Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A. Cook

How Much Social Media Does A Writer Need?

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

It depends on the writer. Now before you throw banana peels at the computer, pause for a moment. Think. Do textbook writers need blogs? Do technical book authors need blogs? Does anybody really need social media or blogs? Depends on your writing goals.

I resisted writing a blog forever. Being the type of person I am, if everyone is doing something, I head in the opposite direction; less crowded and I’m quirky. My writing web site went online in 1997, so I embraced the whole Internet medium, but I try to evaluate if each potential time suck away from writing helps my marketing bottom line first.

Spec Ops Cat leaves social media and web duties to his staff. Naps are his top priority.
Spec Ops Cat leaves social media and web duties to his staff. Naps are his top priority.

Twitter was my first love, since the challenge of telling a story in 140 characters lit up my journalist brain. When I figured a blog would be good to promote my book(s) and it felt like my own newspaper, getting training became important. Bought Kristen Lamb’s book, “Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer,” and then enrolled and lurked in her online class. She has great common sense advice and instructions on how to manage the blog beast. She emphasizes  making a schedule that works for your life and then stick to it like super glue put on with duct tape. Be consistent. (See Lamb’s blog link under Writing Biz on the right)

Facebook is not my friend. For the last two years I volunteered to manage a fan page for a non-profit, growing from 800 to 3,600 followers. FB and I don’t see eye to eye and some of the new changes creep me out. I do not need to know the status of anyone’s farm animals, I can barely keep up with my backyard patio herb pots. My personal/business FB is on hold, referring folks to my blog.

At a recent writer conference one attendee complained Twitter is turning into a link zone. I’m part of that problem/opportunity. Before the blog I posted three times a week on Twitter, all on Friday. I know there are things like Tweetdeck, but that seems like cheating to me.  My Tuesday and Friday blog postings are scheduled ahead of time, but I don’t get too far ahead in case the world goes crazy and I need to chat about it. My blog feeds to Twitter twice a week. Period. Nobody needs to hear from me more than that right now, people have lives or should get one!

My one big takeaway from all this? If you’re on social media or blogging and not working on your writing projects, then STOP IT. WRITE FIRST. If blogging is your writing project, go forth and blog. But maybe unplugging altogether until you get a first book draft done is what needs to happen.

You don’t need to “build a marketing platform” and “get followers” if your book is two years from being finished. FOCUS!

Feel free to work on your writing and ignore social media, I give you permission. Trust me, social media will be there when you get back and then you can watch even more of those fabulous cat movies. How much social media do you think a writer needs?

Have You Tickled Your Loris Today?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Once again Quirky Friday is here and I feel sorry for the East Coast. With Snowmageddon Storm Nemo howling into their neighborhood, we know everyone is going to be bundled up inside cooped up for several days. One past time will be checking out YouTube videos and this one is cute.

When you have to stay inside and cuddle, especially if the power goes out, what better playmate to invite under the covers than this adorable little Loris. So best wishes to the East Coast to get through this storm. Stay safe, stay warm, help the Sandy Storm survivors and take care of each other out there. May the tickled Loris and the Force be with you!

Are You Using Details In Your Writing?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Spring is my favorite season, but it’s not here yet. Duh. Cleaning up the dead leaves in my backyard bulb box on Sunday, guess what surprises were lurking underneath? Bulb shoots! Very exciting. Spring will return again. I raced inside, grabbed the camera and snapped a few quick pictures before watching the Super Bowl.

They're alive! The bulbs will bloom again this year. Grow on.
They’re alive! The bulbs will bloom again this year. Grow on.

Writers must watch for and use details in all our prose. Small things make big impacts in stories. In life as in writing, small gestures count. Seeing bulbs break through to herald Spring, hearing a frog croak for the first time and the returning birds flit in the bushes all let readers know winter is coming to an end.

It is very easy with our busy lives and tendency to plug ourselves into tech things to stop observing our environment. What we do in real life transfers to our writing with both good and bad consequences.

