Goodbye Baghdad!

I am sitting watching a beautiful desert sunset at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. As I logged into my blog I realized that it has been over a month since my last post. With all the things that were going on during my deployment, all the commitments, all the people to stay in touch with, and my own personal mental sanity something had to be sacrificed and unfortunately that something was my writing. After I take a few weeks to relax and fully enjoy time with my wife I plan on getting back into a more regularly scheduled writing regimen similar to the frequency pre-deployment. What will likely be different are the topics I write about and my views of the world. I have been through so much in such a relatively short period of time and these past six months have certainly changed me and helped me grow.

As I look back now that I am out of Iraq I think that subconsciously I may have avoided sitting down and writing. I think I avoided writing because I was acutely aware that the multitude of experiences within my deployment were just too much to fully process. I am sure that over time I will have a better understanding of the magnitude of the reality I was living and how that reality was shaping me as a person.

I went through some tough times during my deployment but I also went through some great ones. The experiences I gained from my time in the desert are undoubtedly priceless experiences. I feel more confident in myself and what I can achieve moving forward. I cannot wait to taste my old life again and appreciate just how great it is, and I cannot wait to make it even better. Although I would never willingly seek out another six months away from my family and friends again, I wouldn't trade what I have experienced either.

Some of what I have taken away will undoubtedly be shared as it will not only benefit those who have not experienced what I have but it will help me understand and grow from my deployment. Some experiences will be shared with friends, some will be saved for my family, and some will remained locked within as the moments and emotions cannot be successfully transfigured into words.

I thank you all for standing behind me as I made this journey and I look forward to rejoining you and living the good life back in the best country in the world. Goodbye Baghdad!

The Future of Publishing

I came across this article on CNN yesterday about the trend towards self publishing. I think it is pretty cool that authors who would never have opportunity to spread their message are now empowered to get their hands dirty and do it themselves.

I also think that it is about time there is a paradigm shift in publishing from an efficiency standpoint. Being as I am working to make the Air Force more lean, I can't help but have eyes for waste in other industries as well. The old way of publishing is writing a book and printing 3.000 copies with hope that you can sell them all. Self publishing is in essence a pull system. Books are only printed as they are ordered.

Later in the day I came across this post talking about the dangers of self publishing. In my opinion it is a little extreme. Sounds like a published author is a little worried about the future. I don't think traditional publishing is going away anytime soon and even if it did I think this guy is missing the point. I have already spoken about why I love blogs. I think that they truly are a meritocracy that even the playing field for people's point of view. The blogs that put out the best product virally build more and more readers. People link to other blogs, re post sections like I have done hear, email to friends, use programs like Digg or Stumble Upon and value is rewarded. I think that self published media would function in a very similar fashion.

My view is why fight the future? Adapt and find ways to incorporate the ways of the future to better your life. Plus I think I have a better chance self publishing than getting a traditional publisher's backing, and given that I originally wanted to be a creative writer growing up (go figure) I think that the opportunity to put out your own book is pretty cool.