Happy New Year?

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas. I will post more after the new year begins.

Rick.

Are you ready for PiBoIdMo?

You still have time to register for PiBoIdMo! Check it out at http://taralazar.com/ !

First Fiction Sale!

Received my first contract for fiction from Highlights.  No Idea when it will actually be printed, but I'm happy to wait.

PiBoIdMo 2013 is here!

Waiting

I finished my first draft of my first novel. I want to wait at least two weeks before I start revising. Why is it so hard to wait? I am getting all kinds of ideas of thing I need to change. Things I need to add. And things I know I need to cut. I do keep adding notes, but it's hard not to jump in and start.

Yes, I have started outlining my next novel, but It's still hard to wait.

Gearing up!

Gearing up for new projects. About to finish a first draft of an novel. Have started a new NF children's book, and working on a new class for the Talented and Gifted children's classes this winter.

Not been blogging too often, but I am writing.

More to come.

Keeping Goals

Each year I set a writing goal. I do it in place of a New Year's resolution. My goal is to submit at least one piece to a magazine each month, or at least twelve within the year. I have a day job so I wanted to make sure my goal would not be too hard to reach. So far I have submitted 15 this year, and have sold three pieces.

Keep writing. . .

Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer?

Times are crazy. Kinda hazy, but no time for lazy. Summer is a busy time. I'm still writing and reading a lot. Just not posting much, and not a lot of time for the blog, but I'm hanging in there.

I've been reading anything I can find on writing. Hoping it will sink in.

Till next time, keep writing.

Time flies

It's almost been a month since my last post. The season is picking up here at the shop. We have to carve new bears every day just to keep up with demand. That is good.

I still write every day. That is good too. Writers should write. Bloggers should blog. When something has to be put on the back burner, it's the blog.

That's all for now. I'll be back in a few days, or maybe a month. Just know that I am still writing and sending submissions out. Sent one this morning!

Have fun and keep writing.

Artist at work!

We live and work in a part of Gatlinburg called the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. My day job is consists of chainsaw carving, demonstrating magic tricks in our magic shop, and retail sales of our crafts. The Community is an eight-mile loop of shops and crafters. I have noticed on a few shops a sign that says - "Artist at Work". I feel lucky because I get to make a living with my chainsaw art. We have bears all over the country and a few in other countries. One day I hope to make some of my living, if not all from writing. The "Artist at Work" signs made me wonder how many other businesses could hang the same sign. How many McDonald's, Walmarts,  Burger Kings, Best Westerns, and millions of other places could put this sign up? I think just about all of them could. Whether it's writing, singing, sculpting, painting, or any other art form there are artist at work everywhere.

Where do you know an artist at work?

First draft or revision?

Okay, you've written your article, story, or novel. Now it's time for revision. Do you like writing the first draft, or doing revisions? I like revisions. I already have something to work on.

New Children's Writer contest

The current Children's Writer contest is all about exploring. As writers, we get to explore how to write a winning fiction story for ages 5-7 in 150 words.

I'm glad I save my issues of High Five. Great reference material.

Good luck to all who enter!

Explore the possibilities.

Writing Place

In the morning I write at the kitchen table. Usually, my little dog is on my lap. At 6 a.m. I have quiet time. In the evening, I usually write while sitting on the bed with the TV on. When my wife is ready to go to sleep, I sometimes go into another room, or just read. Quiet time again.

My day job includes chainsaw carving. The chainsaw is loud, so I wear noise cancelling headphones and listen to audio books on my mp3 player. Other carvers I have talked to have said that they would not be able to considerate on carving while listening to a book. I have done it so much, it is no problem for me. I think that this is one thing that has helped me be able to write with a TV on, or other noisy places.

When you write, do you have to have a quiet place? Do you listen to music? If so, what kind?

Article Ideas!

The library is full of books. Full of ideas. Full of people.

Just met a person at my local library who has a very interesting job working with animals. After talking, was given permission to contact her for an interview for possible magazine article. With photos!

Where did your last surprise story/article idea come from?

Win a full MS edit!

Win a full MS edit at www.deareditor.com today!

Win a free edit at Dear Editor! Day 2

Hey, check out Dear Editor for a chance to win a free edit! www.deareditor.com

Win at Dear Editor!

Hey, writers, this is revision week at www.deareditor.com. Check them out for a chance to win!

Writer's diet

Sometimes words are slow to appear on the page or screen. Some days are so hectic, it's hard to even get a chance to write anything. Some suggest to reward yourself if you meet your daily word count goal. Some say to punish yourself if you don't make your goal. Hmm.

Of all the topics to write about, I have never thought about writing a diet book. Sometimes writers may have a good idea, or an off the wall idea.

How do daily word counts and diets go together? To sum it up, if my daily word count dictated the number of calories I could have that day, I would be skinny! Or dead. So, this is my writers diet. Write or starve. I wonder if I can add my blog post count or if it has to be on my WIP.

Oh, well. My crazy thought of the day.

7:02 am

I have waited since November for 7:02 am Mar. 20.

SPRING!

Traveling bear for writers.

Hi,

Okay, we have till midnight tonight to name him. 

Share my page with all your writer friends 

http://www.facebook.com/RickStarkeyWrites

 Ask them to click my like button, share this post, and suggest a name on my Facebook page for our traveling bear for writers.

If you don't do Facebook, suggest a name here.

Thanks! 

 

Touch of Death official release day!

Today is the official release date of Kelly Hashway's new book, Touch of Death!

http://kellyhashway.blogspot.com/

My Photo

I was just looking at my photo at the top of my blog. I took this near where I live. My wife and I take walks there all the time. For some reason the well worn line - Up the creek without a paddle- came to mind.

Now I know this is used to indicate a problem. But if you're already up the creek, why do you need a paddle? Just turn around and float back down! I guess I like to think positive. Next time I may ramble about the glass half full or half empty.

Till then.

Keep writing.