I listen to Helmet - and I love Helmet, they're a great band - but every song sounds the same.
I read stories aloud at every stage. I listen to my writer friends when they kindly offer criticism. I listen to my husband when he tells me something doesn't seem right. I have my mother's boyfriend, Loring Janes, read to make sure I get everything right with the machines and guns.
People have given me classified information, but always with the disclaimer 'This can never end up in a book.' And it never does.