Aloha everyone,

With tremendous feedback, I've completely revised four draft chapters of "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retiring Early: FIRE!" and they're finally ready for another round of reviews.

I'd like to give special thanks to ESRBob, the Kaderlis, and SamClem for their time and patience. Not only have they scrubbed my text, but they also helped me widen the book's appeal to semi-ERs and to those who want (or need) to reach ER through a bridge career. Bob not only helped me nearly nail a publisher (I'm still working that), he graciously invited me into his home to show me that art really is his ER avocation. The Kaderlis taught me everything I know about self-publishing and working with the media. (Someday I will surf Kata Beach.) And at considerable personal sacrifice, SamClem made the arduous Waikiki trip to hammer out the improvements over lunch. Appropriately the DoD sent him here on an unrelated military consulting contract, so now you can all claim that your tax dollars have contributed to the book.

For those of you just joining us, you're invited to help write a book on military ER. It'll be published in some form, either in perpetual editions from a house like Nolo (publisher of "Work Less, Live More") or self-published (like the Kaderlis' guide). Since hard-core ER credibility may be impugned by royalties, the profits will be donated to military charities. (A realistic profit projection would be around $2000.) If you contribute then you get to select the charities.

For those of you who've seen an earlier draft, I've tried to include everyone who's mentioned military service or been associated with it. Some of you also have writing or publishing experience, and your advice is very valuable on broadening the book's appeal to veteran's families. All the moderators & admins have also been invited.

The outline, intro, and four chapters are posted at this Windows Live URL:

https://cid-2d85f15adbfd67d7.skydrive...litary%20Guide

Every password is <FIRE> (just the four capital letters without the carets). I've also included other documents that will be referenced by appendices and website links.

As Gumby can attest, the submarine force thrives on its perpetual & heartless Darwinian criticism. No worries about my feelings-- if you have a comment on improving any aspect of the book then I'd appreciate hearing it. Here's what I'm specifically looking for:
- A better table of contents. What topics am I missing? What's a waste of time?
- Better grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. I'm using Strunk & White and "The Elements of Grammar" but I'm not proficient. I tend to abuse passive voice and switch among second- & third-person perspective.
- I need Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard jargon. I can only use the word "shipmate" so many times and I need to add joint equivalents. Help me improve on "air warrior" and "battle buddy".
- Sea stories, I mean life experiences, for sidebars. You can be attributed by your actual name, your E-R.org poster name, or anonymously. Hot readers (and cool publishers) dig pithy sidebars.
- Formatting ideas. I like the Nolo template of Bob's WLLM (especially the sidebars) but there might be something better.
- Publisher appeal or self-publishing recommendations. I've kept all your earlier suggestions and I'll add to the list.
- Cover design. I have no idea what it should look like and spouse assures me that's typical of my artistic "talent".

Other comments: The endnotes, charts, figures, and appendices are placeholders that I'll create after the main text is complete. I wouldn't waste your editing time on them, but I'm happy to hear your suggestions for additions or graphics. The footers & page numbers are publisher's formatting, but I'll either let the publisher change that or take care of it when I format my final copy for self-publishing.

The book can hold lots more advice on career planning, veteran's benefits, and financial management. To keep down the size, though, I'm hoping to survey those topics and then refer readers to excellent references like Military.com, the book "Military Advantage", or dozens of other DoD and financial websites. I don't want to duplicate everyone else's research-- I want to call attention to it. Let me know how to make that work.

If you've contributed personal stories or other material, I want to make you proud of what you've shared. If you think I could have done a better job with it, please let me know how to improve it. I'm still looking for more! Even if it doesn't survive editing it'll go in the appendices and the website.

Some of you are keenly aware that I've been at this for well over two years. (Writing is hard, editing is even harder, and I'm lazy.) It'll be at least 2009 before this print sees daylight, so if you're tired of waiting on me then I completely understand wanting to change the terms of your participation. But I have faith: I pitched Hawaii's top agent at a writer's conference. Like Simon Cowell, he's heard everything and he dismissed almost everyone with five seconds of comments. However my pitch stopped him cold. He thought about it, asked if ERs really existed, and then said "Yes, this sounds like it could work."

I hope to post more every few weeks. Mahalo,

- Doug

Thanks, Doug, it's an honor to take a look at your book. My biased suggestion is publishing on Amazon.com's Kindle as well as by regular paper copy. I've put off buying a few books because they are not available on Kindle. Please add me to the group.

Jeanne aka CuppaJoe

Hi, Doug. Not sure just what a Social Group does but happy to join.

Nords: Thanks for the invite. Will be reading as you go. Hope I can contribute.

Thank you for the invite! I remember hearing about this book in the Kiderli's interview with you, it's great to hear it's still coming along. If someone wanted to contribute, do you have a specific idea of how you want that? A questionnaire to fill out, a mini-bio-this-is-how-I'm-doing-it blurb, or an interview?

-Guy

Jeanne,
Thanks for the Kindle idea. I'll try to make that happen, although there's still no decision on using a publisher or self-publishing.

Rich,
I don't know what social groups were designed for either, but they're a much easier way to seek contributions & feedback from the right audience without attracting trolls & spammers.

Guy,
Your contribution, your words, you get to choose. I'm hoping that something in the topic outline will trigger a sea story or advice that you'd want to pass along. You can be attributed by your actual name, your poster name, or anonymously.

Doug, I'd be delighted to offer proofreading skills, which are my only relevant talents to offer your prodigious project! Thanks for the inclusion and I look forward to helping in some small way get this book published.

Hi-
I appreciate the opportunity to review your transcipts - especially since I'm at 9 months from my final transition leave. I reviewed Chapter three and except for a typo (you instead of your) agree w/ so much of what you've written. You discussion about moving close to parents to help them w/ their day-to-day activities (and health care visits) hits home for me. Also, the discussion about discerning between friends and co-workers is on target.

Look forward to reviewing the other chapters.

Rick

Sounds interesting. Thank you for the invite. I look forward to reading your work and hopefully adding something! If not, I will at least give you support and honest feedback.

Sarah, all proofreading is gratefully appreciated. The fresh sets of eyes make a big difference.

Thanks, Rick! I've uploaded a corrected version.

Guest, I think I have moderator powers that will let me delete one of your posts. Let me know.