My 12th grade Creative Writing teacher used the title of this blog as her mantra. I believe now that she was merely trying to convince me to stop writing war stories. After all, what does a 17year old pimple-faced geek know about war? Only what he reads in history books, magazines and comics. Today, I realize that you don't need to experience something to write about it; you can always research the topic, but her words motivated me.

At age 17, I wrote a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish in my life. My list included acquiring a Bachelor's degree, receiving a commission in the military, buying my own home before I was 30 years old, getting married sometime after age 30 and finding a lucrative career in a field I enjoy. I have achieved four of those goals. I was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army (Reserve) at age 23; I received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at age 25, I bought a house when I was 29 and I was married at age 39.

Ms. Adler's words in 1982 sent me packing into the United States Army at age 18. My military career spanned three years on active duty and 18 in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. You can read about one of my experiences as a Platoon Leader in Canada on Gunther Zimmerman's blog. I've been in numerous fire fights with blank ammunition and provided gallons of blood, sweat and tears while in uniform.

Besides serving as Platoon Leader, I was a Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, Battalion Personnel Officer, Battalion Supply and Logistics Officer, Battalion Signal Officer, Brigade assistant Supply Officer, Brigade Operations Officer and Division Battle Captain (G3 - Current Operations). It was a lot of fun. It was hard work. I gained invaluable experience and I would never trade it for anything in the world. My experiences in the military are some of the best in my life.

In the civilian world, I spent roughly 12 years as a Reserve Police Officer; I worked three years in financial Services, I spent three years in a warehouse and over five years as a Conductor for a railroad in freight service. My father, his father and his father before him all worked for a railroad. I recall being 17 saying that I would never work for a railroad. Sometimes, you have to do what needs to be done; regardless of your own desires -- discipline.

What does this have to do with my writing? When I was 17, I enjoyed writing and wanted to someday write a book. I had no intention of studying journalism or English and making it my full time career, but the subject still peaked my interest. My English Teacher's words motivated me to go out into the world and acquire experiences that I could someday write about. Many of the things that I write or have written for either Gunther Zimmerman or Loren are based on personal experiences. I have drawn on physical experiences as well as emotional ones to write.

As examples, I have worked in Logging as a teenager which is reflected in Gunther's thread entitled, "[Flashback] Carpentry, Wood and Labor". My father was an amateur carpenter and built his own house. Although I wasn't around to help him much, I did get to see various stages of the project. Loren's archery work is reflected in my Archery merit badge I earned as a boy scout and from my cousin who hunted deer with the bow every winter. He shared his experiences with me and we took numerous walks in the woods. The loss Loren felt over his young bride in Loren's "[Flashback]Winter's Barren Soil" was drawn from the death of my father almost five years ago. My most recent post describes Loren falling in the snow with his feet dangling into a cavity beneath the snow. That event actually happened to me when I was 19 years old in Fort Carson, Colorado. There were no wolves bearing down on me and I was slightly intoxicated; maybe a story for another day.

Although you can write without experience, it sure does help.