Hi friends,

Quick question: Do you use GoodReads? If so, you can follow me here. Thanks for the support!

I’m glad you enjoyed the herbal ointment pics from last week and would love to see pictures from anyone who makes their own or has fun alternative/survival medical items they make and use.

And thanks to Sam and rebel_lady for a few additions to the rules of gun safety:

• Know the backstop. Where will the bullet stop?
• If you don’t have the gun with you make sure it’s locked up securely.
• Never point your gun at someone/thing unless you are going to use it

I really enjoy your emails, keep them coming. You’re the best readers!

On that note, this is the first of two additions to my original series about using weapons for self-defense. You sent in so many great ideas for unconventional items that can double as effective weapons, so I’m writing about walking sticks and canes today. I’ll write about using other household items in another newsletter.

From the readers:

Lynne trained a bit in sword fighting and carries a cane which she is confident enough to use as a weapon.

Adam recommends carrying a large umbrella, a standard military black one, as a useful defensive weapon.

And Robin recommends carrying a hickory cane with a heavy brass knob, which can deliver an effective blow to the knee

Thanks everyone!

Using Walking Sticks and Canes for Self-Defense

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Doesn’t always look like a weapon
• Usually non-lethal.
• Can take a cane with you everywhere, including an airplane
• Can defend from and keep an attacker at a distance
• Element of surprise at the unexpected weapon.
• While requiring some training, it needs less than other weapons.

Cons:

• Not the best in close quarters
• Requires that you carry it with you regularly.
• As with all weapons, it can be used against you.

So what should you do if you decide to carry a walking stick or cane for self-defense?

First, try out different sizes and weights, looking for something that fits you comfortably and is sturdy and hefty enough to deliver a strong blow when needed.

Then carry it with you regularly to see if it will fit into your daily routine.

Finally, the #1 rule about weapons: Practice before you actually need it!!

In this case, something to imitate an attacker’s body is ideal so you can hit full-strength and feel how much feedback goes through your grip when you land a solid strike.

Practice dummy ideas:

• Punching bag (you may want to strap a protective layer around the bag if you’re striking with the tip of the cane as it might put a hole in your bag)
• “Bag man” – using sleeping bags, blankets, etc., rolled tightly together and strapped with duct tape, bungee cords, etc. to make a simulated opponent.
• Wrap some old blankets around a tree or post.

Practice various strikes and strokes, including:

• straight jab – good to the center of the torso and face (causes flinching even if you miss)
• horizontal strike – much like a baseball hit, aiming for the center or leg of opponent.
• vertical strike – up between the legs. Not always easy to land, but will distract opponent.
• upward diagonal (45 degree) strike – very fast. Comes right off the ground striking up at an angle into the knee or ribcage.
• downward diagonal (45 degree) strike – generally a follow-up strike once your cane is already high in the air. Bring it down on a diagonal into the side of the neck, across attacking arms or any available target.

There’s no substitute for hitting an actual object with the various strikes until you become familiar and strong with them. In an emergency, when your mind is scrambling, you’ll want your instincts to step in and take over.

Hopefully that is a decent introduction to using walking sticks and canes for defense.

Let me know if I missed anything!

And if any of you have used a cane to protect yourself before, I’d love to hear the story and include in future newsletters.

Stay safe out there!

Misty’s Writing Update:

How long does it take two authors to outline an entire book?

Here’s the process we went through on Tuesday:

1. Plan on about forty chapters of 2,000 to 2,500 words each to reach our 80k to 100k goal.
2. Add notations on each chapter about the general purpose of each chapter. Ex. “inciting event”, “antagonist attacks”, etc. (taken from the excellent outlining book called “Take Off Your Pants” by Libbie Hawker)
3. Decide where the story is set at the beginning and where the characters will end up.
4. Decide on the big battle at the end and what all the characters need to do to get there. Pencil that in over the chunk of chapters in the final quarter of the book.
5. Pick a smaller crisis to anchor the earlier section of the book and do the same.
6. Decide on an opening crisis.
7. Then fill in the chapters between with travel, survival preparations, alternate POV chapters, etc.
8. After three hours, have a great idea of who is doing what, when. Also we now know the details of how each of our main characters is going to struggle, change and improve over the course of the book.
9. Start writing bright and early Wednesday morning – woohoo!

It’s a blast to outline with another author – gets all the creative juices going!

Thanks for your support!

Happy reading this week,

— Misty 🙂