<strong></strong>Today’s word in case you’re unsure from the title – AAR

What the heck is an AAR? You’re probably wondering — especially if you have no military background.

At the conclusion of every mission employed, an AAR, <strong>AFTER ACTION REVIEW</strong> is conducted to determine the effectiveness of the mission. Sometimes called a debriefing, too.

I’m the daughter of an Army Air Corp/Air Force officer, the spouse of a retire Army officer and a former DAC. I thrive on order in chaos and demand order/structure.

My life, until my husband’s retirement, was pack, unpack, establish a nest, pack, unpack, and establish a nest. I’ve gathered lots of fodder for my writer’s mill and skills I’m sure I’ll not live long enough to use.

Two years ago I took ex-Green Beret <a href="http://bit.ly/aX6Rtm" target="_blank">Bob Mayer</a>’s Warrior Writer A-Team course. I’m not sure Mayer offers the course anymore, but the book <em>WHO DARES WIN, The Green Beret Way to Conquer Fear and Succeed</em> is available <a href="http://amzn.to/yfewjk" target="_blank">here</a>. 

His Special Forces tactical approach applied to a writing career resonated with me. I credit that class as the turning point in my writing. I especially loved the AAR, After Action Review. I now conduct AARs on all writing activities and projects. 

Sound silly. Not really. 

We all do AARs unconsciously. We just don’t call them After Action Reviews. Bet you’ve said. “Been there done, that not going again” or something like that. And I’m guessing you’ve also said, I loved &lt; you fill-in-the-blank&gt;, too. You just did a mini-AAR.

 After every move, my family discovered ways and methods to make the next move easier, more palatable for the children and the travel to the new location more fun. All the while, reviewing what we’d learned at our last location.

Guess what, we were doing an AAR!

My husband’s favorite AAR, if the experience is unfavorable: “Done that for the first and last time.” Our shortened code developed from long years of being together: “first and last for that” or FLT

My AAR  for <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Kristen Lamb</a>’s Blogging-to-Brand class follows. Risky, I realize.

<strong><a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/lady-at-board-reviewing.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-292" title="lady at board reviewing" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/lady-at-board-reviewing.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="62" /></a></strong>

After all, Kristen might read it. Not worried.

Knowing her association with Mayer, she’ll probably conduct her own AAR. My thoughts can contribute. Or be a testimonial. Or not.

<strong>AAR Step 1: My</strong> <strong>goal (mission) in taking Blogging-to-Brand</strong>: 

I needed to learn about branding and social media. I have two novels, <em>The Pendant’s Promise</em> and its prequel, <em>In the Land of the Morning Calm</em>, in the publishing pipeline. I want readers to recognize my name, buy my books.

I’d read Kristen’s book <em><a href="http://amzn.to/AD4C5P" target="_blank">WE ARE NOT ALONE</a></em>. Actually bought it at Bob’s workshop. I agreed with what I read and decided the class would provide added benefit.  

<strong>AAR Step 2: Was my goal or mission accomplished?</strong> 

I’d say DEFINITELY…the class nearly exploded my head!

I have to admit I signed up reluctantly. When I say reluctantly I mean screaming about why, why, why? I’m a writer, not a marketing person. 

Not that I wasn’t familiar all the social media places. I was. See the links in the right hand column.

I have a <a href="http://judythemorgan.com" target="_blank">website</a> 

a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Judythe-Morgan/116134279255" target="_blank">Judythe Morgan FB</a> page

<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Judythe2" target="_blank">Twitter</a>  

a page on <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/judythemorgan" target="_blank">Shelfari</a> where I list the books I’ve read and make a recommendation

And, now after KL's BtoB, a <a href="http://judythewriter.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>! Which you already know because you’re reading this.   

I thought I was off to  a good start. Kristen’s class took me further.
<ul>
	<li>My circle of followers has grown. More importantly, I’ve met some terrific people I might never have known existed.</li>
	<li>I discovered social media is about more than marketing. I really, like these people. We share our heartbreaks, our troubles, our cares, our concerns. They’re good people. Good writers.</li>
	<li>I know I am not alone in my writer’s journey.As Kristen says, it’s all about the WANA love. Thanks to all for the follows, the comments, the WANA love.</li>
</ul>
<strong>AAR Step 3: </strong>“If you accomplished your goal, determine the fine-tuning.”

As much as I did learn, I’m still sorting through the technology intricacies and would be totally lost without help from WANAs and my techno-savvy daughter. I must follow-up with
<ul>
	<li>classes for fine-tuning my blog, my tweets, and my FB postings</li>
	<li>learning to utilize HootSuite, TweetDeck, and FB Time Line effectively</li>
</ul>
<strong>4. Summation</strong>:

KL’s Blogging to Brand was <strong>Informative</strong> –<strong> Enlightening</strong>- <strong>Time consuming. </strong>

The class forced me to accept what I knew, but didn’t want to admit—

<em>to be a successful, productive writer I must learn to juggle many balls. </em>

Writing. Blogging. Tweeting. FBing. Marketing. Eating. Drinking. Sleeping.

But then, as Ursula, the evil octopus from Little Mermaid says: “<em>Life's full of tough choices, innit</em>?”  

Hard choices. Sometimes not fun choices. Especially on wonderful spring days when the porch swing is calling and not the computer. 

<strong>YOUR TURN: </strong>You done any AARs lately? Or want to share what you learned from Kristen's Blogging to Brand class?

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