My weekly posts on Outdoor Life's website and "Strut Zone" blog. (See the link to the right of this post.)
My book "50 Greatest Plays in Pittsburgh Steelers Football History" (Triumph Books; August 2008).
My feature on advanced fall turkey-hunting tactics (Turkey Call magazine, Sept./Oct. '08 issue).
My Sunday newspaper outdoors columns in Foster's Sunday Citizen (since November '97).
My article debunking autumn turkey-hunting myths (Turkey & Turkey Hunting magazine; Fall '08 issue).
My New England roundup destinations report (Cabela's Outfitter Journal; next three '08 issues).
My "Turkey Calls and Calling" title (Stackpole Books; Fall '09 list).
--Steve Hickoff
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Writing Life
There are so many publications out there these days--both print and online--that one-time publication for anyone who writes, and I mean anyone, is inevitable . . .
But what do you need to do to make a living at it?
(1) Do good work, and FAST. To succeed, you have to promote the "draft early, revise often" approach. And by revise often, I mean to say that it's done with a short window of time . . . every day.
(2) Do a lot of work, all the time. There is simply no day off for the full-time writer. I've just sent copyedited review notes for one book to a publisher while I await the second round of proofs from yet another. Two of my contracted titles are in production right now--one due September 2008; one, September 2009. It's a labor of love and it's what I do, but outsiders simply have no idea how many other magazine, newspaper, and online pieces I write a week, month, and year. How many? A Sunday newspaper column per week, every week (going on 11 years for my "current" market). Two to three article posts for one website a week, plus two a month for another--both gigs are contracted; I enjoy writing for both anchor clients. Then there are the national print magazine features here, and another one there (maybe a regional), around three-dozen annually. There's other stuff too . . . I say yes to almost everything (another secret: find a way to make it work, whether the writing job is for $50 or $1,500).
(3) Do other things related to your central activity. My college classes (adjunct work all of it, and last I checked the university system referred to me as a "temporary instructional staffer," though I've taught for them since '91), and seminars (outdoor shows, library events, etc.). Both help to pay the bills too. As does selling my photos with articles . . .
(4) Develop a wide range of markets: local, regional, national, and international. I've written regularly (or sporadically) for several hundred different regional and national outdoor, sporting, and even literary publications over the past quarter century (seriously). This includes poems, fiction, nonfiction, posts on the Boston Celtics, online how-to pieces, destination sidebars, 2,000 to even 6,000-word magazine features on wild turkeys, newspaper columns, outdoor book contributions, editing jobs, narratives for two films, lyrical essays, four commercial titles on fly-fishing, wild turkeys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, plus two skinny university press-run literary efforts, and I even a co-authored song, you name it.
(5) Love. Your. Craft. There's simply no other way around this one. If you love to write (I do), the rest of it--including regular publication--will follow. Laugh if you want, but I can't tell you how many people I've met who say they want to be writers, but for whom act of writing gets in the way. Go figure. It's absolutely the best lifestyle for me, but likely not for everyone.
P.S. These two books have not let me rest over the past six months, but you know what's funny: I miss the steady effort required to put one (not to mention two) together. Got it?
--Steve Hickoff
But what do you need to do to make a living at it?
(1) Do good work, and FAST. To succeed, you have to promote the "draft early, revise often" approach. And by revise often, I mean to say that it's done with a short window of time . . . every day.
(2) Do a lot of work, all the time. There is simply no day off for the full-time writer. I've just sent copyedited review notes for one book to a publisher while I await the second round of proofs from yet another. Two of my contracted titles are in production right now--one due September 2008; one, September 2009. It's a labor of love and it's what I do, but outsiders simply have no idea how many other magazine, newspaper, and online pieces I write a week, month, and year. How many? A Sunday newspaper column per week, every week (going on 11 years for my "current" market). Two to three article posts for one website a week, plus two a month for another--both gigs are contracted; I enjoy writing for both anchor clients. Then there are the national print magazine features here, and another one there (maybe a regional), around three-dozen annually. There's other stuff too . . . I say yes to almost everything (another secret: find a way to make it work, whether the writing job is for $50 or $1,500).
(3) Do other things related to your central activity. My college classes (adjunct work all of it, and last I checked the university system referred to me as a "temporary instructional staffer," though I've taught for them since '91), and seminars (outdoor shows, library events, etc.). Both help to pay the bills too. As does selling my photos with articles . . .
