You could always have a friend pretend to be a burglar, to demonstrate the necessity of household weapons!I just have regular old ballistic weapons, but I live in Texas sooo... (In regards to the picture...I came to Texas from Alabama - via Oklahoma - and I thought there were plenty of guns in both of those places. I was oh so wrong. Texas is saturated with them. Saturated, I say!)
I have always wanted a Katana, though I doubt my wife will approve of any such weapon in the house.
When I first edited my first novel, I noted a word or two that I used excessively (not any of the usual ones), and there was a different word in novel #2 that was overabundant. I'm wondering if there are any tools out there that will scan your MS and list your most commonly used words--would make finding those problem words easier. Anyone know of one? (This is where someone tells me that the program I currently use has a great tool that I didn't know about, and I feel silly for not checking...)
I believe (though I've never used it, so no guarantees) that Scrivener will do this.
I've tried to find something in Scrivener that does this (I do use it), but haven't had luck...
I took this picture at an outdoor art exhibit in New Orleans. That window speaks to me.
Windows speak to you do they? Have you mentioned this to a doctor..... just a wee suggestion!
I always carry a folding knife in my back pocket, and a metal pipe in my car, for sort of the same reason. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. You don't have to be burglar-proof; you just have to be the most complicated car to steal on the street, the hardest house to break into on the block, and look like it would be more dangerous to try to mug you than the next passerby. I look everyone in the eye as they walk past, smile, and say hello. Just walk in a straight line, move slowly, and don't stop for anything in your way. Sidewalks will part around you, and people start to wonder why you're not afraid of them, and back off. You'd be surprised how often someone has asked me to walk them through shady parts of town.
Okay but for real though. This is good. Since I'm a chick and that by default raises my "she looks like an easy target" index, I try to carry a pocket knife with me as well. For times when I forget or in places I can't carry a knife, I've already thought about a substitute. I am MEGA paranoid, partly because I have to be and partly because that's my character. I'm just a paranoid person. If I see someone acting suspicious around me (whatever that may mean), I'm taking in what they look and sound like. When I'm walking/running outside by myself, I'm on high alert. Y'all should have seen me on our visit to Dublin. No matter the time of day or part of town, I was checking behind us every hundred yards or so. Almost to the point of being ridiculous. But you better believe I was aware of each and every person that passed us or casually strolled behind.
That's awesome! This must have been amazing to watch. And terrifying to experience.
Maybe it's colored by what I know of you, but if I was a shady type I wouldn't mess with you, Nicole. I would be like,
I actually have talked to my hubby about getting into a class for this
