Most of all, it has given direction. When my book was finished, I wasn't sure about the next step. My copy editor said go to Smashwords, and from that moment, I haven't had to ask "what next." Whether I want to make may book more presentable or more available, the answer has been on Smashwords or a related product.

Just the writing process. Making the characters interact with the situation and hanging on as the plot twists and unravels.

Something more related to myth and fantasy. I'm a huge fan and have always wanted to make a universe of my own.

Joyce Carol Oats, Flannery O'Connor, Tim O'Brien. This list could go on forever. Anyone who crafts words well, makes me believe, makes me need to read on. Especially if the subject matter is not one of my personal interests. Making me love what I at first turned my nose at is what I consider the real sign of good writing.

I have kids. I don't need inspiration.

Again, I have kids and a house and just living up to those aspects of my life demand most of my time. What do I do when I get to do what I like to do? Read of course. Fiction and nonfiction. I like to stay informed.

I try to get the first draft done fast. I start with an outline, that is going to change, but I like to write a quick draft that still contains character descriptions, action, and dialogue. A complete but illegible draft that I must more rewrite than just polish. I want to write usable work as I compose, but the unexpected possibilities in plot cause me to make huge changes, and a lot of the hard earned finished work must be thrown away for the sake of a better story.

Desktop.

On and off my whole life. First enjoying it when it was a school assignment and finally choosing it as a college major in hopes of being a novelist. From there I spent twenty years starting and stopping, unable to bring the ideas, the process, the time, and all the other elements that must come into alignment to complete a manuscript. But now I have.

I've served in the army in various capacities for the last twenty years. I don't necessarily believe strongly in all US policy, but enlisted for direction when I was young and was amazed by my personal transformation and grew to respect the others that serve and sacrifice for something bigger than themselves. For the last ten years I found myself unwilling to leave while the army was being asked to fight. Not because I believed in any particular cause, just my ingrained need to serve while my army was at war. I watched a great institution deteriorate while the people grew less concerned and the defense industry just grew. I was just a low ranking soldier, so I was only confused when leadership cared more about what technology was used during a patrol than what was accomplished on it. My book is fiction, but it echoes a century old fear of private industry not just profiting from war, but controlling it.