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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.