A few years back (I won’t say how long…Blaze babes are always young and gorgeous at heart ;)) I was invited back to my alma mater to give the commencement speech to the graduating class at my high-school. It’s a tradition of theirs to invite a 20-year alum to come back and inspire (I hope) the current crop of seniors. It was truly an honor for me to speak before an auditorium packed with graduates, parents, faculty, city officials and former teachers. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say. As a writer, I figured the words would come to me. But I wanted the message to be just right—something meaningful, something that might give those eighteen year-olds something to think about and impact their life. Ultimately, I looked at my own life to see what my philosophy was about successful living, and I came up with a 2-part challenge that I continue to live by every day. Now, a few years further along the road of life, I’m discovering that that advice applies to my writing life as well.

Here it is:
1. Learn something new every day.
2. Make a difference—every day.

Now, learning something new can mean anything from taking a class to earn another college degree to attending a writer’s conference or workshop to having my dad show me how to replace a faulty toilet to watching how the birds and rabbits and Maxie (our dog) interact in my back yard. You get the idea—in big or small ways, expand your horizons, stimulate the brain, grow yourself as a person.

Making a difference can be huge—joining a recycling program or mentoring a child, rescuing a pet from the pound—or small—smiling a thank you to the harried kid behind the counter at McDonald’s or holding the door for an elderly person. Again, it’s all about doing something for someone else. Makes you feel good inside. Makes your world or someone else feel better, too. This one’s about looking outward, paying it forward. You’re going to leave an imprint on this world—make it a good one.

So, how does this philosophy apply to writing books? I didn’t realize exactly how much it did until I got into the process of writing my current Blaze release, OUT OF CONTROL. A couple of years back, I was talking to my Blaze editor, Brenda Chin, about future books I’d like to write for the line. Before my military Blazes became a hit, I was thinking in terms of a steamy romantic suspense story—and I’d thrown out the idea of a FAST AND FURIOUS kind of Blaze story—I pictured Vin Diesel (sorry, Paul Walker!) as the undercover cop, with an ace lady mechanic at his side and in his bed, working to solve a murder in the world of street racing. That idea didn’t fly at the time—Brenda wanted more Marines But when the “From 0-60” miniseries idea came about, she remembered that story idea and asked me if I’d like to write one of the stories for the Blaze Series Spotlight. Heck, yeah! But one key ingredient was going to be different—the focus wasn’t going to be on big city cops—I had to move my story to the world of drag racing!

Did Julie know anything about drag racing? No. Did she know how to change the oil, much less soup up the engine of her car? No. Did she know the length of the track? How fast the cars go? What to call the trailer a car is hauled in? Again, no. So… I applied philosophy #1. I learned a lot about drag racing. I starting watching Horsepower TV (I still don’t get everything they’re showing me, but it gave me some believable lingo and characters to make my story more real). My good buddies who worked on the series with me–Alison Kent, Jennifer Labrecque and Lori Borrill–generously shared their knowledge. And a new member of my local writing group, The Prairieland Romance Writers www.prwne.com who goes to the races with her hubby, had some firsthand experience, and offered to answer any questions that might come up as I wrote the book. Drag racing wasn’t anywhere in my life experience, but I made it part of my experience. I learned. And because I learned, I could then write about it. Convincingly, I hope!

The second part of my philosophy? I’m sharing my knowledge about the writing business, about the craft of writing and more with that same fledgling writer in my group. She reads my books, asks questions. I answer them. I don’t claim to know everything, but I can certainly share my experiences and what works for me. Seems like a pretty good exchange to me, a nice way to thank her for her help. Good karma all round.
The dual learning/sharing philosophy was obvious with this book for me. But I’m certain it won’t be the last time that give and take process helps me create an authentic, engaging story with believable characters that readers will fall in love with.

So, how about you? What’s something interesting or funny or cool you’ve learned recently? What are you doing to make a difference, even in a small way, in the world?

And, if you’d like the chance to win a copy of my Blaze, OUT OF CONTROL, go to my chapter website at www.prwne.com. I’m the featured member of the month there, and we’re giving away a signed copy of my book! You can read a short excerpt of the story there, too.

Julie Miller
www.juliemiller.org

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