Remind yourself to be a writing detective every day while you go about your adventures. Take time to observe and breathe in the sights, sounds, smells, taste and touch of your world. If we bring our observations to our writing we will carry our readers with us on magic journeys of heart and mind.

In Elizabeth Berg’s book, “Escaping Into The Open: The Art Of Writing True,” she has a great line about what is takes to be a good artist. “As a writer, you should have a sticky soul; the act of continually taking things in should be as much a part of you as your hair color.”

Today while we venture out into our day, look for clues and everyday magic moments to fill our creative notebooks. Like bulbs reaching up through the dirt, let’s all work on our sticky souls.

Is A Cat Smarter Than A Shell Game?

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Back to our regularly scheduled programming. Been trying to get back on track with my writing projects after a long and stupid sinus infection. Or maybe I’m just outmatched by these germs which are now getting shock and awe antibiotics to kill them dead. If this doesn’t work, I’m sending in a mini spec ops team with C-4.

With my limping brain power, several projects I finally feel well enough to tackle are teasing me. Which one should I pick first? Perhaps I need to hire Frida the cat to sort it all out. This gambling feline seems to have a system that works. Take some tips from Frida and see if we can all  improve our odds in today’s shell game publishing world. Happy Quirky Friday!

When Have Women Not Been In Combat?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

About damn time. The final lifting of restrictions on women in combat last week is about 237 years late. Women have fought and died for America since before it was a country. Women even dressed up as men to serve in the Revolutionary War. Better late than never, I guess.

Me and my M16 in the waiting area before heading out to the rifle range at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Fall 1975. (For safety, no ammo until we got to the firing range)
Me and my M16 in the waiting area before heading out to the rifle range at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Fall 1975. (For safety, no ammo until we got to the firing range)

The combat exclusion has always been a discrimination and generational issue to me. We have made strides since I entered the Army in 1975 as part of the new “all volunteer force” after Vietnam. The Army NEEDED women to fill out its ranks. Now, 38 years after I received “voluntary” M16 rifle training, military women will be able to achieve rank and advance alongside their warrior brothers without the handcuffs of unequal opportunity holding them back from combat duty.

These exclusions were never about women being capable to handle the jobs; it’s been about sexist male top brass and America being able to handle women coming home in body bags. Women have two choices when it comes to war, we can be warriors or victims.

One of my World War II veteran students asked me what I thought about women in combat many years ago. He thought women were “too pretty” to get shot.

“You have to look at it from my perspective,” I told him. “Who said it was okay to shoot our men? Bummer of a birthright. Besides, I am no less a citizen of this country because I have different plumbing.”

Is military service for everyone? No, less than one percent of our USA population serves in the military. So if a woman or man can pass the tests for a job, they should be allowed to do the job. When I served with the Fourth Infantry Division, we had Army cowgirls who could breakdown five-ton truck tires with a sledge-hammer and men in the same outfit who couldn’t pick up the sledge. Test for the job and not the person’s plumbing and it will all work out.

Combat should always be a last resort for our nation, but there are times when the bullies of this world will not back down and action must be taken. When that happens, all our citizens are needed to share the burden of national security.

While we welcome home all our returning veterans and take on the large job of veteran reintegration after two long wars, we need to listen and help them heal with love and understanding. We must let all our veterans, Reserve, Guard and active duty know that they and their stories are important. It’s the least we can do as we benefit from their sacrifices.

I especially encourage my fellow women warriors to write their stories because so often our female history is lost. I salute my warrior sisters past, present and future. Hoo-ah!

Got Your Ducks Organized?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Holy cow cakes! Lots of writers/people checked out my post on Tuesday, thanks everybody. I’m trying to catch up with all the great feedback. Always amazes me when real people are actually out there and make a comment. Thank you for the support.

Part of any new year is getting organized and right now I am working on taxes. Oh joy. I’d rather be writing! But this “other” paperwork needs to be completed too. So for inspiration I found this video about getting your ducks organized. Fits the Quirky Friday fun theme, so enjoy! Have a great weekend and keep writing what you love.