will happily help anyone if I'm able!
Ange xx @angebarton
Great idea Karlene!
ReplyDeleteI live in Australia, so any Australian related questions (culture, language, etc.) you can direct my way. I'm a primary school teacher, so I have a lot of experience with kids up to age 12. I have two young children, so I can also help with any questions on pregnancy and young kids. I live on a farm, so I can answer stuff on farm life (and what I can't, my husband can).
I blog at thegracefuldoe.wordpress.com and I'm @gracefuldoe on Twitter
Jo.
Yikes, I feel like I have nothing to offer! Um, I'm an avid water skier, my family camps, I have three sons (that might help someone), I live in southern California. Me and my family all ride quads, or atv's. But I'm not a rocket scientist or neurosurgeon, so writers, I can't help you with that stuff!
ReplyDeleteLisa, Excellent! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm sure I'll have some psychology questions for you! And maybe more.
ReplyDeleteAnge, Thank you so much for the great info. English, Catholic and kids. You have a full life and lots of great experience to share. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJulie, you have lots to offer! Three sons. What a great family! And sports. I know someone will ask. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent idea! Let's see...I'm an editor for a small publisher. I'm also the project manager, so I deal with proofers, illustrators, and layout. I also am very involved with my son's hockey team - so if you need hockey tips, coaching expectations/practices/personalities or anything related to the game, I'm a pretty good resource for that. I live in Michigan, so I'm a water person. I've got two boys (12 and 10) and two dogs, and I spent 10 years working in the mortgage industry - rates, underwriting, closing, training, computer manuals. Not sure if any of that will help anyone, but I thought I'd put it out there. Visit me at http://adventuresthatscore.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteKris
Horses, showing, western, trail riding, endurance riding. I have type 1 diabetes. And homeschooling. Been doing it for twenty years. I'm from the Keys, so I know swimming and water skiing. I live on a farm. But that's about it. Not much. Link to my blog: Putting Pen To Paper
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. :-)
Sorry, Hemmingway, but I disagree. When I attended my first conference, I wondered what to expect. I was blown away by the support. That's how I see the writing community - as a supportive one.
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! I'm a bit of a Jill of all trades. Happy to help if I can with anything concerning Pharmacology, martial arts, dog breeding, Chihuahuas (the dog, not the Mexican state) and Malaysia. You can find me at http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
ReplyDeleteHmm, seems like you guys already have most things covered! We're both teachers, so we can help with some basic school questions, especially for non-US-citizens writing about people in US schools. My husband used to be a police officer - he doesn't keep up with all the new stuff, but if anyone has simple questions about arrest procedures, jails, etc., we might be able to help. We're also into popular sports - basketball, baseball, football if anyone has questions about playing or coaching those.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I second a lot of what others say - we raise dogs, live on a farm with beef cattle and crops, have 2 sons, and know a little about a lot of things!
erica
Hmmm...I'm not sure what to add here, lol. I live in Canada in Calgary (million+ population) but I grew up in a small town, so have the view points of both small town/big city living; we owned a grain farm growing up (grains, canola seed, etc) so I can tell you about all the work involved in that if needed; I have kids (boys) who are now both teens, and my hubby is a management consultant working with large businesses, so maybe if folks had those types of questions, I could ask him?
ReplyDeleteGheesh, I feel so boring! Some subject matter expert on life I am. LOL
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
Great idea! Here's me:
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of degrees in engineering (B.S. Aerospace Engineering, M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D. Environmental Engineering) and know way more than anyone should about geekery. Have a young character who's a tech geek? Yup, been there.
I've worked for NASA (Edwards Flight Research, Goddard Space Center, and Langley Research Center) designing rockets and scramjet engines and studying the effect of engine pollution on the upper atmosphere. I don't have a "yes, I'm a rocket scientist" t-shirt, but I bought one for my husband (he likes to build the little rockets. Our basement is on the watch list for explosives with the ATF).
I've worked for GE designing aircraft engines, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (studying global warming). If you've got any tech questions, I can at least give it a stab.
I also have three boys who are all math-science oriented, so we have a larger than average knowledge of wormholes and quantum mechanics in our household.
So, feel free to ask! If I don't know the answer, you'll probably just pique my curiosity and then I'll have to look it up. :)
Kris, I am sure that will help everyone! Thank you so much for partaking in the advice adventure.
ReplyDeleteTheresa, I felt the exact same way! I too felt the writer's were a huge support. One of the reasons I wanted to become part of the community. Thanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteThanks Erica, Sports, police, teacher, and sons... you do know a lot about everything. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAngela, you are not boring! Small town and big city, what a great combo. And... you have big business husband. Super. We'll get lots of info from you! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSusan, you are a rocket scientist! Thank you for sharing. How amazing. I'm thinking I may just need to pick your brain one day. Thank you!!!
ReplyDelete