(4) Develop a wide range of markets: local, regional, national, and international. I've written regularly (or sporadically) for several hundred different regional and national outdoor, sporting, and even literary publications over the past quarter century (seriously). This includes poems, fiction, nonfiction, posts on the Boston Celtics, online how-to pieces, destination sidebars, 2,000 to even 6,000-word magazine features on wild turkeys, newspaper columns, outdoor book contributions, editing jobs, narratives for two films, lyrical essays, four commercial titles on fly-fishing, wild turkeys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, plus two skinny university press-run literary efforts, and I even a co-authored song, you name it.
(5) Love. Your. Craft. There's simply no other way around this one. If you love to write (I do), the rest of it--including regular publication--will follow. Laugh if you want, but I can't tell you how many people I've met who say they want to be writers, but for whom act of writing gets in the way. Go figure. It's absolutely the best lifestyle for me, but likely not for everyone.
P.S. These two books have not let me rest over the past six months, but you know what's funny: I miss the steady effort required to put one (not to mention two) together. Got it?
--Steve Hickoff
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Scene from the NBA Finals, Game 6
I shot this photo last night at the NBA Finals, Game 6 . . .
--Steve Hickoff
(Steve Hickoff photo)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
MADISON, WI - The new Wilderness Series of camouflage bicycles offer outdoor enthusiasts a new way of getting to their favorite hunting grounds.
The bicycles are dipped and coated in Break-Up® camouflage from Mossy Oak®. The camouflage on the bikes allows a hunter to take a bicycle hunting without the shiny frame or chrome that could compromise the hunt. The frame is dipped in camouflage the same way guns and bows are, and the rims and spokes are powder-coated matte black.
The bikes are welded aluminum and include Shimano shifters and drivetrains. The Wilderness Series offers three models of bikes: the 26" Mountain Hunter, 26" Game Tracker and the youth model 20" Trail Tamer. The Mountain Hunter has 24 speeds, front and rear suspension, a front disc brake and trigger shifters. The Game Tracker offers 21 speeds, grip shifters, front suspension and linear pull brakes. The Trail Tamer comes with seven speeds, grip shifters, front suspension, and linear pull brakes.
The Wilderness Series bikes also offer many optional accessories to help transport your gear. The Rod Locker™ allow fishermen the ability to carry up to four rods and reels. The Locker attaches to the seat post and allows for easy mounting and dismounting on and off the bike. The Bow Locker™ fits on the seat post and allows for easy transport of any bow due to its ability to adjust to most bow designs. The Gun Locker™attaches to the seat post and has adjustable straps to fit most hard gun cases.
For more information on the Wilderness Series bikes, please visit www.pacific-outdoors.com or call 1-800-242-6110.
--S.H.
The bikes are welded aluminum and include Shimano shifters and drivetrains. The Wilderness Series offers three models of bikes: the 26" Mountain Hunter, 26" Game Tracker and the youth model 20" Trail Tamer. The Mountain Hunter has 24 speeds, front and rear suspension, a front disc brake and trigger shifters. The Game Tracker offers 21 speeds, grip shifters, front suspension and linear pull brakes. The Trail Tamer comes with seven speeds, grip shifters, front suspension, and linear pull brakes.
The Wilderness Series bikes also offer many optional accessories to help transport your gear. The Rod Locker™ allow fishermen the ability to carry up to four rods and reels. The Locker attaches to the seat post and allows for easy mounting and dismounting on and off the bike. The Bow Locker™ fits on the seat post and allows for easy transport of any bow due to its ability to adjust to most bow designs. The Gun Locker™attaches to the seat post and has adjustable straps to fit most hard gun cases.
For more information on the Wilderness Series bikes, please visit www.pacific-outdoors.com or call 1-800-242-6110.
--S.H.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Writing Alert: Stay Tuned For . . .
My weekly posts on Outdoor Life's website and "Strut Zone" blog.
My book "50 Greatest Plays in Pittsburgh Steelers Football History" (Triumph Books; August 2008).
My feature on advanced fall turkey-hunting tactics (Turkey Call magazine, Sept./Oct. '08 issue).
My Sunday newspaper outdoors columns in Foster's Sunday Citizen (since November '97).
My article debunking autumn turkey-hunting myths (Turkey & Turkey Hunting magazine; Fall '08 issue).
My New England roundup destinations report (Cabela's Outfitter Journal; next three '08 issues).
My "Turkey Calls and Calling" title (Stackpole Books; Fall '09 list).
--Steve Hickoff
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