GOODWIN EXCELS AS FREE-LANCE WRITER

For Mark Goodwin, a lesson in humility led to a lesson in productivity.

Already a veteran teacher and possessor of a master's degree in biology, Goodwin was struck by an urge to try outdoor writing in the late 1980s.

"I started reading articles and thinking I write as well as those guys,'" Goodwin recalled. "In reality, I couldn't."

That was the lesson in humility, which included several critique sessions with his father, Fred Goodwin, a career educator, and an introduction to good literature.

"My dad read it and said Mark, I can tell you're a teacher,'" Goodwin said. "In other words, my writing was stilted and passive. I went out and got E.B. White's Elements of Style and started reading good literature, on my dad's advice. I wound up developing a love of reading. Most of the reading I had done before had been short magazine articles."

After honing his craft, Goodwin has turned his love of hunting, fishing and training dogs into a successful secondary income. His freelance writing career has blossomed during the last several years, including two cover stories in The Missouri Conservationist. One, in June 1999, also included his own cover photo. So far the Jackson High School biology teacher has sold about 50 magazine articles -- including one to the highly esteemed Field & Stream magazine.

"Some might say I have a gift," Goodwin said. "I don't buy that. It's a craft like anything else. You just have to have a logical mind, a concern for details and a love of language."

He subscribes to the old writing axiom that successful writing is "10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration," noting that it is "just a case of applying what you learned in English class."

Of course Goodwin is quick to admit that he has continued taking advantage of the work of English teachers. He usually asks Jackson High School English teachers to peruse his manuscripts before sending them off -- especially Terri Fisher-Reed, who is "10 steps away from my door," in the high school's "A" building.

"Writing is kind of like a puzzle," he said. "I enjoy it. It's not like a photo, where you take it and the job is done. I'll complete a 1,200-word manuscript in a month or so. Then I may put it aside and come back to it later and take a fresh look at it."

Like many writers, he finds that evaluating his own work after letting it "sit" a while is the best method for him.

Goodwin sells about half a dozen pieces a year. Most are bought by the Missouri Department of Conservation, publishers of The Missouri Conservationist. Other magazines to print his work include Field & Stream, Turkey Call, Turkey Hunter, Black Powder Hunting and a couple of now-defunct periodicals. He is not content to rest on past achievements, though.

"It's a struggle every week," he said. "I try to write four or five days a week. I'm constantly at it."

After retirement, Goodwin hopes to spend more time on his writing as well as possibly opening a kennel to train hunting dogs. In the meantime, he has no delusions about what his vocation is.

"I'm a teacher first," he said. "This is a side job that dovetails nicely with my profession."

Goodwin has found that his writing experience has actually enhanced his classroom performance.

"I've discovered that my work in the classroom has improved," he said. "It's all about communication. My writing has helped me improve my communication skills. Now I have students keep a weekly journal on biology topics and grade them every week."

He created a board of honor, where the best journals are posted. Those making the grade get to skip their journal writing the next week, receiving full credit.

"I'm a teacher first and a writer very much second," he said. "It's a side profession."

Still, having students say they have read his latest article in a magazine is "kind of cool."

"I have to admit, I like that," Goodwin said. "Of course, I've had some negative feedback, too. Some people don't believe in hunting or fishing and others will disagree on technique. It's not all gravy and fun. The negatives have been a very small part of it, though."

A Cape Girardeau native, Goodwin has taught at Jackson since 1981 and has always enjoyed the outdoors.

Goose hunting trip

His son Mike, a 19-year-old Southeast Missouri State University freshman, has continued the family love of hunting and fishing. The two took a canoe out on the Caster River during 9-degree weather in December and managed to bag their limit of geese.

So far, the icy geese hunting expedition hasn't become article fodder. Article topics have included hunting game with black powder weapons, how to introduce children to hunting, predator problems, techniques of catching small mouth bass and techniques in turkey hunting. Goodwin is researching swamp rabbits and has a weekend trip planned soon to hunt the critters on a Mississippi River Island for a future article.

"Writing is an interesting puzzle that I like working with," he summarized. "That I get a pay check out of it now and then is nice, too."